Latest news with #OregonFoodBank
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Ending hunger is more than just providing food – it's about communities and a better economic future
Ending hunger is about more than just providing food. It's about building community, the president of Oregon Food Bank says. (Getty Images) In recent conversations with Oregonians across the state, we heard from a mom — like me, a mother of two young kids — who always packs extra food for her child to take to school, just in case a classmate doesn't have enough to eat. That's who we are as Oregonians. We look out for each other. But no family should have to rely on the kindness of another parent to keep their child happy and well-fed. Too many Oregon families are feeling the squeeze. Grocery prices are high — the price of eggs has skyrocketed — housing costs keep rising and too many parents are forced to make impossible choices — like whether to pay rent or put food on the table. And some of us — our friends, neighbors and loved ones — face even more barriers. Immigrant families, who contribute tens of billions to Oregon's economy, are excluded from food assistance programs like SNAP (formerly known as food stamps) which are meant to support the well-being of families and communities. These are our coworkers, classmates and community members, and when any of us struggle, we all feel the impact. As one mom, I can't pack enough food to feed all the children in Oregon. But as one Oregon, we can. That's exactly what Food for All Oregonians (SB 611) aims to accomplish. The proposed bill would help improve access to food assistance for thousands of young kids who are excluded from programs like SNAP just because of their immigration status. If passed, Food for All Oregonians could ensure that all young kids, including immigrants and refugees, can access the food they need to thrive. Why does Food for All Oregonians matter? Walking into a food pantry is a different experience than stepping into a grocery store or farmers market. Food pantries are essential community resources, offering critical support during times of challenge. But everyone deserves to be able to choose foods that nourish their families and feel like home, just like anyone else shopping at a grocery store or farmers market. SNAP also helps support more people than food assistance sites can manage. This bill would support our kids with greater access to the foods that nourish and warm them, and enable parents to shop with the same freedom as their neighbors. Anyone who's ever felt the squeeze of the rising cost of living knows that strains on one part of our day-to-day budget, like being able to afford food, impacts everything else. But imagine an Oregon where parents don't have to choose between paying for child care or groceries. Where local businesses flourish because more families can afford to shop at their stores. Where every local community has what it needs to prosper. Food access impacts all of us, and by improving access to food assistance, we're not just addressing food insecurity — we're strengthening Oregon's economy and ensuring a brighter future for all of us. This isn't just a pipe dream: I've seen Oregonians come together when I helped advocate for driver's licenses for all, ensuring that every Oregonian — including immigrants and refugees — could access the identification needed to participate in our communities and economy fully. Victories show what's possible when we come together to promote dignity and economic stability for all. Food for All Oregonians is not just a food security policy — it's an economic security policy. It ensures that Oregon's kids can lead healthy lives and contribute to thriving communities. As a mom, I know how important it is for every child to be able to focus on learning, not hunger. For every parent to be able to provide food that feels like home, without worrying about whether they'll have enough to last the week. The way we solve hunger isn't just by providing food — it's by ensuring people have the resources and autonomy to make choices for themselves. It's about dignity, home, belonging and the opportunity to build a better future. Our nation is in a time of great uncertainty. Actions from the federal administration are supporting billionaires but creating chaos, job losses, higher prices and economic instability for everyday people. Now is the time for our state to protect Oregonians. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Oregon Food Bank says proposed tax bill will ‘compound the problem' of food insecurity
PORTLAND, Ore. () – Leadership at the Oregon Food Bank met with Congresswoman Maxine Dexter to discuss the on-the-ground impacts of Republicans' tax bill that passed the U.S. House of Representatives. Andrea Williams, the food bank's president, said they are already facing rising food insecurity in Oregon for a variety of reasons, and this bill would make it worse. City workers avert strike, reach tentative agreement 'One of those is less benefits,' she said. 'One of those is an increase in cost and food, wages are not keeping up. And then there's various policy choices. So if you add on reducing SNAP, reducing access to health care coverage, you're going to continue to compound the problem.' Dexter said the bill would reduce the number of people who could get SNAP benefits, which would impact other benefits as well. 'Whether or not you qualify for SNAP is how kids get free and reduced lunches at school like this. When you go in for, child care benefits or other benefits, like it is just it's a threshold. And so we have shifted the threshold.' She said the state would have a hard time making up the difference for benefits with its tight budget situation. Now the bill heads to the US Senate, and Dexter said she has already had conversations with Oregon Senator Ron Wyden. 'Making sure that there are robust negotiations, but centering the health and stability of our community, was not the case in the House of Representatives,' she said. 'And we really need our senators to step up and do the right thing for their constituents.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Proposed federal SNAP cuts would leave Oregon families hungry, governor and senators warn
