PRESS RELEASE: Food for All Oregonians Coalition Introduces Bill as Part of Immigrant Justice Package

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 27, 2025
Contact: Morgan Dewey, media@foodforallor.org, 801-712-7969

Food for All Oregonians Coalition Introduces Bill as Part of Immigrant Justice Package

Newly released data shows hunger crisis in Oregon, underscoring urgent need for action

Salem, Ore. — In a show of broad support, community members, legislators and advocates gathered at the Oregon State Capitol today to introduce the Food for All Oregonians bill (SB 611) as part of the larger Immigrant Justice Package. This legislation seeks to ensure every Oregonian — including immigrants and refugees excluded from federal programs like SNAP — has access to the resources we need to thrive.

The Food for All Oregonians coalition, comprised of over 160 organizations across the state, made clear the need to pass this legislation highlighting the critical contributions immigrants and refugees make to Oregon’s economy and food systems, despite being excluded from food assistance programs.

Andrea Williams, newly-appointed President of Oregon Food Bank, delivered her first State of Hunger Address. “The federal administration has issued executive orders threatening immigrant communities,” said Williams. “But that vision doesn’t reflect the Oregon we want for our kids. Oregon can and must lead by example by passing the Food for All Oregonians bill. This legislation sends a clear message that immigrants and refugees can call Oregon home and that we are committed to ensuring our communities have the resources needed to thrive — we are rising for all.”

The press conference featured a powerful lineup of speakers, including Senator Wlnsvey Campos, who is sponsoring SB 611 in the legislature. It also included Food for All Oregonians coalition member Andrea Vanessa Castillo from Oregon Latino Health Coalition and David Soria Garcia, Policy Leadership Council member and Tillamook community leader. Senator Wlnsvey Campos shared her support, saying, “This bill isn’t just about food — it’s about building a stronger, more equitable Oregon where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.”

Hunger persists at crisis levels, with 2.5 million visits to food assistance sites across the Oregon Food Bank Network in the last year alone — a 31% increase from the previous year. While Oregon Food Bank and its network distributed over 91 million meals worth of food, nearly 110 million pounds, Williams emphasized that food alone cannot solve hunger. “We must address the systems and policies that perpetuate hunger. Until we do, those lines at food pantries will keep forming,” she said.

Part of the Food for All Oregonians coalition, the Oregon Latino Health Coalition emphasized the importance of this effort. "Access to nourishing food is a fundamental aspect of health," said Andrea Vanessa Castillo, Policy and Advocacy Manager at Oregon Latino Health Coalition. "Immigrants and refugees are vital — they help put food on the table for families across our state. Yet, they remain excluded from essential benefits like SNAP."

The Food for All Oregonians bill (SB 611) for the second year in a row, continues to be one of the top three Policy Recommendations of the Oregon Hunger Task Force. “Tomorrow, we will present the Roadmap to End Hunger and our list of priority policy recommendations to legislators,” shared Chris Baker, Administrator of the Oregon Hunger Task Force. “This legislative session, the Oregon Hunger Task Force urges lawmakers to prioritize bills that will have an immediate and lasting impact on reducing hunger in Oregon's most impacted communities."

“As a mother, I think about the future I want for my two kids — a future where every family in Oregon has access to the resources they need, including immigrants and refugees,” said Williams. “The Food for All Oregonians bill is about creating that brighter future… because no one should be hungry.”

For media inquiries contact Morgan Dewey at press@oregonfoodbank.org, 801-712-7969.

PHOTO CAPTION A: Oregon Food Bank President Andrea Williams delivers her first State of Hunger Address on the steps of the Oregon State Capitol calling for the legislature to pass SB 611, Food for All Oregonians. (Courtesy of Oregon Food Bank)

PHOTO CAPTION B: Senator Wlnvsey Campos, sponsor of SB 611, shares the importance of passing the Food for All Oregonians bill and its bipartisan support. (Courtesy of Oregon Food Bank)

PHOTO CAPTION C: Supporters of the Food for All Oregonians bill gather outside the Oregon State Capitol in Salem. (Courtesy of Oregon Food Bank)

PHOTO CAPTION D: Advocates call on their legislators at the Oregon State Capitol to pass Food for All Oregonians, SB 611, this legislative session. (Courtesy of Oregon Food Bank)

B-roll can be found at the link here.

Additional photos and b-roll footage are available upon request.

###

ABOUT OREGON FOOD BANK

At Oregon Food Bank, we believe that food and health are basic human rights for all. We know that hunger is not just an individual experience; it is also a community-wide symptom of barriers to employment, education, housing, and healthcare. That’s why we work systemically in our mission to end hunger in Oregon: we build community connections to help people access nourishing, affordable food today, and we build community power to eliminate the root causes of hunger for good. Join us online OregonFoodBank.org and @oregonfoodbank on social media.