Hunger Prevention Coalition fills empty plates

Checks totaling more than $54,000 from the Hunger Prevention Coalition of Central Oregon are going out this week to 12 Central Oregon food programs, as the first quarterly distribution this fiscal year.

Funds are going to agencies serving meals such as LaPine Community Kitchen, Family Kitchen in Bend, Saving Grace, Oasis Soup Kitchen in Prineville, and Bethlehem Inn; and to those giving out food boxes: The Giving Plate, St. Vincent de Paul’s agencies in Bend, Prineville and LaPine, Community of Christ in Bend, Holy Trinity Care and Share in South County, and the Salvation Army.

These agencies are currently serving many thousands of meals every month to needy young families, the elderly, disabled, homeless and unemployed.

The Coalition raises and distributes funds to area food programs serving needy individuals and families, to increase the amount of nutritious food given out.

This larger than usual distribution includes all the proceeds of this summer’s “Rudy Rudy Golf Fundraiser” sponsored by Rudy Dory, owner of the Newport Avenue Market.

The balance of the money includes every dollar raised through the “Help Fill Empty Plates” program from donations from generous shoppers at participating stores, as well as other donations.

Participating “Help Fill Empty Plates” stores include the Newport Avenue Market, several area Erickson-Sentry and Ray’s Food Place Markets, The Sunriver Country Store, Terrebonne Select Market, Food 4 Less and Grocery Outlets in Redmond and Prineville and Tumalo Country Store. The program seeks more stores to participate.

For more information contact the Hunger Prevention Coalition at its website: www.hungerpc.org, or at P. O. Box 8711, Bend, OR 97708-8711.