No one should ever go hungry. That’s the Oregon Food Bank’s mission – and it should be everyone’s mission. If we truly are the greatest nation, everyone should be fed, housed and clothed. SNAP benefits have been restored for November, but there is still a great need in our community. Federal workers have been furloughed and/or are working without pay. Many people in our community experience food insecurity every day, and the need continues. SNAP benefits will be reduced in January. Our local food pantries have seen a 30% increase just this last week, the holidays are right around the corner. Julia Wentzel, manager of Oregon Food Bank Tillamook Services, “Thank you so much to everyone who jumped in to help keep our community fed through this crisis! We do still have emergency food to distribute, including our region’s allocation of the $5 million emergency funds designated by the governor. Hopefully this will mitigate a little of the stress and fear this disruption has caused for our community.” She continued, “While we can take a moment to celebrate that SNAP is back, we also need to brace ourselves for the long-term changes to SNAP coming in the new year, when we will witness the largest cuts to food assistance in US history. We will continue to funnel the outpouring of support we’ve received to families in need, and ask that you continue to spread the word that the SNAP freeze we just experienced is only one part of the larger food insecurity crisis.”
EDITOR’S NOTE: I have to say that I’m always so proud of our community and how we respond to an emergency or crisis – come Hell or high water – we step up to take care of our communities. As we’ve stated, even though SNAP benefits have been issued for November, there is still a food insecurity crisis, and ALL OF THESE PROGRAMS, OFFERS, AND THE NEED FOR DONATIONS CONTINUES! Please help to make sure that everyone has enough to eat now and into the future. Thank you!
-South County Food Shed – Anna Workman – Located at 13625 Mill rd Cloverdale – NOTE: Pantry shed was destroyed – literally by the wind yesterday; We need community support to help Anna rebuild.
South Tillamook County has limited access to food pantries, and a local citizen Anna Workman set up a “Shed” pantry, but the recent storm destroyed the structure. Please contact the Tillamook County Pioneer if you can help to secure a structure for the South County Food Shed.
A Facebook group has been set up – https://www.facebook.com/groups/703243899493865/
Here is a list of special offers, pop-up pantries, donation locations and more in Tillamook County. If you know of other businesses or organizations, please send to editor@tillamookcountypioneer.net – we are:
DONATIONS/Drop off locations:
-Local Food banks/pantries (during open hours – CALL TO ARRANGE; Leave message) – drop off donations –
NOTE: North County Food Bank phone is offline due to the move they can call or text me at 917.544.0087 Our phone will be back online by next week and it will be a call or text line.
-NB Community Services – expanded Pantry hours; expand Senior meals program (Soup & Sandwich Saturdays – start date TBD)
-Hope Chest Too/Rockaway (Wed-Sat 10-4; Sun 1-4) – “Sharing Table” – drop off donations/pickup food
– Bay City locations – drop offs – City Hall, Library, Post Office
-Tillamook Main Library
-North County Library/Manzanita
-Tillamook County Courthouse
-NW Senior & Disability Services – Increase # Meals on Wheels
-NCRD – Sharing Table – Bring a Can/Take a Can
-First Security Bank, Manzanita
-Garibaldi Fire Dept.
-City of Wheeler
-North Coast Pinball
-OSU Extension
-Big Wave Café, Manzanita
-Dollar General (RB)
-Rockaway Beach – City Hall
-Netarts Friends Church – Accepting donations during office hours; call to arrange to drop off or to pickup – 503-842-8374; Bring a Can/Take a Can; Pop-up Pantry – Wednesdays starting 11/12 – Noon to 1pm
-YMCA– “Bring a Can/Take a Can”
-Offshore Grill – $$ donation jar
SPECIAL OFFERS/PROGRAMS:
-Pastega Activity Center – Free Deli Sandwich Meal – SNAP/Fed Workers
-Grumpy’s – Pay It Forward – Buy a Meal/Need a Meal Board
-Big Shaun’s Smash Burgers – Pay It Forward – “Buy a Meal/Need a Meal” Board
-Big Shaun’s donations for Thanksgiving Dinners
-Sand Dollar Restaurant, Rockaway – Pay It Forward
-Manzanita Coffee – bagel breakfast sandwich w/SNAP card
-Bay City Kitchen – Thursdays 4-7 – donating proceeds to food programs
-The Schooner – SNAP pizzas; Pay It Forward Meal Board; Annual Thanksgiving fundraiser – Harvest of Gratitude Menu – all proceeds donated to OFB Tillamook
-Recurrent, Tillamook – Food Drive – Two cans nonperishable food – get 10% off
– Neahkahnie Smokehouse – Pay It Forward receipts board
– Wolfmoon Bakery – FREE BREAD – SUNDAYS in November, 11am-5pm at wolfmoon bakery in downtown nehalem, 35915 8th St.- for anyone …
-Moon River Farm – Fall Farm Stand – $40/ FREE veggies for SNAP recipients; Saturday 11/8 @Wolfmoon Bakery in Nehalem
-Thanksgiving Meals To Go – partnership with Tillamook YMCA, Tillamook Rotary & Grocery Outlet
POP-UP Pantries:
-Nestucca Fire & Rescue – popup pantry – Sunday Nov. 16
-Netarts Friends Church/Aaron Carlson – Pop up Pantry – Bring Can/Take Can – Beginning November 12 – Wednesdays – Noon to 1 pm