Eman Abbas, Oregon Food Bank Food AmbassadorWhen I first immigrated here, I was fluent in English and was able to navigate the system to apply for food benefits on my own — but not without difficulty…others in my community struggled or were effectively excluded from programs because of language barriers. I knew I could do something to support my family, friends and neighbors.
United, we are Rising for All to end hunger and its root causes
United, we are Rising for All to end hunger and its root causes
It is natural to feel a range of emotions — hope, uncertainty, fear — through election season. But we know that fear does not serve our communities. We choose patience, constructive dialogue and a commitment to supporting one another through this moment – with the understanding that we may not know election outcomes immediately.
In Oregon, we value community and deserve to feel safe, protected and free. Our team at Oregon Food Bank is concerned by the stories of violence, intimidation and fear of discrimination surfacing around the election. We call for an immediate stop to all forms of violence. Oregon Food Bank remains a dedicated resource — especially for communities disproportionately impacted by hunger. We will closely monitor national events and support our communities regardless of how events unfold.
No matter the outcome of the election, we are prepared. Oregon Food Bank will continue to ensure that food is available for those experiencing hunger. The doors of 21 regional food banks and over 1,400 free food markets, pantries and meal sites are open to all.We remain committed to working alongside individuals and families who are most impacted by hunger and create a future without poverty.
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While we respond to this moment with patience and call on an immediate stop to any form of violence, intimidation and harassment, we remind everyone that hunger is at its worst since the Great Depression and our primary equity constituencies face high rates of hunger. We cannot end hunger with food alone. The system is working exactly as intended. Some of us are much more likely to experience hunger because of our race, gender identity, being a single parent or where we were born. Those factors alone make it more likely to face housing discrimination, health and wage disparities, skyrocketing childcare costs or barriers to safety net programs like SNAP (formerly known as food stamps).
We are united with our communities in hope and support, driven by a deep commitment to ensuring everyone has access to food and our belief that food is a human right. Our goals are systemic and provide a national model for solving food insecurity, led by people who have lived experience of hunger and its root causes.
Everyone deserves nourishing food that feels like home. Together with our communities, we are ready to meet the challenges ahead. We are Rising for All… because no one should be hungry.
