Henry Schutt
A box is filled with food by The Arc of Lane County's food pantry, a Food for Lane County affiliate. The Arc of Lane County's food pantry is open from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Food For Lane County states that roughly 13.2% of residents qualify for food assistance, which is greater than the national average by 2%. This number greatly increased in 2023, and the food insecure population continues to grow throughout Oregon, roughly 1 in 8 adults and 1 and 6 children struggle with hunger and getting food on the table
SNAP, or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, is known by many names across the country — EBT or food stamps, to name a few. This federal program has been aiding Americans since 1939 and was implemented during the Great Depression, formerly known as Food Stamp Program (FSP). Recent data published by USDA states that 13.5%, or 18 million, of U.S. households were food insecure in 2023.
Almost a century later, there is a threat to SNAP throughout legislation and under the new administration. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a budget resolution proposed in the House of Representatives, specifically the House Agriculture Committee, would effectively cut $230 billion from all programs in their jurisdiction, including SNAP.
Sarah Weber-Ogden, Executive Director of Partners for a Hunger Free Oregon, works with government representatives, presenting statistics about food insecurity state-wide in an effort to better inform Oregon elected officials when they make decisions on budget cuts. She argues that these cuts, although only claiming to target the “bloat” throughout SNAP, are so large they will inevitably impact benefits for users nationwide. Some representatives argue fraud is a part of these cuts, although finding it in food insecurity assistance will not be enough without affecting these necessary programs.
“There’s nowhere to get that much money out of cutting this program, except if you’re cutting benefits themselves. The math doesn’t work out, so yeah, we are deeply concerned,” Weber-Ogden said.
According to Weber-Ogden, and Oregon State University’s Policy Analysis Lab on food insecurity in Oregon, between 2021 and 2023 food and insecurity in Oregon rose from 9.2% to 12% of the population, totalling 530,000 Oregonians who struggled to afford groceries or skipped meals during this two year period. This report also shows 750,000 Oregon households rely on SNAP to put food on the table — the largest jump since the Great Recession in 2007.
As the cost of living crisis continues to soar, Oregonians remain in need of SNAP assistance. Threats to food insecurity resources will have grave consequences for Oregon residents, regardless of whether or not a household is food insecure. On a local level, the program is highly utilized and in demand.
Carolyn Stein, Executive Director of Food for Lane County (FFLC), and her team are currently preparing for budget cuts — and have been for the past few years. Roughly 30% of Lane County residents qualify for food assistance, utilizing a food pantry, SNAP, or both. FFLC have already seen an increase in demand, increasing because of inflation, housing prices, an increase in the costs of goods and services, as well as general need. This has translated to a 13% increase in pantry visits within the last few years.
“Because things are so uncertain currently, we don’t know what we should plan for,” said Stein. “Roughly 15% of our budget is federal funds. That’s why we’re really trying to look at what scenarios are possible, but also with the full understanding that we can be nimble and we can adapt as we have to.”
Food for Lane County works with local farms, Oregon Food Bank, and partners with local supermarkets in order to help supply Eugene-area residents with free, healthy food. They help eligible individuals sign up for SNAP and host events for locals to come together and eat good food.
The University of Oregon Basic Needs Program provides resources for students, including help applying for SNAP, aiding students with housing, as well as hosting the Student Food Pantry twice a week, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays at the Grace Lutheran Church on 17th Avenue. This food pantry is made possible because of FFLC as well as the Episcopol Campus Ministry.
Riley Hoerner, a University of Oregon senior and Business major, works in food insecurity volunteering and aids in organizing volunteers, helping students find resources for food insecurity, and assisting in setting up these pantries each week. Hoerner explained the pantry serves 400 students weekly.
“SNAP advocacy is 15% of my job,” Hoerner said. “We focus a lot on it, especially in our tabling events and in trying to ensure that students have a more consistent food supply than what we can offer at the pantry through FLC.”
Although these threats are serious and budgeting cuts are expected to start in April, both Food for Lane County and Partners for a Hunger Free Oregon are prepared and encourage the public to continue advocating against these funding changes.
“These programs that are on the chopping block are obviously very important, especially for students, so it’s been the center of a lot of our conversations about how we are going to navigate that when the time comes,” said Hoerner.
“Donations are always appreciated, especially during this difficult time,” said Stein. “I love meeting all the people that have different reasons and different connections for how they engage with Food for Lane County. We have so much support from Eugene residents, those who just love to give back to this wonderful community.”
Even though Americans are being exposed to some seemingly divisive policy changes within the new administration, voting is the public’s power — those elected, as well as their values, translate on the local level and further supports food insecurity programs. Budget cuts to SNAP will affect individuals nationwide, but there are things Oregonians can do to protect the community.
“People’s voices do matter, and these voices are incredibly powerful right now. Call your representatives, write them emails — [representatives] are worried about losing their seats and you’re the one that gives it to them,” Weber-Ogden said.