The Oregon football spring game is more than just a preview of the upcoming season, it is a critical lifeline for thousands of residents in Lane County. As one of the largest food drives of the year, the event represents an over-decade-long partnership between the University of Oregon and Food for Lane County (FFLC).

“On average, it brings in roughly 30,000 pounds of food, which is about 25,000 meals that we can give back into the community,” Caitlin Caldwell, the community giving coordinator at FFLC, said. 

Caldwell noted that the University has been an “equal partner” in amplifying the mission through various on campus food drives and volunteer support.

The timing of the drive is particularly vital for the organization’s warehouse. Following the “season of giving” in November and December, food banks often face a lull period where donations slow down. 

“The spring game is one of our first major food drives since that holiday giving period. So it’s always exciting when a food drive like this happens…because it replenishes our shelves,” Caldwell said.

Handling such a massive influx of donations in a single afternoon presents significant logistical challenges. The volume of food often exceeds the capacity of FFLC’s own trucks, requiring assistance from local business partners. Pape Machinery provides forklifts to move heavy pallets, while Bigfoot Beverages donates semi-trucks to transport the food to the warehouse for distribution. Once processed, the food reaches over 100 locations and partners throughout the county. 

“A jar of peanut butter given at the spring game might be on a kid’s sandwich a week or two later in Marcola, or Oak Ridge, or as far west as Veneta or Florence,” Larissa Ennis, FFLC’s Senior Manager of Development and Communications, said.

Uncertainty with programs like Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), high cost of living and food insecurity rates across the region, Ennis pointed out that Lane County’s food insecurity levels are higher than the Oregon state average. 

“We want to do our best to get people the nutrition they need to thrive,” Ennis said.

In order to attend the spring game, fans are expected to bring non-perishable food items, with a specific focus on high-demand proteins like canned tuna, chicken, and peanut butter. FFLC also highlights the need for cooking oil and spices, which are often too expensive for families to purchase regularly.

A digital avenue for support is available through a “GiveGab” website, which allows for monetary donations that are counted toward the spring game’s total impact for those who cannot make it to the spring game.

As the community prepares to feed the Ducks, Ennis reflects on the personal nature of the mission. Having grown up in a food-insecure household herself, she sees the drive as a modern version of a mutual aid network. 

“Having experienced hunger, you know there’s a real strong drive of a lot of compassion in doing what you can to make sure that other people don’t have those experiences, don’t experience hunger,” she said.