The Oregon Food Bank gave away crates of fresh fruit and vegetables Thursday to people in need. Grocers donate the produce that's handed out on a monthly basis at sites around the Portland area.
The Food Bank’s Harvest Share program provides fresh produce to families living in poverty.
Laura Golino de Lovato is the communications director for the Food Bank. She says that fresh produce has become a luxury for many.
“People are struggling to make ends meet and often food is the discretionary item in the family budget that gets cut first.”
Todd Knoedler had to tighten his budget after he lost his job in a warehouse. He says that Harvest Share has helped keep him afloat after three heart surgeries last year.
“We were barely living off of food stamps, and now that we found this thing we are making it through the month instead of starving in about a week.”
Lovato with the Food Bank says the demand for food assistance is rising all across the state.
