Christy Perry, Salem-Keizer School District superintendent, carries a stack of boxes over to a car during a Farm to Families food box program distribution on Friday, May 22, at Washington Elementary School. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
In April, Marion Polk Food Share handed out one million pounds of food to help local people overcome food shortages. A federal program now is paying a Portland produce company to round up more food and ship it to organizations across Oregon to give away. In Salem, schools are serving as one of the points for reaching families in need.
READ: Produce flows to Salem families under federal program as need remains high
A Farm to Families food box at the Marion Polk Food Share on Friday, May 22. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Rick Gaupo, CEO of Marion Polk Food Share opens up a Farm to Families food box at the organization’s facility on Friday, May 22. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Rick Gaupo, CEO of Marion Polk Food Share stands in the warehouse at the organization’s facility on Friday, May 22. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Farm to Families food boxes are distributed from the St. Vincent De Paul food bank on Friday, May 22 . (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Teresa Lewis, an instructional assistant with the Salem-Keizer School District, closes the door to a vehicle after loading it with boxes during a Farm to Families food box program distribution on Friday, May 22 at Washington Elementary School. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
A truck holds Farm to Families food boxes waiting to be distributed at the Marion Polk Food Share on Friday, May 22. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Shari Crawford, executive director of the St. Vincent De Paul food bank, hands out a Farm to Families food box on Friday, May 22. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Jordan Hagedorn, a communications coordinator with the school district, grabs a bag of onions to be given away during a Farm to Families food box program distribution on Friday, May 22, at Washington Elementary School. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Volunteers carry over food boxes during a Farm to Families food box program distribution on Friday, May 22, at Washington Elementary School. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
A volunteer directs traffic during a Farm to Families food box program distribution on Friday, May 22 at Washington Elementary School. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
Workers at Portland-based Pacific Coast Fruit Co. pack produce for shipment to food banks and other places across Oregon. The company has a $25 million contract with the U.S. Department of Agriculture for the Farmers to Families program, part of the federal COVID-19 relief bill to buy and distribute food that would have gone to restaurants and schools. (Pacific Coast Fruit photo)
Correction: This article incorrectly listed the amount of food Marion Polk Food Share handed out in April. It was one million pounds, not one million tons.
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