High unemployment and growing foreclosures forced a record number of eople in Oregon and Clark County, Wash., to seek emergency food in fiscal year 2008-09. Distribution of emergency food boxes throughout the Oregon Food Bank Network skyrocketed to historic highs, according to the OFB Network's annual year-end report (July 1, 2008-June 30,2009) released 9/10/09. Distribution of emergency food boxes increased more than 13% from 792,000 to 897,000 in 2008-09- an annual increase of 105,000 additional emergency food boxes. "This is unprecedented," CEO, Rachel Bristol emphasizes. "It's by far the largest number of emergency food boxes the OFB Network has ever distributed in a single fiscal year." Throughout the OFB Network, agencies reported seeing many, many new faces... people seeking help for the first time in their lives... people who previously had good jobs and never thought they would need help. "We ask for the community's continued support," Bristol says. "September is national Hunger Action Month, and we encourage everyon eto donate food, funds and time to help fight hunger."

Pictures:

• Community Coming Together (JPG)