Built for the moment: How modern infrastructure supports a powerful network

Communities across Oregon and SW Washington rely on our network of 21 regional food banks and more than 1,200 food assistance partners when crises hit.

Modernizing infrastructure is how we create a strong, flexible network and strengthen our ability to serve our communities.

Thanks to transformational investments from Rooted + Rising, our $80 million campaign to create a future free from hunger, Oregon Food Bank is a leader in operational innovation.

Support for our communities and our climate

Through Rooted + Rising, Oregon Food Bank doubled our Statewide Warehouse's cold storage capacity and expanded transportation capabilities. Now we have a safer workplace, meaningful energy savings, and a fleet ready to reach even more families across Oregon.

A critical component of this is "shore power" technology, which allows the fleet of trucks to plug into our buildings overnight instead of running diesel engines to maintain refrigeration. The result is more reliable power to keep food cool while we reduce our dependence on fossil fuels.

We know that more people are facing displacement and food insecurity because of more frequent and severe wildfires. These investments expand our capacity to respond, while reducing the carbon emissions driving the crisis.

Strengthening our safety net

The new Columbia Gorge Food Bank facility expanded their food distribution space and resources to support communities facing hunger in Hood River, Sherman and Wasco counties, and beyond.

“What many people don’t realize is that our network of food pantries and regional food banks, we already act as a safety net to SNAP. For many families, SNAP is not enough,” said Breen.

In fall 2025, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) withheld SNAP food assistance , leaving 750,000+ people across Oregon without the benefits they rely on to buy food.

Our network of food banks mobilized quickly by getting extra food out the door and onto trucks across the state because the infrastructure investments were already in place.

As the federal government escalates its cuts to essential programs, we will continue to meet our community’s resilience with the foundation of stable, modern infrastructure.

Fresh from the farm, moved across the region

Fresh produce and dairy now make up 37 percent of all the food we distribute, thanks to partnerships with local farms.

Kevin Wang, owner of Naturekist Farm Co. in Hood River, donated all of their cosmetically damaged Asian pears to the Oregon Food Bank network, including Columbia Gorge Food Bank, after SNAP benefits were cut last year.

"It’s been really hard for a lot of people, a lot of people are scared with the current political climate," said Kevin. "Everybody's just working hard to raise their families, and that's the resilience I see in the community."

Partnerships like these are made possible by Rooted + Rising investments that allowed Columbia Gorge Food Bank to accept more locally grown and harvested bounty, store perishable food and move resources across Oregon and Southwest Washington at scale.

Prepared for the future

Columbia Gorge Food Bank plans to continue developing relationships now that they have capacity to accept more donations for years to come. Together, our strong network of food banks is able to connect our communities to fresh, locally grown food and be ready for whatever moment comes next.

“Once folks really understand what we can do, in 5 years, in 10 years, I hope to be moving hundreds of thousands of pounds through this facility than we ever could before. Both into our community and up into the larger network,” said Breen.

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