Community engagement programs and leadership opportunities
Community engagement programs and leadership opportunities
At Oregon Food Bank, we center people experiencing hunger in all that we do. We focus on building community power to eliminate hunger and its root causes – for good. Our work to address hunger’s root causes amplifies community voices and grows grassroots power. Together, we are building a movement that unites people to create real, lasting change.
We hope you’ll join us in Oregon and Clark County, Washington as we create solutions to end food insecurity once and for all. For more information about Oregon Food Bank’s community engagement programs and leadership opportunities, please read through our program descriptions below.
Food, Education, Agriculture, Solutions Together (FEAST)
Program Description: FEAST is a community organizing process that supports conversations about food that lead to local action. Through the FEAST Support Fund grant program, Oregon Food Bank supports local leadership teams to plan and hold FEAST conversations in their community. From those conversations, communities identify projects to implement that help strengthen their local food system and build community food security.
Program Timeline: October through December of the following year (a 15-month duration).
Who is eligible? A team of at least 3 people from a community in Oregon can apply to the FEAST Support Fund. You will need a fiscal sponsor in order to receive the funds. Preference is given to applicants from immigrant and refugee communities; Black, Indigenous, and all communities of color; trans and gender-non-conforming (TGNC) communities; and single mothers and caregivers. FEAST also gives preference to rural communities and those who have not participated in FEAST in the past two years.
Funding: FEAST Support Fund recipients receive a $7,000 grant, which includes $2,000 for Leadership Team member support and $5,000 for FEAST events and projects.
How to apply: Apply online.
Contact: Adriana Cvitkovic (she/her), Community Food Systems Organizer, acvitkovic@oregonfoodbank.org, 971-223-3359
Learn More: Additional FEAST information
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Outreach Ambassador Program
Program Description: The SNAP Outreach Ambassador Program engages community organizers around SNAP and food access. These dialogues lead to developing and implementing community outreach projects and feedback structures. The goal is to increase food security while improving client experience with SNAP. Through the SNAP Outreach Ambassador program, Oregon Food Bank increases food equity through direct outreach to immigrant and refugee communities and civic engagement.
Program Timeline: Six to eight months
Who is eligible? Oregon residents 18 years of age and older are welcome to participate in the SNAP Outreach Ambassador Program. Oregon Food Bank prioritizes the following equity constituencies in the Ambassador selection process: people and communities of color; immigrants and refugees; single moms and caregivers; and trans and gender-non-conforming (TGNC) folx. Ambassadors are committed to championing equity efforts within their personal lives, workplace and community. They will add representation of diverse perspectives to the cohort.
Funding: OFB provides financial support to remove barriers – such as childcare and transportation costs – to participate in this program. Please inquire with program staff to learn more.
How to apply: Apply online in English and Spanish. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Contact: Claire Nichols(she/her), Community Resource Developer, cnichols@oregonfoodbank.org, 971.230.1643
Learn More: Additional SNAP Outreach Ambassador Program information
Free Food Market (FFM) Program
Program Description: Oregon Food Bank’s Free Food Markets (FFMs) are in-person, no-cost food distributions where any and all individuals and families are welcome. In a comfortable, welcoming environment, folx can access fresh produce and culturally relevant foods. Free Food Markets are designed to be highly flexible and easily adapted to different community spaces and needs to center client dignity and equity, cultivate community and facilitate connections with community services.
Program Timeline: One-year minimum
Who is eligible? Non-profits, faith-based organizations and any other organizational groups interested in food insecurity.
How to apply: Please reach out to the Free Food Market Coordinator to express interest.
Contact: Rocky Nylund, Metro Services Manager, rnylund@oregonfoodbank.org, 503.689.8833 x8833
Double Up Food Bucks (DUFB) Ambassador Program
Program Description: The DUFB program offers Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants additional dollars to spend on fruits and vegetables when they use their Oregon Trail EBT card at participating grocery stores, corner stores, farmers markets and farms in Oregon. DUFB Ambassadors identify ways to strengthen the impact of the program on communities who are disproportionately impacted by hunger and food insecurity. Join a cohort of community leaders that will provide direct outreach and education about DUFB, inform program decisions to lift barriers to participation and improve the program's overall accessibility.
