School has started and the leaves have begun to change color. Fall is here and that means harvest time. This harvest season, the Oregon FFA (formerly known as the Future Farmers of America) has once again teamed up with Les Schwab Tire Centers to help Drive Away Hunger in Oregon.
More Oregonians today are suffering from food insecurity and have to worry about where their next meal may come from. Since 2008 the Oregon Food Bank has seen the demand for emergency food boxes increase by 40 percent. It is for that reason the Oregon FFA partnering with Les Schwab Tire Centers of Oregon to help Drive Away Hunger in Oregon. The initiative will take place the entire month of October.
All month you may see FFA members across the state doing a variety of service activities in an effort to raise as much food as possible.
Please be on the lookout for activities and collections happening throughout our community. You are encouraged to drop food donations at any Les Schwab Tire Center or FFA Chapter. Collection bags are also being distributed to subscribers of the Capital Ag Press and Eastern Oregonian or you may pick up a collection bag at your local Les Schwab Tire Center.
Last year the FFA’s Tired of Hunger initiative helped raise more than 633,000 pounds of food.
That was enough food to provide 528,227 meals or feed 6,288 families for nearly a week. Again this year, the nearly 6,000 FFA members from 103 FFA Chapters have partnered with the 112 Les Schwab Stores to make a huge dent in helping supply the Oregon Food Bank and other local food pantries with much needed food. This is a very special project for the Oregon FFA, where FFA members are able to live out their motto of “learning to do, doing to learn, earning to live and living to serve. In this hunger initiative, FFA members set an example of living to serve. We are also very appreciative to our sponsors of this initiative, Les Schwab Tire Centers and the Capital Ag Press by setting the example of service to our students.” said Kevin White, Executive Director of the Oregon FFA Foundation.
The Oregon FFA is part of the National FFA Organization, formerly known as the Future Farmers of America, and is a national youth organization of 629,367 student members — all preparing for leadership and careers in the science, business and technology of agriculture. There are 7,757 local FFA chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
Oregon FFA has nearly 6,000 members in 103 chapters throughout the state. The FFA mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.
To learn more, visit the Oregon FFA Facebook page and the #TIREdofhunger. To learn more about FFA visit www.oregonffa.com or www.ffa.org.
Kevin White, Executive Director
Oregon FFA Foundation
541-604-1350
kwhite@oregonffa.comonffa.com
