Oregon lawmakers on the road to see hunger across the state

We’re taking Oregon lawmakers on the road

No matter where you go in Oregon right now, people are struggling to keep food on the table. Hunger and food insecurity are affecting communities across the state, as rising food costs and cuts to SNAP put more pressure on families and Oregon’s food system.

In response, Oregon Food Bank and our statewide network of 21 regional food banks and 1,200+ food assistance sites are inviting lawmakers into the communities they represent to see how hunger shows up in the community and how our Network responds. They’re coming with us to pantries and warehouses across the state to chat with our neighbors who use them.

Why now? Hunger is increasing across Oregon

Last summer, Congress passed H.R. 1. It's the largest cut to SNAP (formerly known as food stamps) in the program's history, and nearly 94,000 Oregonians have already lost benefits because of it.

Meanwhile, our network is busier than it's ever been. Visits to food assistance sites are up 51% over the last two years, reaching 2.9 million visits last year, higher than anything we've tracked in 40 years of doing this work. It's harder to keep shelves stocked. Food costs more. Federal support is disappearing. This ripples through our whole food system.

The strain is showing up everywhere, so the solutions have to reach everywhere too.

Where is the tour?

In August, we brought lawmakers to the Oregon coast.

Tillamook has its own story and Oregon Food Bank Tillamook County helped provide that. But Tillamook was just one stop. Partners across our network will also be hosting tours, each one built around what their community needs lawmakers to see.

"Unfortunately, with the rising food, housing and utilities costs, the cuts to SNAP have increased food insecurity in Oregon... This makes it harder for families already struggling with the increase in living cost, forcing them to make a decision between buying healthy food or paying essential bills..."
— Marissa, 📍 Tillamook County, OR

Piece these experiences together and you've got a room full of lawmakers who understand the state of hunger in our communities when they enter the legislative session. Stories from all across the state.

"Central Oregon families who rely on SNAP don't have much cushion, and a good number of the people who showed up at NeighborImpact's doors that week [after the November 2025 SNAP crisis] had never asked anyone for emergency food before."

"I wanted [state leaders] to hear that directly from someone who watched it happen in this corner of the state, not just read it in a press clip."

— Scott Cooper, Executive Director, NeighborImpact 📍 Redmond, OR

The solution: Lawmakers can choose to address hunger across the state

These tours aren't just about seeing the problem. Oregon Food Bank is asking Oregon's lawmakers to act in 2027:

School Meals for All: School Meals for All would ensure all kids can eat breakfast and lunch at school, regardless of where they live. This would reduce child hunger, ease family grocery costs by $1,400 per student each year, and improve student health and academic outcomes.

Oregon’s food assistance system: Oregon must increase the Oregon Hunger Response Fund to keep Oregon’s emergency food system operating. This funding supports the procurement and distribution of fresh, locally sourced produce, dairy, protein and pantry staples – ensuring that nourishing and culturally relevant food reaches families. This will provide a crucial lifeline for the 1 in 6 Oregonians facing food insecurity who will rely on food banks even more with cuts to SNAP.

Ensure Oregonians can afford groceries: Lawmakers can help more Oregonians afford groceries by:

Putting money in the pockets of Oregonians by expanding effective tax credits, like the Child Tax Credit.
Ensuring no one has to choose between going to the doctor and buying food by protecting health coverage (Medicaid and Healthier Oregon) for all Oregonians.