Dear friends,
We wish a happy holiday season and a positive new year for you, your family and community! We are writing to ask you to support our work, by
As the year comes to a close, we are reflecting back on 2011 - a year of ups and downs. Last month, Oregon's hungry kids made the front page of Parade, a national magazine. We know that 3 out of 10 kids are at risk.
"Being the state with the highest child food insecurity level is becoming part of Oregon's national image."
~ David Sarasohn, The Oregonian
Being at risk for hunger doesn't have to mean a child goes hungry. We are proud of the work we've done to protect these kids. Our outreach this year helped feed more kids after school, during the summer when school meals aren't available, and at home through SNAP (food stamps). We saw a 23% increase in the number of kids served meals at community sites over last year, and more than 800,000 at-risk Oregonians now have SNAP benefits to help them put food on the table. "These meals were a big lifesaver. Thank you for all you do." ~ Parent at summer food site These numbers are encouraging, but we believe our greatest impact came from getting the message out about Oregon's hunger problem to our state's leaders so that public policies spared families from even greater challenges to putting food on the table. We were successful in protecting key hunger and poverty programs from the most devastating cuts despite a large state budget shortfall. Food banks, WIC and senior food programs were saved. After-school and farm-to-school programs got funded.
"Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon is an inspiration, and their work has never been more important." ~ First Lady Cylvia Hayes This work happens through donations from people like you - people who see the connection between our state's policy decisions and the impact on our families and communities. We don't ask very often, but we're asking now. We need your help to continue this work.
Please join us and make a donation to Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon. Your investment today will make a difference for Oregon's children who need your help more than ever for this most basic of needs.
Thank you!
Patti Whitney-Wise
Executive Director
P.S. Your support really does make a difference for many families. Please give today. | 
