Farm bill update, new poverty figures, big thanks for the Feast!

In This Issue

Farm bill update

News & Reports

Feast Portland a delicious success

Thank You

After school mini-grants available now!

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Farm bill update

Members of Congress passed a short-term spending bill before heading home, putting off action on the farm bill until after the elections.

Because Congress did not reauthorize the farm bill or pass a Continuing Resolution (CR), there was some confusion about the impact on SNAP recipients. We have been assured by the Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that SNAP benefits will continue without interruption:

"SNAP continues to operate without interruption. This is because authority for the program continues through the appropriation process."
~ Dennis Stewart, Western Regional Office, Food & Nutrition Services, USDA

News & Reports

U.S. Census Bureau data released last week showed poverty has steadily worsened in Oregon since 2007, particularly among children and minorities. Download the report

Oregon's 2011 poverty rate was 17.5 percent, compared to 12.9 percent in 2007.

The child poverty rate was 23.6 percent, almost one in four children in Oregon, up from 16.9 percent in 2007.

Poverty is worse among communities of color in Oregon, compared to non-Hispanic whites:

Hawaiian/Pacific Islanders: 36.2 percent
Latinos: 29.8 percent
Native Americans: 29.8 percent
African Americans: 29.7 percent
Asians: 19.2 percent
Non-Hispanic whites: 14.8 percent

Feast Portland was a delicious success!

Last weekend was a wonderful celebration of the unique tastes of Oregon. On top of that, it was an event with a soul: Ticket sales will directly support work to end child hunger in Oregon.

The event was kicked off with an appearance by Executive Director, Patti Whitney-Wise, on KATU's AM Northwest alongside First Lady Cylvia Hayes, to highlight concerns about child hunger.

We also co-hosted a speakers' panel to discuss childhood hunger in more depth. Governor Kitzhaber opened the event, and panelists included Debbie Shore from Share Our Strength, Oregon's First Lady Cylvia Hayes, Nona Evans from Whole Kids Foundation, and Patti Whitney-Wise. Allison Frost from OPB's radio program, Think Out Loud, moderated the panel.

We are grateful for the masterful organization provided by the staff of Feast, as well as all the amazing volunteers who gave their time and effort toward making the festival a success!

In case you missed it, you can view photos on our Facebook page and on the OregonLive website.

Thank You!

Thanks to Portland ice cream makers Salt and Straw who created a unique new flavor - Oregon Bounty - just to celebrate Feast Portland. All sales of the flavor at sold at their SE Division location were donated to Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon!