Funding Area: Health
One of the largest of 20 regional food banks in Oregon, the Food Share provides food and support to a network of more than 100 hunger-relief partner programs. This network of food pantries, meal sites and produce distribution sites supplies more than 7 million meals annually to food insecure neighbors. The Food Share also addresses the root causes of food and nutrition insecurity and poverty through initiatives that strive to educate, train and build self-sufficiency among low-income residents and youth, with a goal of reducing reliance upon emergency food, and improving community health. Self-sufficiency programs include Community Gardens, Nutrition Education, Workforce Development, Youth Farm and Community Food System Projects. These programs engage community volunteers and help individuals gain skills and work experience, practice leadership, learn sustainable gardening and farm management practices, and make better food choices.
Our involvement: The Marty Tomberg Charitable Fund has financially supported this organization.
Projects We Support
Farm and Garden Program
Farm and Garden programs are central to the Food Share’s long-term efforts to increase fresh food access and improve quality of life among low-income residents. The Food Share supports the state’s largest community garden network. More than 58 community gardens receive seeds, starts, compost, tools, infrastructure support and training in order to thrive.
The Garden Connection Initiative aims to encourage emergency food pantry guests to consider community vegetable gardening where friends are made and food is grown and shared. To support their efforts, free Seed to Supper basic gardening classes are offered to provide training to successfully grow food on a limited budget.
Support Dates: March, 2015 – February, 2018
Farm Share Rx
Farm Share Rx is an evidence-based prescription fruit and vegetable program that aims to address diet-related disease in Grand Ronde and Salem. We partner with local health clinics to identify patients managing or at risk of diet-related disease for inclusion in a 14-week summer program. Enrolled patients and their families receive a variety of organically grown produce each week and access to nutrition education information to establish healthy eating habits. In 2020, we plan to enroll 100 patients. Last year, 218 adults and 123 children were impacted by the program.
Weekly produce shares for patients from three health clinics are grown on the Food Share’s Youth Farm on the Chemeketa Community College campus in NE Salem. Youth farmers grow the crops, prepare the and distribute them to program participants at partner clinics. Recipes and tastings encourage participants to try sometimes unfamiliar foods. Most committed participants report improved health and well-being.
Support Dates: March, 2018 – March, 2021
Organization and Project Photos
