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OREGON CITY, Or. -- On Thursday, Clackamas County commissioners allocated $80,000 to local food banks to address food scarcity resulting from the suspension of federal benefits.
This news comes on the heels of Clackamas County declaring a state of emergency on Oct. 30 in response to the suspension of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. The same day, commissioners authorized $100,000 of general fund contingency dollars to send to local food banks.
On Thursday, commissioners finalized plans on how to allocate the $100,000. Commissioners approved sending $50,000 to the Clackamas Service Center to distribute to food pantries throughout its network in the county. Additionally in support of the rural areas throughout the county, Clackamas County will send $10,000 each to the Estacada Area Food Bank, Colton Helping Hands and a food pantry in Sandy.
The county will hold the remaining $20,000 to support the Women, Infants and Children (WIC). There are current federal actions that may ensure continued federal support of WIC. If that happens the commissioners will determine how to re-allocate that $20,000 next week.
Clackamas County has also created an online hub of food resources for community members. To those who wish to help locally, consider donating funds to a food bank in your community or the Clackamas Service Center and make an online donation there or mail a check to: Clackamas Service Center, PO Box 2620, Clackamas, OR, 97015.