Hunger is quietly growing across Oregon as changes to federal food assistance programs and state and local funding shortfalls leave many families facing new uncertainty. In this month’s message, our CEO Kaleen Deatherage reflects on what Catholic Charities of Oregon is seeing firsthand and how our community continues to respond with compassion.
Across Oregon, food insecurity is quietly growing. It’s something we hear about every day from the people who walk through our doors: mothers deciding which bill to delay so groceries can stretch another week, women rebuilding their lives after homelessness while trying to keep food in the cupboard, and refugees navigating an unfamiliar system while simply trying to feed their families.
At Catholic Charities of Oregon, hunger is rarely just about food. It is about stability. It is about dignity. And increasingly, it is about uncertainty.
This winter, our community stepped up once again through our Winter Food Drive, donating food and financial support that will help us meet urgent needs in the months ahead. While we are still gathering the final numbers, what we already know is that generosity like these matters more than ever.
Over the past year, changes to federal policy have made access to food assistance more difficult for many people. New rules tied to federal legislation expanded work requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and removed some long-standing exemptions. National analysts estimate that these changes could cause millions of Americans to lose access to food benefits.
Here in Oregon, the impact is already being felt. Refugees, asylees, and other humanitarian immigrants who previously qualified for SNAP are losing eligibility under federal changes, affecting thousands of people statewide.
For families who were already living on the margins, the loss of even modest food benefits can mean the difference between stability and crisis.
When people lose SNAP benefits, they do not stop needing food. Instead, they turn to food banks, community organizations, churches, and neighbors. Throughout the state, food pantries are reporting rising demand as families try to fill the gap left by reduced federal support.
At Catholic Charities of Oregon, we see this reality every day. Our teams encounter it in Kenton Women’s Village, in our refugee and immigration programs, and in the countless conversations we have with people who are doing their best to rebuild their lives.
Hunger is not always visible. It can look like a cupboard that is slowly emptying, or a parent quietly skipping meals so their children can eat. It can look like stretching one meal into two, or deciding that today, eating less is the only option.
But it is real, and more families are feeling it.
The good news is that compassion is growing too.
Every donated bag of groceries, every financial gift, and every volunteer hour sends a powerful message that you are not alone.
At Catholic Charities, our work has always been about walking with people during their most difficult moments. That includes helping ensure something as basic—and as essential—as food is within reach.
As we move into the months ahead, we remain deeply grateful for the community that stands with us. Your support makes it possible to respond when needs change, when systems fall short, and when families need someone to walk alongside them.
Because no one should have to face hunger alone.
With gratitude,
Kaleen Deatherage
CEO / Catholic Charities of Oregon