FOOD MATTERS! Providing access for all. Native village benefits from Harvest Share program WINTER 2017

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1 FOOD MATTERS! WINTER 2017 Providing access for all Native village benefits from Harvest Share program On the Columbia River just outside of The Dalles sits the Native American community of Celilo Village. The introduction of dams along the river decimated a community that used to attract tribal members from around the Northwest because of its plentiful salmon. Today, Celilo Village struggles with high unemployment and poverty. However, the situation is changing. Last summer Oregon Food Bank partnered with the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the A monthly delivery of produce is improving lives in Celilo Village and surrounding areas. Oregon Department of Human Services to establish a Harvest Share program, a monthly distribution of fresh produce. The program improves access to many fruits and vegetables that are expensive or in short supply. Residents are already seeing health benefits. One village elder said, Thank you so much for the apples. I believe by eating them this week I have started getting better and over my illness! With your help, Oregon Food Bank and our partners will be able to improve food access for marginalized groups and communities of color around the state.

2 Oregon Food Bank sets legislative priorities You can help improve the lives of people facing hunger For thousands of Oregonians, everyday can be a struggle to make ends meet. They read in the papers that the economy is improving, but they have yet to see the changes. February marks the beginning of the 2017 session of the Oregon Legislature. Oregon Food Bank is working closely with elected officials from throughout the state to advance policies and programs that help Oregonians experiencing hunger. Our work in the Legislature focuses on food, housing and job readiness solutions, the core issues we heard from our friends and neighbors struggling to feed their families. We work to elevate their voices and advocate for strong public policy solutions that end hunger. One of the specific policies we ll support includes the Oregon Hunger Response Fund, which is the partnership between the state and the Oregon Food Bank Network. We ll also support measures to get nutritious food to seniors and children through the farm direct nutrition program and other efforts. In addition, many people experiencing hunger have told us that the high cost of housing is the reason they need food assistance. We will continue to support effective housing programs such as those that prevent homelessness. If you are interested in learning more or want to help us advocate for Oregonians experiencing hunger, please sign up for our action alert list at oregonfoodbank. org/advocate. Interested in learning more? Contact Nicole Forbes at NForbes@ oregonfoodbank.org LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD ON APRIL 13 Mark your calendar and join with others from around the state for Oregon Hunger Response Day at the state Capitol in Salem. The Oregon Food Bank Network is coordinating the all-day event and will be setting up meetings with legislators and staff. You are invited to attend and tell your lawmaker about the impact of hunger in your community. Trainings will be offered to help improve advocacy skills, along with organized discussions on state and federal policies. Learn more and signup at oregonfoodbank.org/ hungerandhope. Let your lawmaker know about the importance of hunger relief programs.

3 Dedicated to service Oregon Food Bank volunteer reaches new landmark The week before, Bill reached a milestone by logging his 5,000th hour of service a feat never achieved by an Oregon Food Bank volunteer. In 2002, Bill was laid off and took it as a sign to officially retire. Since then, he has volunteered at Oregon Food Bank and several other nonprofits in Portland. You have to find a place where you fit, he says. In April of 2016, Bill decided to challenge himself to reach the 5,000 hour mark so he started signing up for eight to 10 shifts each week. This guy inspires me, says John Woods, a second-time volunteer. I want to be able to give back like that. Oregon Food Bank is like a second home for Bill. On a Wednesday morning in early January, Bill Brandt-Gasuen arrives for his first volunteer repack shift of the day. The group of regulars and a few new volunteers get to work. Unbeknownst to them there s a new record for volunteer service. I never married, I have no dependents, but I feel a responsibility to my community, Bill says with sincerity. He has held more than 40 different volunteer roles. When asked what his next challenge is he chuckles and says, Take a little time for myself. Thank you Bill for your commitment to people experiencing hunger! Door-to-door delivery Pantries say new service helps improve efficiency It s delivery day at Clay Street Table in southwest Portland, and volunteers are unloading and shelving thousands of pounds of food. Every week, the program serves hundreds of people who live in downtown Portland. As Oregon Food Bank s truck prepares to leave, Rev. Dr. Paul Davis thanks the driver and comments again on what a blessing the delivery provides. Many of our volunteers experience homelessness or live in nearby subsidized housing and don t have cars. We were renting vehicles, but that s money that can now be better spent, says Davis. Clay Street Table and other agencies also say they are able to make better use of the sometimes limited volunteer time. Your generous support allowed Oregon Food Bank to expand our metro area delivery in fall As a result, 29 key partner agencies now benefit from this service. Volunteers help unload a food delivery, saving time and money for pantries.

