John Greentree and Katy Lamb
We loaded up our cars and arrived at the Oregon Food Bank’s Southeast Oregon Service Center, ready to sort. Our day of service meant all hands on deck to help categorize previously donated food. Peter Lawson, Branch Manager, provided some quick training and background information regarding the number of households and agencies their center serves.
Southeast Oregon Services provides food to 23 partner agencies in Malheur and Harney counties. In addition to providing emergency food, Southeast Oregon Services supports summer food programs for children, a local gleaning group and a number of other supplemental programs.
Southeast Oregon Services works to eliminate the root causes of hunger and poverty through SNAP (food stamp) outreach, nutrition and garden education and promotion of sustainable food systems. It’s located in Ontario and is one of four regional food banks directly operated by the Oregon Food Bank.
The challenge
Hunger is on the rise in southeast Oregon. Emergency food box distribution in Malheur and Harney counties has nearly tripled since 2004. Last year Southeast Oregon Services distributed 11 percent more emergency food boxes in the community.
Be a Part of the Solution
The Nichols Accounting Group sorted four tons of food that day, and had a great time in the process! It’s inspired us to do more and we hope that others will join us in the fight against hunger.
Check out our Community Photo Album on Facebook for more pictures.
CPA’s, being silly? Yep.