Who we are

Our mission
To eliminate hunger and its root causes … because no one should be hungry.

What is Oregon Food Bank?
Oregon Food Bank is a nonprofit, charitable organization. It is the hub of the Oregon Food Bank Network, a statewide network of 20 regional food banks and 935 agencies and programs serving Oregon and Clark County, Wash.

Oregon Food Bank recovers food from farmers, manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, individuals and government sources. It then delivers that food to 20 regional food banks covering OFB’s service area. Regional food banks distribute this food and additional resources from local donations to nonprofit programs serving low-income people in their communities.

Sixteen of the 20 regional food banks are independent charitable organizations. OFB directly operates the four regional food banks serving the Portland metro area, Washington County, southeast Oregon and Tillamook County. Those four centers distribute food to more than 340 food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters and other programs helping low-income individuals in Clackamas, Clark, Multnomah, Washington, Harney, Malheur and Tillamook counties.

OFB also works to eliminate the root causes of hunger through advocacy, nutrition education, learning gardens and public education.

Who’s hungry?
Distribution of emergency food boxes and the number of people served throughout the Oregon Food Bank Network escalated to historic highs during fiscal year 2008-09. Need remains at alarmingly high levels.

Emergency food box distribution increased 14 percent, from 785,569 in 2007-08 to 897,142 in 2008-09 – an increase of 111,459 emergency food boxes.

In addition, soup kitchens and shelters provided 3.8-million emergency meals and other programs in the OFB Network helped more than 96,000 people.

Those most likely to need emergency food are children, working families, the elderly, the retired, the disabled. They are your neighbors, and they need your help.

Last year, Oregon Food Bank collected and distributed 36-million pounds of food. In total, the Oregon Food Bank Network of 919 agencies distributed 66.2-million pounds of food.

Why are people hungry?

Hunger is an income issue.

People are hungry because they don't make enough money to cover basic living costs. The high cost of housing, health care, childcare and fuel make it difficult for low-income individuals and families to have enough money to pay for food.

67 percent of households receiving emergency food boxes reported incomes less than 100 percent of the federal poverty level.