Community Fundraising Partners
Community Fundraising Partners
Five months after COVID-19 hit Oregon and SW Washington, we are reflecting on the ways our community has grown in the face of crisis and social change. From volunteering to writing to our legislators to protesting police brutality, we’ve shown that we are a community who stands together.
As businesses shuttered and schools closed in mid-March, individuals and organizations immediately jumped into action. People of all ages, identities, and expertise rallied around their communities to raise resources for people experiencing layoffs, unexpected childcare, and food insecurity.
This outpouring of support has renewed our faith that together, we will end hunger in Oregon and SW Washington. Here are some of the ways folks have come together to make a difference:
Girl Scout Troop #10091 donated their spring cookie sales and took a virtual tour of the food bank to learn how to get their friends and families involved in the fight against hunger.
Runners, cyclists, and swimmers challenged their friends, families, and co-workers to donate funds for each mile they moved, turning an activity they love into an opportunity for change.
The Virtual Valley Music Festival donated ticket sales to Oregon Food Bank and our partner, Food for Lane County. As racial justice protests reignited across the nation, the Virtual Valley Fest pivoted their funds to the Black Lives Matter movement, showing the interconnectedness between our work to end the root causes of hunger and systemic injustices.
And finally, second graders at Oak Grove Elementary, a 100% free and reduced meal school and a partner in food distribution to the Milwaukie community, challenged their peers to each bring in $1.00. By the time schools closed for the year, they had raised over $250.
These are just a few examples of folks who brought their unique strengths, skills, and creativity to ensure that hunger is not a symptom of COVID-19. This collective effort will not only buoy people experiencing hunger right now, but will also help fight the root causes of hunger for years to come.
As we know, the pandemic is far from over. It will take all of us working together to emerge stronger. We welcome you to support one of many community fundraisers, or start your own, by visiting https://give.oregonfoodbank.org/engage.
Thank you to our community partners. You have built the collective power to raise resources at a scale that will lead us all closer to wellbeing, abundance, and justice.