Governor Kicks Off Annual State Employees Food Drive

Goal is 3.5 million pounds of food for the Oregon Food Bank Network

Governor Ted Kulongoski kicks off the 2006 food drive. Photo By: Tim King

(Salem) - Continuing his efforts to radically reduce hunger in Oregon, Governor Ted Kulongoski kicked off his annual state employees` food drive Thursday. The Governor has set a goal of collecting 3.5 million pounds of food for distribution to needy people through the Oregon Food Bank Network.

`The Governor`s State Employees Food Drive brings more food to the Oregon Food Bank than any other food drive," the Governor told a gathering of agency coordinators at the Marion-Polk Food Share in Salem. `Every year, we recognize one fact: there are Oregonians who are hungry. And we raise millions of pounds of food to help alleviate that problem. I`m particularly pleased that the hard-working men and women who serve Oregonians on a day-to-day basis in their jobs take such a compassionate and concerted approach to helping us move Oregon quickly in the right direction on this issue."

The Governor noted that when he took office three years ago, Oregon had the highest hunger rate in the nation. `I`m pleased to report that we dropped to 19th this year."

Oregon`s improvement is due to both a focused and coordinated effort and markedly improved economic conditions, the Governor said. `We have fought this battle with every tool at our disposal, including better outreach in food stamp programs, more participation in school lunch programs, and innovative programs like Seniors Farmers Markets, which enable seniors to buy fresh local produce at low prices," said Kulongoski.

But Oregon`s improvement does not mean the state can rest on its laurels, the Governor warned. Because of the outpouring of donations to the victims of Hurricane Katrina and the Asian tsunami, donations to the Oregon Food Bank are `way, way down."

`So, we need to redouble our efforts, and raise as much money and food as possible in the 2006 State Employees Food Drive," the Governor said.

During the month-long food drive in 2004, state employees contributed 3.06 million pounds of food, and the amount increased to 3.11 million pounds in 2005, the Governor said. He noted that one in five Oregonians ate meals from an emergency food box at least once last year—an average of 194,000 people per month. This year`s food drive will run during the month of February.

`Hunger is primarily an income problem," the Governor said. `It results when people cannot afford to buy food, as well as housing, health care or energy."