What is Forest Grove Foundation’s food program all about? We talked to FGF Food Program Director Jack Koran to find out. Since 2021, Jack has helped grow the program from its early days of responding to food insecurity during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic to today’s broader effort to develop a highly coordinated, collaborative community food ecosystem. In this brief five-question interview, Jack shares highlights and insights about the program’s journey, current focus areas, and ways to get involved.

Can you give us a quick overview of the FGF food program and who it serves?

The FGF food program emerged from our organization’s participation in COVID-19 emergency response efforts. As part of the Western Washington County Emergency Task Force, FGF leaned into local food security efforts, distributing meals at local homeless encampments as well as securing a refrigerated truck and cold storage to coordinate the receiving and distribution of pallet-scale food donations to be distributed through our local food pantry network.

We continue much of that work today, although in a different context. Through our Housing and Outreach Service Team (HOST), we distribute meals and snacks to people experiencing homelessness in rural and semi-rural Washington County. As part of Washington County’s Behavioral Health Resource Network, we distribute groceries and meals to people enrolled in recovery housing and peer support programming. As part of Oregon Food Bank’s Fresh Alliance program, our refrigerated truck picks up weekly pallet-scale donations from distributors, and delivers to local food pantries in Forest Grove, Cornelius and North Plains. 

What makes your program unique compared to other food assistance efforts?

Our food program prioritizes partnerships and collaboration, with a focus on pulling resources and institutional support into the often underserved rural and semi-rural communities of Western Washington County. We work from an asset-based development perspective, often directing grant funding and material resources to support partner programming already doing the good work of serving our local communities. 

What’s something you’re working on for the program that you’re especially excited about or proud of?

We are currently working with partner organizations Eden Acres and Growing Gardens to establish a bilingual garden space where community members will be invited to help grow food for our local food pantry network. Educational opportunities, volunteer opportunities, signage and printed materials will be offered in Spanish and English, and participants will have the opportunity to grow and harvest food for their own household use as well as those utilizing our local pantries. 

Can you share a success story that highlights the impact of your work?

Since 2021, we have worked with neighboring organization Adelante Mujeres, who purchases food from their partner farmers for our distribution through the local food pantry network. Purchases are made in the fall, while farms are still producing but the farmers markets are winding down. This creates economic opportunity for local farmers, while ensuring an influx of fresh produce into the local food pantry system. 

How can people support or get involved with your program?

Financial donations are always welcome, as are garden volunteers! Farmers, gardeners, producers and distributors can contact us for help identifying local pantries or other programs that can accept food donations. For large-scale donations, we can often help with transportation of your donation to a pantry program. 

To learn more or support FGF’s food program and other initiatives, visit our website or contact us at [email protected]