New Food Bank Facility Links Ag Surplus With Oregon's Most Hungry

New food bank facility links agricultural surplus with Oregon's most hungry. Governor praises effort to reduce hunger, poverty, and crime.

Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski

(UMATILLA) - Oregon Department of Corrections Director Max Williams today announced the opening of a new sorting, grading, and packaging facility at Two Rivers Correctional Institution (TRCI) in Umatilla for donated Oregon agricultural products to be sent to Oregon's most hungry. Dignitaries from around the state, including Director of Oregon Housing and Community Services Director Victor Merced and Oregon Food Bank Executive Director Rachel Bristol, attended the opening ceremony.

"Up until now, this meaningful work was done in the parking lot," explained Corrections Director Max Williams. "These charitable efforts were limited to just a short period before the season got too severe.

This modest facility represents a win-win-win partnership to help advance Governor Kulongoski's initiatives to reduce hunger, poverty and crime in Oregon."

Since 2000, Oregon inmates at TRCI and Snake River Correctional Institution in Ontario have packaged and distributed more than 2.0 million pounds of potatoes and onions for the Oregon Food Bank that would have otherwise not been consumed.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony also highlighted the unique partnership among the private, public and non-profit sector represented by the project.

The $65,000 building was funded through the Oregon Housing and Community Services Department from interest on bonds, rather than tax dollars. Value engineering methods reduced cost of the metal structure. The Department of Corrections oversaw construction of the facility.

The Food Bank building's location offered strategic advantages because of its proximity to large agricultural operations, as well as being centrally located within the Northwest. The site will serve as a hub for food Oregon, Washington and Idaho farmers with donations.

Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski praised the effort.

"Fighting hunger takes the commitment of all of us," said the Governor. "This project represents the spirit of innovation and partnership necessary to fight hunger around our state."

The food repackaging project provides work assignments for up to 15 inmates at TRCI. The ongoing program instills a work ethic in inmates, who appreciate the opportunity to contribute to the communities to which they will someday return.