Families gathered at the Oregon State Capitol for what they called a “snack-in” last week to call attention to child hunger across Oregon.
Participants handed out snacks while urging lawmakers to pass the Food for All Oregonians bill.
The bill would extend food benefits to all children under the age of six living in the state, including immigrants and refugees.
Rachael Lucille, network communication strategist with Oregon Food Bank, said state lawmakers need to respond to rising hunger and possible cuts to food stamps by the Trump administration.
“Seeing kids at the Capitol building was really powerful to show these are the people that we’re advocating for,” said Lucille, “and it shouldn’t matter where you were born, every child deserves nourishing, familiar food.”
Research shows one in six children in Oregon don’t have enough food, with visits to the food bank increasing over 30% last year.
Opponents of the bill worry about the added cost, but supporters argue data shows every purchase made with food stamps generates $1.50 for Oregon’s economy.
Lucille said many parents across the state are having to choose between paying rent and putting food on the table, and she said she knows first-hand what that feels like.
“And now that I am not in that situation,” said Lucille, “I still want to make sure that all of my neighbors and everybody across the state of Oregon is also not having to make those really hard decisions.”
Andrea Williams is also with Oregon Food Bank, serving as president.
She said during the pandemic, rates of hunger fell thanks to government supports, and have since increased since the funding stopped. She said feeding the hungry is a policy decision.
“It is a choice that decision-makers, lawmakers can make,” said Williams, “whether or not kids should have access to enough food to eat.”
Williams said the fate of the Food for All Oregonians bill hinges on an upcoming Ways and Means Committee decision.
Source: Isobel Charle, Oregon News Service
