Causes of hunger
- Poverty has increased significantly in Oregon.
- From 11.7 percent in 2007-08 to 13.8 percent in 2009-10, according to U.S. Census data.
- 25,000 more Oregonians fell into poverty from 2009 to 2010.
- 535,000 Oregonians lived below the poverty rate in 2010.
- Growing levels of long-term unemployment forced more people to seek food.
- Hiring has stalled, keeping Oregon's unemployment rate at 9.6 percent
- 13% of Oregon's children have at least one unemployed parent, ranking the state third-worst nationally.
- Low-wages and limited benefits also forced more people with jobs to seek food assistance.
- People in our area will feel the impacts of the Great Recession for years to come.
Record numbers seek emergency food
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For the first time ever, the OFB statewide network distributed more than 1 million emergency food boxes.
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260,000 people per month ate meals from emergency food boxes. That compares to 200,000 in 2007-08.
- A typical emergency food box provides a three- to five-day supply of groceries.
- Most food pantries serve a specific geographic area and limit the number of times a family can receive help.
- On average, families access emergency food boxes less than four times per year.
- In an average month, 85,800 children eat meals from emergency food boxes.
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3.9-million emergency meals were served at soup kitchens and shelters.
- And more than 98,000 people received food through other programs in the OFB Network.
- The Oregon Food Bank statewide network moved a record 81-million pounds of food last year.
Who is hungry?
- Long-term unemployment is forcing more people to seek emergency food. 28 percent of adults were unemployed and looking for work, compared to 20 percent in 2008.
- Most adult emergency food recipients are looking for work, working, retired or disabled.
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33 percent of those receiving emergency food are children.
Hunger's effects
- Hunger hurts families, children, seniors and those who are disabled.
- Hunger negatively impacts learning, health, productivity and potential for both children and adults.
- Children who are hungry have more difficulty learning in school
- Childhood hunger and malnutrition can lead to irreversible health problems later in life.
Our actions
- Oregon Food Bank provided 45-million pounds of nutritious food and more than $2 million in grants and equipment to the OFB Network.
- OFB works to eliminate the root causes of hunger through advocacy, nutrition education, garden education and through working with communities to strengthen local food systems.
- Working together to fight hunger, our network, individuals, groups, businesses, public agencies and elected officials were able to hold the line on hunger in Oregon at 6.1 percent of the population.
