MEDFORD, Ore. - It's the time of year when generosity comes to the forefront, and if a charitable food drive is on the list for your business, church, or city, there are some good ideas around the state for making it work.

Carmen Gentry, food bank manager at Community Connection of Northeast Oregon in La Grande, says the key to a successful food drive is logistics. Set specific dates, enlist plenty of volunteers, publicize the goal, and partner with local businesses for donation sites and other needs.

After 19 years of food drives, Gentry says some of the most successful efforts last only one day.

"If you can keep it short and make the impact really big, people feel good about it," she says. "They don't have to spend a ton of time doing it, and the amount of food that you're going to collect or the amount of dollars for the food pantry are typically going to be bigger."

She advises planning for what happens after the drive - how to safely round up all the donations - and says the help of a local moving company with a forklift and truck is invaluable.

Increasingly, nonprofits also have online donation options, such as the Oregon Food Bank's new Virtual Fund Drive.

In Medford, December means the Greystone Court food drive, when neighbors turn their holiday light display into a donation spot for ACCESS, the community action agency that runs the local food pantry.

Philip Yates, director of nutrition programs at ACCESS, says the idea is to make it memorable. Business partners serve hot chocolate, Santa Claus makes an appearance, and for just a few nights several thousand families come by to see the lights and donate food.

"I don't think of that solely as a food drive," says Yates. "I think of it as a tradition. One of the reasons we feel families come out and do that is because they want to give their children the experience of giving back. Usually, it's the littlest hand in the car that stretches out and gives a can of food."

Now in its 13th year, Yates says the Greystone Court food drive raises $12,000 to $20,000 and at least 10,000 pounds of food a year. This year's Greystone Court food drive is Dec. 21 through Dec. 24.


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Groups working to fight hunger in California are calling on Gov. Gavin Newsom to protect funding for the CalFood program in his initial budget proposal, which comes out Jan. 10.

CalFood allows food banks to purchase things that are not often donated - such as eggs, milk, produce, meat and cheese - from California farmers.

Becky Silva, director of government relations for the California Association of Food Banks, said CalFood has enjoyed a temporary boost for the past three years - so, unless the line item is made permanent, funding levels would see a major drop next summer, at the end of the fiscal year.

"So, that means that it'll go from the current approximately $62 million per year down to about $8 million," she said, "and so obviously, food banks are incredibly worried about what that will mean."

She said the food banks are asking for a permanent allocation of $60 million a year in order to avoid big cuts in service. The association estimates that a 1% drop in hunger prevents $600 million in health-care costs, while supporting farmers and food producers in the Golden State.

The association represents 41 food banks that served about 6 million people per month in 2023, which is a 20% increase, year over year. Silva said hunger levels jumped during the COVID pandemic and have not come back down.

"Food insecurity rates are not decreasing, right? Even though a lot of people think of the pandemic as being over," she said, "the economic impacts are still being felt by people all over the state."

Once the governor releases his blueprint, the Legislature will start negotiations. Lawmakers have until June 15 to produce a final budget.


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New funding is making it easier than ever for Oregon farmers to become certified organic.

To achieve certification, farmers must go three years without using synthetic additives such as fertilizers or pesticides. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service in Oregon has launched the Organic Transition Initiative to provide financial and technical support.

Ben Bowell, director of education and advocacy for the group Oregon Tilth, noted the funding is especially valuable because the transition can be costly.

"During that time they have to be farming as organic farmers but they are not able to access an organic crop premium," Bowell pointed out.

Farmers can also get support through the initiative to develop organic systems for fertilization, building soil and controlling weeds.

Bowell explained the initiative is one of a three-part national USDA Organic Transition Initiative. This five-year program provides mentorship from experienced organic farmers, technical assistance and an organic market development program. He emphasized with the three programs, the combined $300 million investment in organic farming is historic.

"Right now is an amazing time to consider transitioning to organic in terms of all of the support that's available," Bowell stated.

Erica Thompson, farm operations manager for the U-pick blueberry farm Blueberry Meadows near Corvallis, which has been in her family since 1993, is a little over a year into the three-year process. She said figuring out a new fertility program and disease management has been a challenge, along with understanding the application and documentation process.

Thompson added working with the Organic Transition Initiative has been helpful.

"Being part of it has really solved or like is in the process of solving all my questions and uncertainties," Thompson observed.

Along with farmers, support is available for ranchers and forest landowners looking to go organic. Applications for the current round of funding are due Jan. 17.


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A Detroit nonprofit said it is helping people in the city reclaim control over the food they eat from where it is grown to where they buy it.

The Detroit Black Community Food Sovereignty Network is leading the mission for what they call "food sovereignty," focusing on helping Detroiters access healthy, culturally meaningful food and taking control of its sustainable production while addressing food insecurity.

Shakara Tyler, board president of the network, said they operate a seven-acre farm in Detroit's River Rouge Park.

"We grow food so it's more accessible for community members, so they don't have to rely on liquor stores and gas stations to access basic necessities to feed themselves and their families," Tyler explained. "We also grow food to make a little bit of money."

About one-third of households in Detroit report experiencing food insecurity, with 80% of its residents relying on "fringe food" sources like fast food chains, liquor stores and corner stores where items like fresh produce are not available.

Detroit's urban farming scene has experienced significant growth, with more than 2,000 gardens and farms operating throughout the city. Tyler explained starting the farms is not just about offering healthy food, it is also about giving people a sense of ownership and empowerment, which she noted requires a thoughtful approach.

"You adapt that by starting where people are," Tyler emphasized. "Asking questions about their values and their experiences and then building from there, and not assuming that what works in one area will work in another area because this work is very place-based."

Michigan is not the only state where this mission has caught on. As of this year, there are close to 30,000 community garden plots in city parks across the United States, marking a 22% increase from 2021.

This story is based on original reporting by Dalya Massachi for Everyday Climate Champions.


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