4 Our community turns to us in the midst of personal crisis, and we know that they will also look for our help in the event of a large-scale disaster, says John Klosterman, Oregon Food Bank s director of operations. We are continually improving our processes so we can be as ready as possible. Building systems will continue as normal if there is a loss of power at Oregon Food Bank. Prepared for disaster Generator installed to keep Oregon Food Bank operating in an emergency Extreme winter weather took Portland and other parts of the state by surprise this year. Stuck cars and loss of power affected many. The storm reminded the community of the need to be prepared in the event of a natural disaster or large scale emergency. Now, Oregon Food Bank is also ready to help. This winter, an emergency generator and dual-use fuel storage tanks (for the generator and truck fleet) were installed at Oregon Food Bank headquarters in northeast Portland. With a warehouse capacity of four million pounds of food, about 40 percent perishable, the backup power system will allow continued warehouse and delivery operations for 10 to 14 days. In addition to your generous support, Oregon Food Bank funded the project with donations from Waste Management, and customers and employees of Fred Meyer and NW Natural. KGW Great Food Drive to help March out hunger Activities return to normal at Oregon Food Bank after the holiday season, but not for long. March 1 is the beginning of KGW s Great Food Drive presented by Tillamook. Since 2004, the Portland area television station s annual drive has helped thousands of people put food on the table. The event is also supported by local Toyota dealerships. Show your support for the Oregon Food Bank Network by participating. This year s goal is 800,000 pounds. Visit KGW.com/food for more information.

5 Produce washing system cuts food waste and hunger Oregon farmers grow an amazing array of fruits and vegetables, and many donate thousands of pounds to food banks each year. However, food safety rules require additional sanitation on some produce. Since every donation is important, Oregon Food Bank was able to invest in a simple produce washing line thanks to your financial support. Vegetables grown for processing like cauliflower and green beans can be quickly sanitized and washed, then packed in family sizes for distribution. The new equipment lets us honor our generous growers, fight food waste, and help people across the New equipment allows Oregon Food Bank to accept a wider variety of fresh produce for distribution. state who experience hunger. Wheat growers, processors work together to ease hunger A seven-year partnership continues to grow Each year, Oregon farmers grow more than 39 million bushels of wheat. While most of it is exported, for the last seven years Farmers Ending Hunger has worked to secure truckloads of donated wheat for families struggling to put food on the table. In 2016, that resulted in 216,800 pounds of baking mix. Donations of wheat were made by Hansel Farms, Stahl Farms, Madison Ranches and 12 H while milling, blending and packaging came from Grain Craft and Continental Mills. Thanks to you, Oregon Food Bank is able to distribute this large donation to food banks around the state, ensuring more people have access to healthy food. Generous Oregon farmers help fill pantry shelves.

6 Thank you to our corporate partners for your generous support! Oregon Food Bank Network of Regional Food Banks East Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District provided a generous grant to support outreach to underserved people at the Community Farm. For the sixth year Bank of America championed our MLK Day of Service efforts. We could not pull off this day of action, repacking over 80,000 pounds of food, without the gift of $15,000 and the volunteer groups they bring. Through their workplace wellness platform, Provata donates meals when participants reach milestones, collectively donating 80,664 meals! Through its national program, Fill Your Tank, Enterprise Rent-a-Car donated $25,000 in the start of a new partnership to eliminate hunger and its root causes in Oregon and Clark County, Washington. The WinCo Foods Foundation donated $17,346 in an effort to strengthen food banks in our region. And thank you to the following: B.P. Lester and Regina John Foundation The Jackson Foundation The Coit Family Foundation Department of Environmental Quality Goodwill Industries of the Columbia Willamette Knisely Family Foundation The Lineberger Foundation of Oregon The Renaissance Foundation Tektronix adidas Delta Airlines The Schooner Restaurant & Lounge Chateau Ste. Michelle The Greenbrier Companies Northwest Grocers Income Property Management CoBank SunWest Energy Operated by Oregon Food Bank Metro Services, PORTLAND Southeast Oregon Services, ONTARIO Tillamook County Services, TILLAMOOK Washington County Services, BEAVERTON Interim Regional Food Bank serving Hood River, Sherman and Wasco Counties, THE DALLES Regional Food Banks ACCESS Food Share, MEDFORD CAPECO Food Share, PENDLETON CCA Regional Food Bank, ASTORIA Clark County Food Bank, VANCOUVER, WA Columbia Pacific Food Bank, ST. HELENS Community Connection, LA GRANDE FOOD for Lane County, EUGENE Food Share of Lincoln County, NEWPORT Josephine County Food Bank, GRANTS PASS Klamath/Lake Counties Food Bank, KLAMATH FALLS Linn-Benton Food Share, CORVALLIS Marion-Polk Food Share, SALEM NeighborImpact, REDMOND South Coast Food Share, COOS BAY UCAN Food Bank, ROSEBURG YCAP Regional Food Bank, MCMINNVILLE Follow us online: Get the latest news about programs, partnerships, awards and activities from our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram feeds plus, visit our website. Oregon Food Bank is a certified affiliate of Feeding America. oregonfoodbank.org (503)