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Keizer Community Food Bank reports higher demand, resolves Food Share issue and requests support
Summary
The Keizer Community Food Bank told council it resolved recent issues with Food Share and will continue operations. The food bank reported a marked increase in families served compared with January and earlier months and said donations declined while holiday spending on gift cards required $8,000 of its funds. Staff asked for continued community
Judy Lichty, representing the Keizer Community Food Bank, told council the food bank had resolved an operational issue with Marion Polk Food Share and will continue serving clients. She said the building at Faith Lutheran is being sold to Crossroads Fellowship and the food bank will remain at the location; volunteers from that congregation and others had stepped up to support operations.
Lichty reported increased demand in 2024: the monthly average of families served rose from about 123 earlier in the year to 184 in November, and the food bank served more than 200 families on peak Thanksgiving distribution days. The organization switched from providing turkeys to distributing grocery gift cards (about $20 each), which cost the food bank roughly $8,000 this season. Despite volunteer and donor generosity, Lichty said they had to turn away some families during Thanksgiving due to limited food on hand.
Councilors acknowledged the food bank's role and volunteers and urged residents to donate; staff and council noted Oregon Food Bank had visited and that the Keizer food bank's model differs from some other regional distribution models.
Ending: The food bank urged donations and volunteers, and staff offered to continue coordination on operations and facility transitions.
