Here’s a public service piece dated 2/17/91. PROJECT SECOND WIND. The statistics have changed but the problem continues. The phone number and address are correct, I believe. Should be noted, publication hiring me sold a ton of food advertising. – JDW
Every night. One child in five goes to bed hungry. In America of all places. In Oregon.
For that one child, what color ribbon should we tie?
In this MONTH 2: THE WAR IN THE GULF, it’s easy sometimes to forget the troubles closer to home. Especially right after a meal. Particularly after dessert.
The Oregon Food Bank reminds us with PROJECT SECOND WIND – its annual canned food drive – that we must not forget. Those starving kids must be fed.
Other kids will help. Project Second Wind was started by Portland high school students associated with the Metropolitan Youth Commission in 1971. Today, this community-based drive involves students from all grades. Last year students and staff donated seventy tons (70!) of food.
With some 41% of Portland’s students qualifying for the Federal “Free-or-Reduced” lunch program, their schoolmates understand that much of the donated food will go to the families of their peers.
“Project Second Wind provides Portland students with the opportunity to give tangible gifts to others less fortunate,” explains Superintendent of Schools Matthew Prophet. “It helps them to learn about the realities of hunger, poverty and unemployment.”
By early spring, donations made during the holidays to emergency food box programs are nearly exhausted. All et up. The canned food collected by Project Second Wind helps replace emergency supplies – a “second wind of food” – so that thousands of Oregonians can be helped in the months ahead.
Who’s hungry? Nearly half the people assisted by OFB are under the age of 18, and 6% are over sixty. Last year the median range of net household income was $3,000 to $5,000. Per year. Seventy-five percent have unpaid medical bills. Yet, a vast majority do not receive welfare assistance.
Forty-one percent have high school or GED diplomas, and nearly 40% of the families had at least one person working.
Households served by OFB received assistance on the average of only three times in a year. That’s all. The food goes to feed families who are truly in need. Period.
How to help? Project Second Wind has expanded to become a community-based drive offering service groups, churches and businesses the opportunity to respond directly to an important need. Aching bellies.
“Being part of the community means having a concern for the well-being of our neighbors,” offers Bo Hirsch, President of Stagg Foods. “That’s why we’re donating 10,000 pounds of our Stagg canned chili & bean products.”
Only 190,000 lbs. left to go. That’s the goal of Project Second Wind – one hundred tons of high protein items such as canned meats, tuna, beans, vegetables, soups, fruit, tomatoes and sauces. (They can’t use bagged, boxed, bottled, or fresh food.)
Businesses, churches, service groups and individuals who wish to donate food should call 282-0555 for the most conveniently located collection site. All food collected stays in the counties of origin, which means you feed your neighbors. You help to fill local empty tummies.
Too much trouble? You can send money. For every dollar donated, OFB is able to distribute thirteen (13!) pounds of food. Checks payable to the Oregon Food Bank should be sent to its main office at 7900 NE 33rd Drive, Portland OR 97211.
If everybody on a diet would send just a buck…for every pound they hope to lose….
https://www.oregonfoodbank.org/our-work/hunger-in-oregon/