Report: Rural Homes Receive More Food Assistance

Food Assistance STOCKBEND, OR — Hunger is often characterized as a big-city problem, but a new study shows that isn’t the case based on who’s receiving SNAP or food stamp benefits.  The Center for Rural Affairs examined SNAP use for a five-year period ending in 2012, and found more than 14% of rural households received food benefits.  That compares with less than 11% of urban households.

That difference doesn’t surprise Annie Kirschner with the Partnership for a Hunger-Free Oregon.

“The reality is that the so-called ‘recovery’ has been really slow to take hold in rural Oregon, and the need has outpaced what charity alone can cover.”

Kirschner said a variety of factors contribute to greater SNAP participation in rural areas, including many seasonal and low-paying jobs, plus a shortage of other food assistance options, exacerbated by high gas prices that make it harder to travel for such options.   Statewide, 815,000 Oregonians receive SNAP benefits, which average less than $130 per person, per month.

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Beaver Walk & Beaver Believers Screening

Beaver Natural History Walk & Restoration Site Tour, 4-5 pm Followed by a screening of The Beaver Believers and Q &A Hosted by Maureen Thompson, Beaver Works Program Manager and Kolleen Miller, Education Director for The Upper

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8th Annual Locavore Gala & Fundraiser

We invite you to be a part of something extraordinary – an evening that transcends the ordinary and celebrates the heart of our community. Central Oregon Locavore proudly presents its 8th Annual Gala and Fundraiser, a special