by Cyd Maurer
Vice Chair, Community Action & Engagement Committee

On October 29, Oregon Governor Kotek declared a 60-day food security emergency, calling on all of us to do what we can to help our neighbors in critical need of food due to the Trump administration illegally cutting off SNAP benefits on November 1. 

This avoidable cruelty will have a massive impact. About 757,000 Oregonians – 136,000 of our Multnomah County neighbors – rely on SNAP as a lifeline to feed themselves and their families. Food assistance sites are already seeing historic highs in visits, and our community needs us now more than ever. If you can help, please keep reading!

We’re calling on Multnomah County Democrats to show up for our neighbors with three simple actions:

• Feed – Donate to the Oregon Food Bank Every $1 provides 3 meals. Consider becoming a monthly contributor to sustain this critical mission of ending hunger in our state:. www.oregonfoodbank.org/donate
• Serve – Volunteer your time. Help sort, pack, or distribute food to those who need it most. www.oregonfoodbank.org/volunteer.
  Here’s a list of the upcoming volunteer events: https://www.oregonfoodbank.org/calendar 
• Organize – Build power through collective action

One way to multiply your impact is to host your own fundraiser through the Oregon Food Bank. This tool helps you rally your community to give generously. 

Rally your community to give generously. Learn more with this guide. 

Here’s an example of a fundraiser that two MultDems volunteers organized last week. The goal is to raise $2,500 for Oregon Food Bank: SNAP Into Action!

BONUS: Donate $25+ to the “SNAP Into Action” fundraiser, and get a tote bag! Include your email when donating, or email cydmaurer.demvolunteer@gmail.com for your complimentary tote. Show it off, be visible, serve your community, and multiply your impact!

This is what organizing looks like: neighbors supporting neighbors, building power through collective action. We might also set up a MultDems volunteer day at the Oregon Food Bank!

More Ways To Help

• OregonLive list of 13 Portland-area coffee shops and restaurants that have pledged to feed people who lose SNAP benefits
• NAYA: Meals and Food Assistance Info
• Volunteer: Meals on Wheels 
• Neighborhood House Free Food Market: https://nhpdx.org/food-security/
• Multnomah County list of Community Partner Food Assistance Programs
• Oregon Food Bank: Use the Oregon Food Bank’s Food Finder Map to find more than 100 food pantries, free food markets and hot meal programs near you. 
• Urban Gleaners: Find 20+ free markets with food provided by Urban Gleaners
• Feed’em Freedom: The Black Community Food Center offers a food pantry, sustainable agriculture and food justice education at Feedemfreedom.org
• PDX Free Fridge: Free food in fridges and pantries are across Portland. Take what you need, leave what you don’t, give what you can. Find them here.
• Milk Crate Kitchen: Provides cooked family meals twice a month via home delivery and in-person pick up. Click here to request a meal.
• Equitable Giving Circle: Hosts a “Weekly Free Market for Black & Brown Folks”, along with other health and wellness community events. Find the details here.
• Blanchet House: Founders Cafe offers three free meals a day Monday to Saturday at 310 NW Glisan St. Find details here.
• Sunshine Division: Free food box delivery and pantry by appointment, for those in Portland. Visit their website for more information: sunshinedivision.org/get-help.

MultDems are currently submitting more ideas to help our neighbors. Email us at community@multdems.org to get involved.