Record numbers seek emergency food
- For the second year in a row, the OFB statewide network of regional food banks distributed more than 1 million emergency food boxes.
- Since the beginning of the Great Recession in 2008, food box distribution has increased 41 percent.
- The OFB Network of regional food banks now distributes about 350,000 more food boxes annually than it did before the recession.
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270,000 people per month ate meals from emergency food boxes.
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 four times per year.
- In an average month, 92,000 children eat meals from emergency food boxes.
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4-million emergency meals were served at soup kitchens and shelters.
- And more than 93,000 people received food through other programs in the OFB Network.
Who is hungry?
- Long-term unemployment is forcing more people to seek emergency food. 27 percent of respondents said long-term unemployment was a major reason they sought emergency food. That compares to 22 percent in 2008 at the beginning of the recession.
- Most adult emergency food recipients are looking for work, working, retired or disabled.
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34 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 43.5-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.
