“Hunger in Oregon is at record levels and food banks cannot replace a system that keeps hunger growing. When government safety net programs are weakened, families lose stability and pantry lines grow. Food is not a privilege or leverage. It is a basic human right. It is policy choices that decide who can eat and we must make better choices.”
The Oregon Food Bank 2026 State of Hunger Report: Food insecurity across Oregon and SW Washington
The Oregon Food Bank 2026 State of Hunger Report: Food insecurity across Oregon and SW Washington
Oregon Food Bank’s 2026 State of Hunger Report shows food insecurity worsening across Oregon and Southwest Washington.
—Andrea Williams, Oregon Food Bank President
Key findings from the 2026 State of Hunger Report:
Food assistance visits across Oregon and SW Washington increased 51% in two years
The Oregon Food Bank Network saw 2.9 million visits last year
1 in 7 people and 1 in 6 kids face food insecurity in Oregon
Rising need: Food insecurity is growing across Oregon and SW Washington
The rising costs of food, rent and housing continue to put pressure on families across the region. Two years ago, visits to our food assistance sites jumped 31 percent, and last year rose another 15 percent. That means in just two years, visits to food assistance sites grew by 51 percent. In real terms, the Oregon Food Bank Network saw 2.9 million visits last year, a record number.
Today, 1 in 7 people and 1 in 6 kids in Oregon and Southwest Washington face food insecurity, from Ontario to Portland to Clark County. Hunger is not just about individual choices. Policies and systems make it harder for people to make ends meet. Some communities face food insecurity more often than others, including Black, Indigenous, and communities of color, immigrants and refugees, single parents, and trans and gender expansive communities. Too many families are just one unexpected cost, such as a trip to the emergency room or a major car repair, away from struggling to put food on the table. We are in an ongoing hunger crisis and it is not slowing down.
Additionally, demand continues to outpace supply. Last year, visits increased 15 percent over the previous year, but the amount of food distributed only increased five percent. This confirms what the Oregon Food Bank Network has been reporting for years. While the Network continues to stretch every dollar and every meal, no amount of food sourcing can fully counteract policy decisions that leave families without enough support.
The Oregon Food Bank Network: Statewide reach and impact
The Oregon Food Bank Network includes 21 regional food banks and more than 1,200 free food markets, pantries, meal sites and delivery programs. The Network sourced and distributed over 98 million meals worth of food (117 million pounds) last year, prioritizing fresh produce, dairy, protein and pantry staples. Many locations are shopping-style markets that allow families to select food that matches cultural and dietary needs.
Oregon Food Bank branches are part of the regional food bank network. Examples of statewide impact across the Oregon Food Bank Network last year:
Columbia Gorge Food Bank: 40,600 visits
Portland Metro Services: 914,200 visits
Southeast Oregon Services: 28,900 visits
Tillamook County Services: 27,700 visits
Washington County Services: 269,300 visits
The Network is reaching communities across the region, especially in areas where families are facing increased costs and fewer resources.
SNAP and the policy choices that drive hunger in Oregon
Federal food assistance programs are essential to ending hunger. Nationwide, SNAP provides nine meals for every one meal provided by food banks. In Oregon, nearly 18 percent of residents rely on SNAP, one of the highest rates in the nation. State agencies and community organizations do an excellent job connecting Oregonians to benefits through outreach, multilingual assistance and simplified enrollment. In Oregon, the ratio is that SNAP provides seven meals for every one meal provided by the Oregon Food Bank Network. While this is still a large number of meals, it shows both how essential SNAP is for feeding our neighbors and how effective the Oregon Food Bank Network is at reaching communities.
During the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, visits to food assistance sites spiked. At the same time, new and expanded government food programs, including Pandemic EBT (SNAP benefits), and increased donations helped the Oregon Food Bank Network to meet that surge. These programs are policy choices that clearly benefited our communities. Since then, visits have continued to rise steadily beyond pandemic levels, while benefits have been put on the chopping block. The largest cut to SNAP in history, coupled with other food and funding cuts, has increased demand and puts additional pressure on families and food banks. We cannot food bank our way out of hunger. Policy created this problem.
Take action
The record 2.9 million visits to the Oregon Food Bank Network last year make it clear that hunger in Oregon and Southwest Washington is not slowing down. Lasting change will come from policy choices that prioritize Oregonians. The decisions made this year will determine how many families can put food on the table.
DONATE
SIGN UP FOR ACTION ALERTS
If you or someone you know needs food assistance, know that help is available and that all are welcome — no proof of gender identity or immigration status is ever required. Visit OregonFoodFinder.org to find free food markets, pantries and meal sites near you, available in 19 languages.
