Federal Cuts Haven't Diminished Our Hope
I’ve had many people asking me recently how The Giving Plate is impacted by the federal freezes. This email is from my heart, and I hope it lifts yours as you read it.
Last week, food pantries across Central Oregon received an email from NeighborImpact with a message to share with the community:
“You may see 17% less food. Please be patient with our staff and volunteers.”
— NeighborImpact, in response to USDA food freezes
This is the sobering reality that many food programs across Oregon are now navigating. According to NeighborImpact, due to a federal freeze on USDA food funds, Oregon is anticipating a loss of over half a million pounds of food in the coming year. For The Giving Plate, based on our 2024 totals—986,365 pounds of food distributed, with 278,876 pounds coming from NeighborImpact through the Oregon Food Bank and USDA—17% less could mean a potential loss of 47,000 pounds annually, or about 3,950 pounds each month.
While every pound matters—and nearly 4,000 fewer pounds per month is significant—I want to be clear: this will not stop us. We’ve always been a grassroots organization, started in 2010 by my parents with a dream to meet a local need. We’ve grown because you—our community—have chosen to invest in hope.
In 2024, we saw a 40% increase in families walking through our Community Store doors. Meanwhile, our food inventory only grew by 8% due to experiencing a decline in community food donations. To ensure no one was turned away, we stretched every resource. We increased our food spending from $211,083 in 2023 to $340,577 in 2024—a jump of nearly $130,000—made possible because of your financial support.
And we’ve gotten creative. At the end of 2024, we began purchasing bulk food at lower costs thanks to our new Distribution Center that offers space to hold it. We also made our first treks over the mountain to Portland, switching from paying $660 a week for Franz bread purchased locally to receiving donated Dave’s Killer Bread—now costing us just $120 a month in fuel. These shifts matter. Every dollar saved is another meal served.
We continue to reimagine food relief—not just when times of crisis come, but it is our commitment to our work every day, because dignity, compassion, and choice for our guests is the work we commit to. While federal shifts can feel uncertain, our confidence in our ability to do our work has never been from Washington, D.C. Our confidence lies right here in Central Oregon. It is you, our community, that champions us. Your giving, your partnership, and your belief in this work are what make it all possible.
Last month, I had the honor of meeting Frank, an 84-year-old Air Force veteran, while getting footage for our upcoming Feeding Hope Celebration. He lives alone and has a heart full of kindness. Frank told me he shares the food he receives from us with houseless veterans suffering from PTSD. When I asked him what feeding hope means to him, he said:
“In the Airforce, we have wingmen. And this place (The Giving Plate) is full of wingmen. These wingmen are your lifeblood. They look both ways before they allow you to go. They are so kind here… I admire them for what they do.”
Our dear friend, Frank
Frank’s words moved me to tears. He reminded me that hope is not passive. It looks out for others. It shows up. It gives.
As we prepare to celebrate 15 years of serving our community on April 3rd, I’m reminded of the seasons of uncertainty we’ve already weathered together. In 2020, our community carried us through massive change. In 2024, you stood beside us as we leapt to a new level and model of service. And in 2025, I believe we’ll continue to grow and innovate—shoulder to shoulder, wingmen to a community that needs us.
One of the ways our community helps carry this mission is through programs like the Bend Food Project/Green Bag Program and First Interstate Bank’s new food collection initiative, which are vital to helping us meet the need. These grassroots efforts champion our mission of feeding hope. If you’d like to learn more or get involved in one of these incredible programs, please reach out—we’d love to share more and get you connected.
Thank you for seeing beyond the headlines to the real lives being touched, like Frank’s. Thank you for helping us choose hope for our neighbors in need.
With appreciation and gratitude,
Ranae Staley, Executive Director
