Mission Statement
The mission of Farmers Ending Hunger (FEH) is to utilize the production power of local farmers to eliminate Oregon’s hunger problem. The idea behind the organization is enlisting local growers to provide help to local hungry communities. We can accomplish this by soliciting donations to our Adopt-An-Acre program, which covers the expenses of processing acres of local crops into high-quality food. The food is then distributed to a network of local food banks and social service programs.
What is Farmers Ending Hunger?
Inspired by the ongoing hunger crisis that continues to plague many communities throughout Oregon, Farmers Ending Hunger was created with the intention of utilizing the productive resources of Oregon’s farmers to fight hunger. As a result, local growers are now able to donate a portion of their farm production for distribution through the emergency food network in Oregon and Southwest Washington. With many efforts resulting in success over the last few years, FEH continues to grow, as does the need to feed Oregon’s hungry. While donations from farms and processors will always remain invaluable, FEH is also reaching out to Oregon’s concerned community members to donate funds and participate in their Adopt-An-Acre program. Funds from these types of donations cover additional costs beyond the farm gate, such as product sorting, processing, storage and trucking. Whether you are a farmer, a processor, or simply a concerned member of our community, there are many ways to help Farmers Ending Hunger. Contact us to find out how.
Origins of FEH
In 2004, Fred Ziari attended a meeting to address Oregon’s hunger program. As a 20-year veteran of agri-business engineering, Ziari was surprised to see Oregon as the hungriest state in America with 25% of the population eating less than one meal per day. He decided to discuss this with farmers and colleagues in eastern Oregon. For months, Ziari met with numerous farmers in the region, one of the most productive in the nation, and tried to enlist their support to feed the hungry.
"The common theme was that no one had asked the farmers before to solve hunger problems in the state. They said of course they would," says Ziari.
A few years earlier, Jim Youde developed a similar concept to generate more food donations from the agricultural industry for distribution through food banks. Youde set up a non-profit called Extended Harvest, which included the Adopt-An-Acre program. When Ziari and Youde compared ideas, they decided to combine their efforts and change the name to Farmers Ending Hunger.
FEH was created with the intention of utilizing the productive resources of Oregon’s farmers to fight the ongoing hunger crisis that continues to plague many communities throughout Oregon. Growers now donate a portion of their farm production for distribution throughout emergency food networks in Oregon and southwest Washington.
How FEH Works
Our ability to fight hunger all starts with farmers who donate a portion of their harvest. As a non-profit organization, FEH relies on those donations from farmers as well as donations from food processors and individuals to continue its mission. Oregon growers who partner with FEH donate a portion of their farm production to emergency food networks such as the Oregon Food Bank. FEH helps cover additional costs including product sorting, processing, packaging materials, storage and trucking to accomplish final product distribution. While some food processors and other providers donate some of these services, FEH has established a Matching Funds Program to help successfully deliver high quality food products to the Oregon Food Bank.
Work with the Oregon Food Bank
Farmers Ending Hunger is proud to partner with and support Oregon Food Bank and through this outlet support a network of hunger-relief agencies.
Hunger remains a huge problem across Oregon and southwest Washington. During the 2005/2006 fiscal year, the Oregon Food Bank Network distributed 775,000 emergency food boxes. That is double the volume of boxes distributed only ten years ago. In an average month, 72,000 children in Oregon eat meals from the emergency food boxes and almost one-half of food recipient households have at least one working adult. However, their incomes are too low to cover the basic living costs. The high cost of housing, health care, childcare, utilities and fuel make it too difficult for low-income families and individuals to have enough money to pay for food.
Food banks and charity organizations across the United States face major challenges in providing food to respond to hunger. The volume of U.S.D.A. distributions to food banks, once a major source of high-quality foods, has declined dramatically in recent years. Food processors and retailers remain major donors to food banks, but industry consolidation and centralization of distribution systems create new logistical and cost hurdles in delivering these products to emergency food networks.
Contact Us
Mailing Address:
Post Office Box 7361
Salem, Oregon 97303
John G. Burt, Executive Director: burtjgb@aol.com
Board of Directors:
Fred Ziari, President: fred@ezwireless.us
Bob Levy, Vice President: boblevy@oregontrail.net
Jim Youde, Treasurer: jyoude@aol.com
Rick Jaconson: jacobsonrg@msn.com
Frank Lamb: frankgl@comcast.net
Pieper Sweeney: sweeneypreserves@aol.com
Tom Winn: tomwinn0@gmail.com