Emergency allotments to supplement food assistance during the pandemic are ending this month, and Oregon families are likely to take a big hit.
According to the Oregon Department of Human Services, 416,000 households in the state who received benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program got a total of $71 million in additional emergency assistance in February, for the last time.
Susannah Morgan, CEO of the Oregon Food Bank, said donating to her organization can help the growing number of people who will be in need this month.
“We are expecting to serve a lot more of our neighbors facing hunger as these benefits run out,” Morgan predicted. “And we — Oregon Food Bank — can purchase a lot more food with your dollar than you can because we’re buying it by the truckload.”
Morgan also noted there are 1,400 assistance sites across the state, and in Clark County, Washington, for people who need immediate access to food. People can find a local site at Oregonfoodfinder.org.
To meet the growing demand, as well as keep up with the cost of inflation, Morgan noted her organization is asking the state to help buy food.
“I actually talked to the governor on Saturday,” Morgan recounted. “She called to say she’d been in a regional food bank recently and the shelves were empty, and what did I need? And I said governor, we need $7.5 million. We’ve got that ask in, really could use your help in ensuring that comes through.”
Morgan pointed out the additional money would help obtain food the next few months.
