As food insecurity reaches crisis levels in Central Oregon, Newport Avenue Market and Oliver Lemon’s shoppers and employees are bridging the gap raising over $76,044 to provide food to fuel the local community. Throughout December, shoppers donated money to the Food for February fundraiser, and the 100 percent employee-owned markets matched the funds.
The funds will be used to purchase groceries at wholesale cost for Family Kitchen of Bend, Sisters Kiwanis Foodbank, Sisters Family Kitchen and Bethlehem Inn of Redmond.
It is not commonly known that February is one of the hardest-hitting months for hungry families in Central Oregon. Money is tight after the holidays, donations dwindle and food pantries are depleted.
Newport Avenue Market created Food for February to help fight hunger in Central Oregon. Since 2011, shoppers and the markets have raised over $487,500 for hungry families in Central Oregon, including $219,000 in matching funds from Newport Avenue Market and Oliver Lemon’s.
According to the Oregon Food Bank, one in ten Oregonians is facing food insecurity, with 1.5 million expected to seek food assistance this year alone.
“Since last year, our meal count has grown by 80 percent,” said Donna Burklo, program director of Family Kitchen. “The Food for February program is a critical upstream partnership pairing Newport Avenue Market’s expertise and buying power with community-minded shoppers who want to make a difference.”
Newport Avenue Market and Oliver Lemon’s work closely with wholesalers to purchase thousands of pounds of food, including fresh produce and meat, from the shopping lists of Family Kitchen of Bend, Sisters Kiwanis Foodbank, Sisters Family Kitchen and Bethlehem Inn of Redmond.
“Our customer’s generosity is the reason we made our goal of matching $30,000 for Food for February,” said Lauren G.D. Redman, CEO of Rudy’s Markets Inc. “The December giving campaign at the register helps feed our hungry neighbors in Central Oregon. Thanks to our amazing customers, we are fortunate to be able to help.”
About Rudy’s Market Inc.:
Since opening its flagship grocery store in 1976, Rudy’s Markets have been the No. 1 choice of foodies in Central Oregon. Today, Rudy’s Markets Inc. operates three locally founded, 100 percent employee-owned specialty grocery stores in Central Oregon: Newport Avenue Market in Bend, and Oliver Lemon’s in Sisters and Terrebonne. Rudy’s Markets offers shoppers both mainstream and hard-to-find food items, kitchenware and unusual gifts. Its stores support local producers and offer an expansive selection of high-quality, in-demand food and beverage items, including over 600 varieties of craft beer. For more details, go to newportavemarket.com and oliverlemons.com.
About Family Kitchen:
Guided by the belief that nobody should be hungry, Family Kitchen has been providing meals to anyone in need since 1986. Family Kitchen serves three dinners and five lunches each week in Bend, and one dinner weekly in Sisters, averaging 13,000 meals per month served by over 350 volunteers. Our diners are treated with respect and are asked nothing but to leave with a full stomach. Family Kitchen operates as a separate entity sponsored by Trinity Episcopal Church (EIN 93-0427371). For more information visit familykitchen.org.
About Sisters Kiwanis Food Bank:
In its three-decade history, Sisters Kiwanis has been involved in the development and support of many community organizations, including Scouts, Campfire, Little League, organized soccer, Habitat for Humanity and Sisters Organization for Activities and Recreation to name just a few. In addition, Kiwanis volunteers maintain and staff the community food bank, which provides emergency food boxes for less fortunate citizens in the area. Food Bank Open Thursdays, 9am-2pm 328 W. Main Street, Sisters, OR 97759. For more information visit sisterskiwanis.org/food-bank.
About Bethlehem Inn:
Bethlehem Inn is committed to transforming lives together through shelter, help and hope. With shelter locations in Bend and Redmond, Bethlehem Inn is Central Oregon’s largest emergency shelter; providing shelter, food, safety and case management services for up to 1,100 individuals and 108,000 meals annually. To learn how you can be part of the solution, please visit bethleheminn.org. You can follow us on Facebook @BethlehemInnCentralOregon or Instagram @bethleheminnbend. Donations may be mailed to: Bethlehem Inn, P.O. Box 8540, Bend, OR 97708.
