Oregon DHS and Oregon Food Bank announce $2.6 million for anti-hunger efforts

(Salem) — The Oregon Division of Human Providers (ODHS) and Oregon Meals Financial institution (OFB) at present introduced a $2.6 million funding in anti-hunger efforts by way of native meals purchases.

A part of the U.S. Division of Agriculture’s Native Meals Buy Help Cooperative Settlement Program, the grant will considerably broaden the meals financial institution’s Neighborhood Grower Help Fund — investing in traditionally underserved producers whereas additionally addressing rising meals insecurity in city, rural and distant communities which have confronted disproportionate starvation and poverty for generations.

“As communities in Oregon proceed to be impacted by COVID-19 and the rising value of meals, we all know that many are experiencing hardship and are struggling to get sufficient wholesome meals for themselves and their kids,” stated Jana McLellan, interim director of ODHS Self-Sufficiency Packages. “We’re grateful to play an element in connecting people and households with recent, nutritious meals grown by native producers.”

Licensed by the American Rescue Plan, Native Meals Buy Help offers alternatives for state and tribal governments to strengthen native and regional meals techniques.

Via grants just like the $2.6 million awarded to the Oregon Division of Human Providers in partnership with the Oregon Meals Financial institution and Oregon Division of Agriculture, this system helps farmers and producers to ascertain or broaden partnerships with space meals distribution networks.

“This grant is a triple win for Oregon communities: it permits us to strengthen native meals techniques, help producers of coloration and supply recent, locally-grown meals to individuals experiencing starvation,” stated Oregon Meals Financial institution CEO Susannah Morgan. “With as many as 1.5 million individuals searching for meals help this yr, authorities investments like these are important to our shared effort to finish starvation and its root causes.” 

Grant funds will present a lift to native economies by way of enlargement of the Neighborhood Grower Help Fund, which purchases meals immediately from socially deprived farmers and ranchers — a U.S. Division of Agriculture classification that features teams which were topic to systemic racial or ethnic prejudice. This regionally produced meals is distributed to city, rural and distant underserved communities all through the state. Funds will even enhance storage and transportation infrastructure, serving to to construct extra resilient native meals techniques for the long-term.

ABOUT OREGON FOOD BANK

At Oregon Meals Financial institution, we consider that meals and well being are fundamental human rights for all. We all know that starvation isn’t just a person expertise; it is usually a community-wide symptom of limitations to employment, training, housing and well being care. That’s why we work systemically in our mission to finish starvation in Oregon: we foster neighborhood connections to assist individuals entry nutritious, inexpensive meals at present, and we construct neighborhood energy to remove the basis causes of starvation for good. Go to OregonFoodFinder.org to search out sources in your neighborhood.

ABOUT THE OREGON DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN  SERVICES

The mission of the Oregon Division of Human Providers is to assist Oregonians in their very own communities obtain wellbeing and independence by way of alternatives that shield, empower, respect alternative and protect dignity.