Those in need getting less

[Amelia]

Oregon Food Banks faces empty shelves

Sunday, September 23, 2007

Associated Press

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- The Oregon Food Bank says their Portland warehouse is emptier than ever because of a shortage of food donations and recent canned food recalls

Oregon Food Bank executive director Rachel Bristol also told OPB that donations from farmers are down because agricultural prices are up, and more farmers are converting to corn for biofuels.

Also companies are no longer donating their seconds, overruns and dents to food banks but instead selling them overseas.

Bristol says she expects food drives this fall and winter to refill the some shelves. But she says food drives will kick into high gear earlier than usual.

Food banks use to give out enough food to feed a family for 5 days. Now they only give out enough for 3 days. Many families go without food those remaining days.

*How does this affect us? Portland Adventist Community Services food bank receives more than half of all it's food from the Oregon Food Bank. If OFB doesn't have it, then PACS doesn't have it and the hungry doesn't get it. This is the trickle down of food recalls etc.

[Guest charis]

One good thing about Portland Public School system is that many of the public high schools have annual food drives for the Food Bank. The students have made significant efforts in the past to raise money and canned food items to re-stock the food bank. Let's hope this continues as the new school year begins.

(I don't know if the SDA school system has similar food drives in this area, aside from the *can collecting* that is done by Pathfinders at Halloween.)

[Dr. Shane]

Sounds like opportunity knocking... doesn't it?

[Amelia]

Pacs does have a twice yearly neighborhood knocking done by the constituent schools. But since it isn't manditory the food gain depends on the number of students participating. They also have donation barrels in any church that agrees to host one.

Still, PACS relied on certain basics from OFB. It's these basics that made up over 50% of food given out to the hungry. Food that, no matter what other stuffs were donated, a hungry person was guarenteed something healthful to take home.

Be aware that this is happening to all food banks across the country. So if you think about it, take something filling and non perishable to your local food bank or church pantry.