Hunger

Food advocates and parents went to Salem Wednesday to urge state lawmakers to pass a bill that would extend food assistance benefits to children who are often denied because of their immigration status.

It's a "ready-to-use therapeutic food" that's had remarkable success in treating malnourished kids. The State Department says it's still available. Factories and field workers have a different view.

The first Trump administration tried to scale back who gets food benefits, and allies aim to try again. Food pantries say they're already busier than ever.

The Oregon Food Bank is anticipating an increase in people visiting free food sites if the government shuts down. The potential shutdown comes at a dire moment: 2.5 million people visited free food sites in Oregon and southwest Washington last year, a 31% increase from the year before.

Lawmakers have several proposals to stem hunger and help low-income residents.

The Oregon Food Bank distributed more than 104 million pounds of food in the fiscal year from July 2022 through June 30, an 11% increase from the prior year. High housing and fuel costs coupled with inflation have contributed to the hunger of tens of thousands of Oregonians.

Roughly one in 10 Oregonians doesn’t have enough to eat and food insecurity disproportionately impacts communities of color, families with children, people with disabilities and LGBTQ+ communities. At the same time, 40% of food in this country is being thrown away, which is why a Portland nonprofit is trying to save that food and get it to people in need.

Participants in the federal food program might want to reevaluate their eligibility level for SNAP — and consider other assistance programs — as a pandemic-era supplement ends this month.

Rising prices and soaring demand show no sign of subsiding.

The pandemic caused historically high demands for food assistance in Oregon, demands that remained high through 2022.