FOOD For Lane County is a nonprofit food bank located in Eugene that is collaborating with organizations within the community to assist individuals in need with food and meals during the holiday season.
The holidays can be challenging for some families. According to 2022 statistics from the Oregon Hunger Task Force, 13.2% or roughly 50,000 Lane County residents are food insecure. FOOD For Lane County is looking to help families with limited incomes utilize their food assistance programs.
“If you celebrate a holiday, it is very often that food is at the center of that,” Rebecca Sprinson, FOOD for Lane County development director, said. “Food is so much more than food. It’s culture, it’s family, it’s connection, so of course it’s something that people pay more attention to during the holidays.”
Sprinson said that they appreciate donations when it comes to holiday food. Additionally, the food bank picks up food from supermarkets, retail food establishments, food manufacturing and community companies on a daily basis.
“The big food drive barrels that you’ll see around the community are primarily for shelf-stable food donations from anyone who’s able to drop something extra in there,” Sprinson said. “Hundreds of businesses and community organizations host food drives for us and we have a whole tool kit that we can give anyone who wants to host a food drive to help make [the holidays] as successful as possible.”
FOOD For Lane County has placed many donation barrels in local grocery stores, businesses and organizations. Some locations include Safeway, Fred Meyer, Jersey Mikes and more.
FOOD For Lane County has also partnered with sorority organizations on the University of Oregon campus like Delta Delta Delta. “Throughout the month of November, Tri Delta has been hosting a food drive in partnership with Food For Lane County,” Tri Delta member Kira Johnson said.
Johnson said the sorority chapter has been gathering nonperishable food items to help families in the community because November is a crucial month for food banks as the holiday season progresses.
“A majority of FFLC’s food comes from donors, and through our members’ donations, Tri Delta is proud to contribute to their mission of fighting hunger in the Eugene area,” Johnson said.
FOOD for Lane County creates kits to help anyone set up a food drive barrel and collects donations year-round.
For more information, visit FOOD for Lane County – Donate.
