Oregon Food Bank preparing for end of pandemic food benefits for Oregonians

PORTLAND Ore. (KPTV) – On Wednesday, pandemic-era emergency meals help advantages are coming to an finish. As SNAP recipients put together to see, on common, a 40% lower of their complete meals advantages, the Oregon Meals Financial institution is making ready for the opportunity of enhance want for assist.

“At the beginning of the pandemic, the federal authorities rushed in to assist households that had been struggling and one of many issues they did was add more cash into SNAP advantages,” mentioned Susannah Morgan, CEO of the Oregon Meals Financial institution. “These of us within the anti-hunger world had been thrilled, not simply because extra folks would have grocery cash then, however as a result of we have now been asking for many years for more cash for SNAP. The SNAP {dollars} run out between week two and three. They don’t get a household right through the month. So this extra cash, round $100, was actually, actually useful to lots of households round Oregon and it’s ending throughout the nation. Possibly 700,000 extra folks would possibly want meals help this coming month and we shall be there.”

Tuesday afternoon, the Oregon Meals Financial institution’s statewide warehouse was bustling with volunteers exhausting at work.

SEE ALSO: Pandemic meals advantages stopping at finish of month for Oregonians

“We’ve been in absolute excessive quantity mode ever because the begin of the pandemic,” mentioned Morgan. “There was no level within the pandemic by which we shut down and weren’t capable of get meals out to our neighbors. So I’m positive that would be the identical in March that we are going to rise to satisfy the extra demand, however the one means we shall be there’s if the group stands behind us. We want group assist and we’d like the state of Oregon to step up and be sure that these cabinets keep full.”

For many who want to assist, you’ll be able to donate monetarily or donate you time and volunteer. FOX 12 has been partnering with the Oregon Meals Financial institution for our Fox 12 Starvation Free Venture to assist these in want in our group. Click on right here to be taught extra and donate.

“Meals is accessible for you and your loved ones,” mentioned Morgan. “Please go to OregonFoodFinder.org or name 2-1-1 if that’s extra handy for you. Each meals help website is situated there. There shall be one close to you prepared to assist. I all the time assume it’s a sensible concept for folk who’re apprehensive that they received’t have the funds for to get meals via the month to go to the free websites first as a result of we don’t have every part. We’ve extra meals, nice meals, actually prime quality meals, however not as a lot selection because the grocery retailer. Please come see what we have now first after which go to the grocery retailer second and it’ll stretch your grocery {dollars}.”

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