How do I donate crops to FEH?
Farmers may donate crops in a variety of ways. Large quantities may be transported directly to the Oregon Food Bank; crops may be sold and the proceeds donated; or crops that need further processing will be coordinated by FEH and food processors. Small quantities may sometimes be donated directly to the Regional Food Banks.
If you are a farmer and interested in making a donation, please contact us and we will make the process as easy as possible.
How can the public get involved?
The Adopt-An-Acre program gives the public the opportunity to partner with our farmer donors. Cash donations will help with processing the food, handling and transportation costs that help get the crops from the field to the Oregon Food Bank.
Are there volunteer opportunities with FEH?
Yes! FEH has tables at Portland area farmers markets during the summer and are looking for more locations all the time. Volunteers are needed to staff those tables. Please visit the Ways to Help page to see other ways to donate your time to FEH.
Where does the donated food go?
The donated crops are delivered to the Oregon Food Bank and Oregon Food Bank Statewide Network of 20 regional food banks throughout Oregon and Clark County, Washington. Many crops are delivered directly to the Oregon Food Bank from the farmers while other require further processing and then delivered to the Food Bank.
How are cash donations used?
The majority of cash donations are used in support of getting the food crops from the farm to the Oregon Food Bank. About ten percent of the budget is set aside to cover administrative costs. FEH received a $40,000 grant from the Oregon Food Bank in 2007 that helps FEH continue its efforts. FEH is also soliciting grants from many foundation in the northwest and nationally. In 2008 FEH received a $50,000 grant from the Oregon Community Foundation and a $35,000 grant from Kraft Foods.
What has FEH done to date?
Since its inception in 2004, FEH has helped feed countless hungry Oregonians and since 2006, almost one million pounds of high quality food crops have been donated by FEH to the Oregon Food Bank. The first donation of 173,000 pounds of frozen peas was made in November 2006 and about 800,000 pounds of total crops were donated in 2007. You can request a complete report of FEH’s accomplishments from John Burt at burtjgb@aol.com.
What crops were donated in 2008? What types of crops are needed?
The major commodities donated in 2008 included potatoes, onions, carrots, dried peas, wheat and cattle. The wheat resulted in 90,000 pounds of pancake mix and the dried peas resulted in 84,000 pounds of dry soup mix. Cattle donations resulted in 9,500 pounds of hamburger per month.
Why is there such a high need for food?
Just three years ago, Oregon was the number one state in the nation for food insecurity. The ranking has improved only because other states have steadily gotten worse. The hunger need is a huge issue and persists today in families and children here in Oregon. Oregon food banks have seen demand for emergency food with double digit percentage increases annually over the past three years. Recent winter floods also increased the demand. Oregon’s relatively high cost of housing and home energy contributes to stress on families and many Oregonians are only one medical emergency or automobile repair bill away from needing emergency food assistance. Approximately 40% of those receiving food throughout the Oregon Food Bank network are children.