Resources and Action to Help End Summer Hunger
Resources and Action to Help End Summer Hunger
For families facing food insecurity, June has long marked a time when kids no longer have easy access to breakfast and lunch at school. Many parents and caregivers have to come up with at least 10 additional meals per week, per child.
Driven by the ongoing economic fallout of COVID-19, the sunsetting of pandemic safety nets and the rising cost of food and housing, we are in an ongoing hunger crisis. Last year, we saw 1.9 million visits to food assistance sites through the Oregon Food Bank Network — a 14 percent increase from the previous year and a record number of visits.
The summer months are shaping up to be a difficult time for so many of us to make ends meet. So whether you live in the city, the suburbs, or in our rural and remote areas, know that food is available this summer.
Thanks to strong government and community support, there are a host of resources available to support area families over the summer months:
The Summer Food Service Program is available in hundreds of communities throughout Oregon — offering free meals and snacks to all kids and teens. Find local sites here.
The newly passed Summer EBT program will provide eligible families an additional $40 per month for three months during the summer for groceries. Families with children already participating in SNAP, Medicaid or TANF will be enrolled automatically — meaning parents or guardians do not have to do anything to receive the extra dollars. For more information, contact the Oregon Department of Human Services.
Your SNAP dollars can be doubled when you spend them on fresh produce this summer! Many farmers markets, community supported agriculture (CSA) programs and grocery stores will double the value of SNAP dollars to connect families to more fresh fruits and vegetables. Participating locations can be found at at doubleuporegon.org.
As always, the Oregon Food Bank Network of food assistance sites are open throughout Oregon and Southwest Washington — offering fresh produce and pantry staples to all who need it. Find pantries and delivery options near you on our FoodFinder app. These locations can often accept consumer-donated food as well, so be sure to check out local options in your community!
If you’re in a position to help, there are concrete ways to have an impact right now. Your support helps area pantries, free food markets and meal sites ramp up local efforts while school is out.
