HILLSBORO, Ore. -- Washington County hunger outpacing statewide rates
Hunger in Oregon's most affluent county is on the rise. According to Oregon Food Bank numbers, the rate of families eating from emergency food boxes is rising at twice the statewide rate. Distribution of emergency food increased 14 percent statewide year to year, and grew 28 percent in Washington County.
As a result, Washington County food pantries are seeing a new trend: middle class families seeking help.
Eloise Grout at Hillsboro Family Resource Center says "they are having to reach out for the first time." She adds "we're helping them with food, clothing, a lot of people are wanting help finding jobs, employment, resume help."
The changing dynamics are due largely to layoffs.
"Washington County does have the highest per capita income in the state, it's the economic engine of the state and we're very proud of that because of the diverse employment base we enjoy here," Jonathan Schlueter, Executive Director of Westside Economic Alliance, explained.
He concedes the recession has hit hard, leaving 26,000 people out of work and about 50,000 people living below the federal poverty line. He adds, "to have resources like the Oregon Food Bank is literally a lifeline they have to draw on."
To meet the growing Washington County need, Oregon Food Bank is renovating a vacant building at N.W. 173rd and Cornell Road. It's an eight and a half million dollar project, funded with investments from local companies and private foundations.
When it opens later this year it will increase food distribution from three million to four and a half million pounds of food annually, and triple its volunteer pool in Washington County.
