April 14, 2020 3:25 a.m.
Oregon Governor Kate Brown has announced that the state will provide $8 million to help the Oregon Food Bank.
Brown said this will help with an urgent need with more families seeking assistance during the COVID-19 public health crisis. The state will pay Oregon Food Bank weekly, as needed over the next eight weeks, to meet the increased demand, according to a release issued Monday. The state expects to receive 75% reimbursement from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, in accordance with the federal emergency declaration.
Brown said “I know many Oregonians, through no fault of their own, have lost jobs and incomes due to the COVID-19 outbreak”. She said the Oregon Food Bank is a vital resource for families in need.
The food bank network includes 21 regional food banks and more than 1,400 food assistance sites around the state. The release said it has seen a dramatic increase in demand since March. At the same time, donations from food producers, manufacturers and grocers, have decreased dramatically due to the high demand. The release said that has created a significant strain on the ability of food banks to support some of Oregon’s most vulnerable populations.
The Governor’s release said though the investment “strongly positions” the food bank network to increase availability in the coming weeks, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program remains the state’s first line of defense against hunger.