Foundation grants help food programs for those in need throughout Oregon
By Cathy Carroll
Grant funding from The Roundhouse Foundation is partnering with nonprofits throughout Oregon helping thousands of people who need support in providing food for themselves and their families.
Photo courtesy NeighborImpact
For Central Oregon-based NeighborImpact, grant funding has allowed the nonprofit to expand its mobile pantry and provide services to marginalized people. It is also helping the organization meet a growing demand from partner agencies that rely on NeighborImpact’s regional food bank for providing food to their clients.
“With minimal financial government assistance, the NeighborImpact Food Bank could not continue to operate and expand services to the increasing food demand without the generous support of partners like The Roundhouse Foundation,” said Carly Sanders, food program director of NeighborImpact. “It helps to relieve budget stress so that we can focus on addressing food insecurity in Central Oregon. We are so appreciative of The Roundhouse Foundation for taking time to understand the food security needs in our community and the resources it takes to best serve our clients.”
On the Oregon coast, Food Share of Lincoln County is helping to strengthen the safety net for people experiencing food insecurity and financial hardships. One demographic they support, especially this time of year, is fishing families in Lincoln County.
Photo courtesy Food Share of Lincoln County
“In preparation for the commercial crabbing season, the fishermen and women work for months setting up crabbing gear, yet don’t get paid until the first load of crab is caught and delivered,” said Nancy Mitchell, executive director of Food Share of Lincoln County. “And, almost every year, the opening is delayed due to various circumstances.”
Traditionally, the season opens the day after Thanksgiving, however, this year, it has been postponed until Dec. 31, so far.
“Since this industry involves a large workforce in our area, it presents challenges for many hard-working families,” Mitchell said. “We are fortunate to have generous partners, such as Roundhouse, to help us help others in these dire times.”
Other food programs receiving support from the 2022 Fall Open Call for Proposals cycle are:
- ACCESS, which uses its mobile food pantry to provide culturally appropriate and diet-specific food for 1,050 individuals in multicultural, rural, and underserved communities throughout Jackson County. Funds from the Roundhouse Foundation are being used to increase food offerings, support their bilingual employee’s salary and gas and maintenance for the mobile food pantry.
- Hood River Valley Adult Center Meals on Wheels / The Hood River Valley Adult Center is using its grant to help with the soaring food prices and supply chain issues. Funds will be used to buy food and supplies for its home-delivered and group meals. Their cost has risen from $5.60 per meal to $9.75.
- HOPE of Rainier provides nutritional food resources for about 150 families per month in rural Rainier, on the south bank of the Columbia River in Oregon. The grant is going toward buying food for distribution, from fresh fruits and vegetables, meat, bread and milk, to baby formula and canned goods.
- La Pine Community Kitchen serves free meals to more than 3,800 people with low or no income in rural La Pine and surrounding rural communities in Deschutes, North Klamath and Lake Counties. The kitchen also distributes groceries, and hygiene products. The grant funds will help with operating expenses and may include the purchase of some food and hygiene items.
- Marion Polk Food Share received support for its AWARE Food Bank in Woodburn, so that 7,500 low-income individuals, 65 percent of whom are people of color, may continue to receive food assistance services that will help them to work, learn and thrive.
- Madras Community Food Pantry is using grant funds to buy a refrigerated truck to safely transport food weekly from NeighborImpact in Redmond to Madras for distribution at its food pantry.
- Turning Point Community Center provides emergency food supplies for about 1,000 families encountering poverty and hunger in rural Clatskanie. Grant funds are being used to buy nutritious food for distribution, in addition to expanding its cold food storage capacity.
- United Community Action Network is using its grant funding to help Feeding Umpqua in Douglas County meet emergency food needs of about 7,000 people.
