Site search
sponsored by
Home
News
The hungry of southern Oregon are getting a helping hand, thanks to nine local foundations.
Umpqua Community Action Network’s Food Shares program has received $45,000 from various charities to help it obtain more food to meet a growing need, according to a news release.
Michael Fieldman, executive director of UCAN, said rising unemployment in Douglas and Josephine counties has brought great pressure on UCAN’s Food Shares program, the release said. UCAN serves both counties.
A reduced supply of food coupled with more need has affected available food supply. The 12 area food pantries that receive food from Food Shares used to be able to provide a food box with a five- to seven-day food supply but now struggle to provide three days of food.
In 2008, Food Shares helped feed an average of 9,793 adults and children every month. Most who received food boxes were not repeats and went to food pantries only three times a year, the release said.
“Despite the very generous efforts of our communities during the holidays, UCAN’s Food Shares program still felt pressure to meet the demands of folks needing food boxes, said Keavy Cook, program officer of The Ford Family Foundation, according to the release.
That prompted Rogue and Umpqua Valley foundations to act. Nine local funders, which included The Ford Family, Gordon Elwood, Mercy and Cow Creek Umpqua Indian foundations, donated to the Food Shares program.
Five funds of the Oregon Community Foundation — the Whipple Foundation, Crane Creek Family, Toll and Wagner Charitable, Walton-Weston Family and the Collyer Hitchcock Family funds — also donated to Food Shares.
“These grants are greatly appreciated and very much needed in these current economic times,” said Fieldman, according to the release. “We are grateful these nine members of the philanthropic community came together so quickly to support this most basic of human needs. Thank you to all.”
UCAN, established in 1969, promotes resources and opportunities that increase self-sufficiency of low-income families and individuals to reduce poverty and improve lives in the communities it serves.
Umpqua Community Action Network’s Food Shares program has received $45,000 from various charities to help it obtain more food to meet a growing need, according to a news release.
Michael Fieldman, executive director of UCAN, said rising unemployment in Douglas and Josephine counties has brought great pressure on UCAN’s Food Shares program, the release said. UCAN serves both counties.
A reduced supply of food coupled with more need has affected available food supply. The 12 area food pantries that receive food from Food Shares used to be able to provide a food box with a five- to seven-day food supply but now struggle to provide three days of food.
In 2008, Food Shares helped feed an average of 9,793 adults and children every month. Most who received food boxes were not repeats and went to food pantries only three times a year, the release said.
“Despite the very generous efforts of our communities during the holidays, UCAN’s Food Shares program still felt pressure to meet the demands of folks needing food boxes, said Keavy Cook, program officer of The Ford Family Foundation, according to the release.
That prompted Rogue and Umpqua Valley foundations to act. Nine local funders, which included The Ford Family, Gordon Elwood, Mercy and Cow Creek Umpqua Indian foundations, donated to the Food Shares program.
Five funds of the Oregon Community Foundation — the Whipple Foundation, Crane Creek Family, Toll and Wagner Charitable, Walton-Weston Family and the Collyer Hitchcock Family funds — also donated to Food Shares.
“These grants are greatly appreciated and very much needed in these current economic times,” said Fieldman, according to the release. “We are grateful these nine members of the philanthropic community came together so quickly to support this most basic of human needs. Thank you to all.”
UCAN, established in 1969, promotes resources and opportunities that increase self-sufficiency of low-income families and individuals to reduce poverty and improve lives in the communities it serves.
