Community engagement programs and leadership opportunities

Program Description: FEAST (Food, Education, Agriculture, Solutions Together) 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 the following December (15 months)

Who is eligible? A team of at least three people from a community in Oregon or Clark County, WA can apply to the FEAST Support Fund. You will need a fiscal sponsor to receive the funds (501c3 or LLC). Preference is given to applicants from Oregon Food Bank’s equity constituencies: immigrant and refugee communities, Black, Indigenous, and all communities of color, trans and gender expansive communities, and single mothers or caregivers. FEAST also gives preference to rural communities.

Funding: FEAST Support Fund recipients receive a $10,000 grant, which includes $3,000 for Leadership Team member support and $7,000 for FEAST events and projects.

How to apply: The application is posted on the FEAST webpage annually on July 1.

Contact: Adriana Cvitkovic (she/her), acvitkovic@oregonfoodbank.org, 971-223-3359

Learn More: More about the FEAST Support Fund at the link here

Program Description:

Double Up Food Bucks Oregon is a program that earns shoppers more Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) dollars to spend on fruits and vegetables when they use their Oregon Trail Card at participating grocery stores and farmers markets in the state. To strengthen the impact of Double Up on communities who are disproportionately impacted by hunger and food insecurity, Oregon Food Bank supports the Double Up Food Bucks Ambassador Program. The focus of the program is to provide direct outreach and education about Double Up to SNAP recipients and inform program decisions to lift barriers to participation and improve the program's overall accessibility.

Ambassador Program Details:

• The 2025 Double Up Ambassador Program will consist of six community members. Participants will choose the total number of hours they will participate in the program in collaboration with Oregon Food Bank staff.
  • Time commitment: 12-37 hours
• Ambassadors will get training and provide documentation to Oregon Food Bank Double Up Food Bucks staff contact.
• Ambassadors will participate in Double Up outreach and education activities that support program promotion at select participating stores.
• Ambassadors are contracted as independent contractors to assist with program activities.
  • Hourly Rate - $65.92
• Oregon Food Bank will provide Double Up Food Bucks outreach materials to support participants in reaching out to SNAP participants.
• Meetings with Oregon Food Bank staff will be held virtually.
  • Any in-person meetings or events will follow all state and county health regulations related to safety.

Ambassador Activities Include:

• Planning and attending in person or virtual outreach events (ex. tabling, community gatherings, online presentations) that share information about how SNAP shoppers can use Double Up Food Bucks program at participating stores
• Documenting outreach activities on an ongoing basis and sharing pictures and stories with program staff
• The opportunity to participate in a community forum and provide feedback for the purpose of increasing program accessibility
• Participating in end of year program celebration

Eligibility Guidelines:

• Ambassadors must live in Oregon and be 18 years of age or older
• Ambassadors must currently be using the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) program
• We recognize the impact that barriers have on members of our communities primarily based on race and gender, so Oregon Food Bank is prioritizing the following communities in the Ambassador selection process:
  • People who are Black, Indigenous or other people of color
  • People who are immigrants or refugees
  • People who are single moms/caregivers
  • People who are trans or gender expansive
  • People who are committed to championing equity efforts within their personal lives, workplace, and community.
• Ability to commit to participate in program trainings, events and activities.

Application Instructions:

Apply by providing your responses to these questions in English or Spanish in an email to:
doubleupgrocery@oregonfoodbank.org.

You can also reach out to Jas Eppelsheimer, Double Up Food Bucks Strategists if you would prefer to answer questions by phone. Phone: 503-894-6711.

Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis.

Learn More: DUFB Ambassador Program Description

Program Description: The Food Systems Ambassador Program recruits four to six leaders for culturally specific communities, and supports this cohort for 15 months of relationship building, intercultural exchange, program development and implementation, and initiating 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, 1:1 support, group training regarding hunger relief programs, farm & 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. Preference is given to applicants from Oregon Food Bank’s equity constituencies: immigrant and refugee communities, Black, Indigenous, and all communities of color, trans and gender expansive communities, and single mothers or caregivers.

Funding: ~$5,800 Community Grant for Ambassador Project, additional funds and grants available throughout the program year, with a goal of continued funding after project completion.

How to apply: Applications are active July — September. Call or email Ambassador Program Organizer. Referrals for other people are welcome, please consider who in your community would be interested in being a Food Systems Ambassador.

Contact: ddinhanian@oregonfoodbank.org