KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. - A record 1,024,000 emergency food boxes were distributed in the year that ended June 30, according to the Oregon Food Bank - the first time the 1 million mark has been reached in a single year.

Rachel Bristol, the food bank's chief executive officer, says the only way they were able to meet the high demand was through an increase in federal commodities provided by stimulus funding - money which is going away.

"There's no signs that food prices are going down and all signs are that we'll see at least a 30 percent reduction in USDA commodities. So, I think it's going to be a real challenge to repeat last year's effort."

The Oregon Food Bank will have to raise an additional $2 million to hold steady on its current food distribution, Bristol says. About 260,000 people a month get meals from emergency food boxes distributed statewide.

In southern Oregon, the food bank that serves Klamath and Lake counties reports donations have been generous - but aren't enough to keep up with the need. Food requests there are up 15 percent over a year ago. Niki Sampson, who runs the Klamath/Lake Food Bank, says they're seeing more new faces in addition to those who are unemployed.

"In the last six months, it's more about underemployed people, who were working 35 to 40 hours a week - they may only be working 28 or 30 hours now. You have people walking through the doors saying, 'Now 'y'know, I've got 12 bucks after I've paid my bills 'til the next payday and I can't feed my family on that.' "

There are several food distribution sites in Lake County, where Sampson says they're now helping to feed one out of every four residents.

Transportation costs are higher in rural Oregon, Sampson adds, pinching working families with gas at almost $4 a gallon. She says the one change that would help her area more than anything is living-wage jobs.

"Twenty-six hundred jobs left Klamath County - 2,600, in this small community. We've got the people that want to work. We've just got to have the jobs. We get 'em back to work, there's more revenue and we can get back to the way things should be."

The new statistics are being posted today at oregonfoodbank.org.


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South Dakotans face high prices at the grocery store and some are working to ease the burden.

A new report from the Federal Trade Commission finds some grocery retailers used the supply-chain disruptions of the pandemic to raise prices and collect bigger profits, even after supply chains regulated.

One South Dakota group is trying to reduce sticker shock by targeting the state sales tax on groceries. Dakotans for Health is sponsoring a citizens ballot initiative to repeal the 4.2 % tax.

Rick Weiland, co-founder of the group, said lower food bills would make a meaningful difference for some.

"People of modest means, or low income hardworking families, disproportionately spend upwards of 30% on food," Weiland pointed out. "This is going to be helpful."

South Dakota is one of only two states in the country to apply its full state sales tax rate to groceries with no exemptions, Mississippi being the other. More than 9% of South Dakotans are considered food insecure, meaning they do not always have access to enough healthy food.

The grocery tax has been a popular topic among state legislators in recent years. Republican Gov. Kristi Noem even campaigned on the promise to repeal it. Critics have said proposing a tax cut without a way to finance it is irresponsible.

Weiland pointed out Gov. Noem had a formula spelled out when she brought forward her bill in 2023, which was voted down.

"She had no problem defending her position in front of the Legislature, in terms of how much revenue the state was going to lose and where they could make it up," Weiland recounted.

The initiative needs about 17,500 signatures by next month to appear on the November ballot.

Colorado families must sign up before the end of April to receive $120 per child to buy food through the new Summer EBT program approved by Congress. Families with incomes that qualify for free and reduced-price school lunches - up to around $49,000 a year for a family of three - must enroll through their school.

Anya Rose, public policy director with Hunger Free Colorado, said as school cafeterias close their doors for summer, EBT cards can help kids get the nutrition they need to return to school in the fall ready to learn.

"A lot of families will be automatically enrolled, if they are enrolled in programs like TANF, SNAP, Medicaid. If you are unsure, then talk to your school about filling out the household income form to make sure you can qualify this year if you're income eligible," she said.

EBT grocery cards can be used to buy fruits and vegetables, milk, cheese, eggs, breads, meat, fish and other food at all grocery stores that accept SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program formerly known as food stamps.

Rose noted grocery cards will be sent by mail, so it's important to make sure schools have your correct address.

Some 337,000 Colorado children are eligible for the program that is expected to generate up to $72 million in economic activity across the state. Grocery cards are available to all income-qualifying households regardless of their immigration status.

"There are no immigration eligibility requirements. And accessing Summer EBT and school meals do not impact immigration status in any way," she explained.

Filling out your school's household income application, sometimes called a school meal or benefit form, will also bring critical federal dollars into Colorado's Healthy School Meals for All initiative. It's currently running $24 million over budget. Rose adds there are other benefits for families who participate in Summer EBT.

"That same form can also qualify students to get discounts on school-related fees for things like SAT or ACT testing, or athletics or band or field trips or other activities," she said.

Oregon is participating in a federal food benefits program for children, called Summer EBT.

Dollars from the program will go even farther to purchase produce, through the Double Up Food Bucks program.

The Oregon Legislature approved the state's participation in the Summer EBT program, making nearly 300,000 children eligible to receive $40 for food each month over the summer.

Mason Durfee, Double Up Food Bucks organizer with Oregon Food Bank, said the additional benefits can be used for the Double Up program.

"Essentially, that increases their total monthly budget that they have," said Durfee, "but also what's really cool about Summer EBT is any of the Summer EBT benefits can also be used to earn Double Up, because they're just being treated as additional SNAP dollars on someone's card."

The Double Up Food Bucks program allows participants with benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, to buy fresh produce and have the dollars they spend matched - essentially doubling their purchasing power.

Double Up Food Bucks coordinator with Oregon Food Bank, Jas Eppesheimer, said the program is available at a variety of venues across the state.

"The benefits at participating farmers markets are amazing, grocery stores and CSA - Community Supported Agriculture - farms," said Eppesheimer. "So, shoppers can bring home just a lot more fresh produce."

The program matches up to $20 of purchases per day at participating farmers markets. At participating grocery stores, up to $20 spent on fruits and vegetables can be redeemed for produce on the next visit.

The program can also go toward CSA memberships. Oregonians can find participating organizations at doubleuporegon.org.