Cuts to SNAP could place more strain on the state budget and food banks. (Courtesy of the Oregon Food Bank) Oregonians will go hungry if congressional Republicans plow forward with plans to cut the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and shift costs to states, senators and Gov. Tina Kotek warned on Tuesday. Kotek and Oregon Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley joined a press call Tuesday with three other Democratic senators and the head of a Vermont anti-hunger group to discuss proposed cuts to SNAP, the food benefits used by 42 million Americans and more than 700,000 Oregonians. Congressional Republicans on Monday night unveiled a plan to cut federal SNAP spending by at least $230 billion, mostly by shifting costs to states. But states including Oregon can't afford those shifts, Kotek said. 'We just do not have the kind of money that it would take to maintain the program at the current level if these cuts go through,' Kotek, also a Democrat, said. 'It will just not happen, and people will go hungry in Oregon.' The details of congressional Republican's budget reconciliation proposal arrived just before Wednesday's release of Oregon's May revenue forecast, which state budget-writers will use to craft the next two-year budget. Lawmakers are bracing for a downturn tied to tariffs, federal funding cuts and economic instability. The federal proposal means that the taxes Oregonians pay to the federal government will not return to the state to help their neighbors in need, Kotek said. Kotek, who started her career as a policy advocate for the Oregon Food Bank, said she saw firsthand what it means for people to skip meals to afford rent or medicine and knows how fragile food security is for many. 'When you cut SNAP, you're not cutting bureaucracy,' she said. 'You're cutting a child's dinner. You're cutting their breakfast. You're cutting their family's dignity.' Every dollar spent on SNAP generates another $1.50 to $1.80 in economic activity at grocery stores, farmers' markets and other local businesses, Kotek said. Without that money, stores could close and people could lose their jobs. Merkley said Oregon stands to lose about $400 million under the proposal to shift costs from the federal government to states. And Wyden decried potential cuts to SNAP and Medicaid as a 'double whammy' for health care. About 1.4 million Oregonians are covered by Medicaid, or the Oregon Health Plan. Republicans proposed instituting work requirements and withholding funding from states like Oregon that cover health care regardless of immigration status and cover gender-affirming care. 'The combination of less food assistance for seniors and kids, and then Republican cuts in Medicaid, is a prescription for a sicker America,' Wyden said. 'What we're talking about is health care 101: You need access to food to be healthy, and you need access to timely healthcare when you're ill.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New food bank opens in Cornelius to ‘help keep bellies full' amid rising costs
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — The rising costs of food and housing have hit Oregon families hard. In 2024, the Oregon Food Bank tracked , a 31% increase from previous years. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits are facing another blow as U.S. House Republicans consider cutting more than $200 billion from the program over the next decade. Former Trail Blazer Antonio Harvey launches new training program for local athletes 'No one in our country should go hungry,' says Rep Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.). 'Cuts to SNAP would be devastating here in Oregon. I met with the Oregon Food Bank and other advocates to say this is not the time to cut food assistance for needy families.' Given these circumstances, the Centro Mercado food pantry opened Friday in Cornelius, Ore. Centro Cultural built the pantry, which delivered food through other ways for many years. But now, they have packed the pantry with fresh foods, dry goods and dairy items – all available for free to those in need. 'The Central Mercado serves over 25,000 people every year,' said Juan Carlos Gonzalez, Centro's Chief Strategy Officer. 'We distribute over 600,000 pounds of food and that's thanks to amazing partners,' According to Centro, a bulk of their inventory comes from the Oregon Food Bank. In addition, grocery stores donate half a million pounds of food to their organization every year. The rest comes from local farms. Scam alert: Clackamas County warns public against fake tax payment emails 'One of the biggest threats our organization faces, especially for operating a site like this, is the loss of federal funding,' Gonzalez added. A huge chunk of their funding comes from a USDA grant that is about to expire and the will be applying for more money in the next six months. But if the federal government denies their request, Gonzalez says Centro won't be able to accept as much food and will be forced to reduce services. 'I can only appeal to our federal leaders, please help keep bellies full, please take care of families, especially in these times that we're in,' he stressed. To find out more information on how to volunteer with or donate to Centro Cultural, visit here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Amtrak Cascades now down to one train after Horizon fleet taken out of service
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — There will now only be one train set in service on the Amtrak Cascades route, affecting service to 18 stops between Vancouver, B.C. and Eugene, the company announced Wednesday. According to Amtrak, its fleet of Horizon train sets will be taken out of service immediately, because of concerns over aging equipment. A total of 70 passenger cars across the country are affected, including 26 on the Amtrak Cascades route. Oregon Food Bank and other nutrition services left in limbo after federal cuts While Amtrak says buses have been secured to send passengers to their destinations through Sunday, the only trips that will be served by the one remaining trainset will travel daily between Seattle and Eugene. This latest development comes after Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner abruptly resigned on Mar. 20. 'Amtrak is determining how to replace the grounded Horizon trains by redistributing other trains in its national fleet,' the company said in a statement. 'Amtrak will notify the states of Washington and Oregon as soon as a plan is in place to move replacement trains to the Pacific Northwest.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