Program Timeline: January to December annually, with options for 6-to-12-month project commitments
Who is eligible? Ambassadors must reside in Oregon and be 18 years of age or older. Oregon Food Bank prioritizes the following equity constituencies in the Ambassador selection process: people and communities of color; immigrants and refugees; single moms and caregivers; and trans and gender non-conforming (TGNC) folx. Ambassadors are committed to championing equity efforts within their personal lives, workplace and community. They will add representation of diverse perspectives to the cohort. English proficiency is not necessary to fill this role. Translation and interpretation services are available for all meetings and written materials.
Funding: OFB provides financial support to remove barriers – such as childcare and transportation costs – to participate in this program. Please inquire with program staff to learn more.
How to apply: Apply online in English or Spanish. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Contact: Mason Durfee (they/them), Double Up Food Bucks Organizer, mdurfee@oregonfoodbank.org, 971.223.3358 (call or text)
Learn More: Additional DUFB Ambassador Program information
Community Leadership Core (CLC) for Health for Equity
Program Description: The CLC develops programming that addresses the causes of health inequity and food insecurity that negatively impact community health. We focus on the impacts of systemic racism, and strategize to eliminate the barriers to health equity and quality foods for communities most impacted by hunger, including Black, Indigenous, and other people of color, immigrants and refugees, trans and gender-non-conforming (TGNC) individuals, and single moms and caregivers.
Members in this group will be leaders and advocates for Oregon Food Bank's efforts to increase health equity. Each member will bring their own lived experience of health inequities and food insecurity to implement meaningful ways in which we can all take action through food justice.
Program Timeline: 6–12 months
Who is eligible? Individuals must reside in Oregon, be 18 years of age or older, and have lived experience of food insecurity and health inequities.
Funding: OFB provides financial support to remove barriers — such as child care and transportation costs — to participate in this program. Please inquire with program staff to learn more.
How to apply: Please call or email the Program Organizer for more information.
Contact: Contact Jasmine Eppelsheimer (she/her), Health Equity Organizer, jeppelsheimer@oregonfoodbank.org
Food Systems Ambassador Program
Program Description: Over a 15-month period, the Food Systems Ambassador Program works with four to six leaders for culturally specific communities through relationship building, intercultural exchange, program development and implementation. Ambassadors will create culturally specific projects that aim to improve their communities' access to food security resources, address root causes of hunger and create engagement opportunities for a more inclusive democracy. Ambassadors will help to build trust, understanding and collaborative strength between their community, the other ambassador communities, Oregon Food Bank and the political and social service entities at local, state and federal levels. Ambassadors will receive interpretation and translation services to ensure that English language proficiency is not a barrier. Support will include: financial incentives and community grant funds, 1-on-1 support, group training around hunger-relief programs, farm and garden projects, leadership development, community fundraising, and civic engagement activities. Technological support will be provided to increase access to virtual meetings.
Program Timeline: 15 months
Who is eligible? Anyone who identifies as a member of an underserved or marginalized community. Oregon Food Bank prioritizes access to single mothers and caregivers; immigrant, refugee, Black, Indigenous, and all Communities of Color; and trans and gender-non-conforming communities.
Funding: ~$5,800 Community Grant for Ambassador Project. Additional funds and grants are available throughout the program year, with a goal of continued funding after project completion.
How to apply: Apply online here. Applications will be accepted until Sept. 2nd 2022. Please call or email the Ambassador Program Organizer for more information. Referrals for other people are welcome; please consider who in your community would be interested in being a Food Systems Ambassador.
Contact: Devin Dinihanian, Ambassador Program Organizer, ddinhanian@oregonfoodbank.org
