Who does the Food Bank serve?
NeighborImpact’s Food Bank serves the residents of Deschutes, Jefferson or Crook Counties. In the 2008 calendar year over 12,500 people each month accessed Food Bank services through the local agencies that NeighborImpact’s Food Bank provides with food resources. Why are people hungry? People living in this region are facing economic hardships. Central Oregon has an average unemployment rate that is higher than the state average, as well as high costs of living and weakening industries. In simpler terms, many Central Oregonians are experiencing income issues and income affects people’s ability to provide for their basic needs, such as food. Unemployment rates have risen consistently in all three counties in the past months. Unemployment combiend with the drastic slow down in the construction and services industries has impacted many Central Oregonian’s income levels, especially those who live paycheck to paycheck and have either been laid off or had their work hours reduced. • 42% of a
