ENTERPRISE — Behind the beautiful scenery and friendly people that make up Wallowa County lurks a problem: Too many local residents are not getting enough to eat.

Cassandra Burns, the county operations manager for Community Connection of Northeast Oregon, believes the situation is extreme.

“Many people don’t know where their next meal is coming from,” she said.

It’s much more than just a local problem. Community Connection operates the Northeast Oregon Regional Food Bank, which has distribution points in Enterprise and Wallowa but also serves residents of Grant, Baker and Union counties. Food insecurity is an issue throughout the region.

Last year, Wallowa County food pantries distributed more than 2,000 emergency food boxes that served more than 4,300 individuals. Grant County handed out 3,258 food boxes that served 8,620 people. In Baker County, 5,710 food boxes helped feed 13,622 people. And for Union County, the numbers were 6,946 food boxes and 17,000 people served. 

Rising prices are driving the rising need, Burns said.

“Everything is increasing,” she said. “People can’t afford to buy food to feed their family.”

A statewide problem

One out of every eight Oregonians faces food insecurity, according to the Oregon Food Bank, which helps supply 21 regional food banks around the state. That network saw 1.9 million visits for assistance in 2023, up 14% from the year before, the nonprofit agency reported.

There are many reasons why someone might need an emergency food box, Burns said. A change in job status, a divorce or an illness can all affect a person’s ability to put food on the table.

Many people are reluctant to use their local food pantry because “they feel it comes with judgment,” Burns said, but she added that staff never ask about a person’s income and can provide information about other resources such as housing. 

The Oregon Food Bank also coordinates a program called Fresh Alliance that is open to anyone in the community. Participating grocery stores donate food that is past the date it can be sold but is still good to eat, and food pantries such as those operated by Community Connection offer it to anyone who needs it. The program provides items such as produce, meat, salad and bread.

Linda Barr, who recently picked up a bag of Fresh Alliance food in Enterprise, said the Northeast Oregon Regional Food Bank is “one of the coolest things about this community.” She added that nobody is judging and “no one should go hungry.”

Local solutions

Another new partner helping the regional food bank is Dollar General, which is providing treats for kids.

For children who need food assistance, having a cookie or a bag of chips in their lunchbox helps them feel just like their classmates, Burns said: “Special things mean a lot to them.”

Wallowa County’s faith community has also stepped up to help feed the need. The Lostine Presbyterian Church coordinated a regular community dinner at the Wallowa Senior Center during the fall, and the United Methodist Church is bringing back its community dinners for a 10-week run beginning in February. The free dinners will be served starting at 5 p.m. each Monday at The Place, 301 S. Lake St. in Joseph.

The Catholic Church in Wallowa regularly supports the regional food bank with volunteers and donations, as do the Church of the Nazarene and St. Patrick’s Episcopal in Enterprise.

The Lostine church also contributes food and hygiene kits to the food bank.

“It’s amazing to see the community support,” said Burns.

‘Everything matters’

The Wallowa and Enterprise pantries receive an allotment twice a month from the Oregon Food Bank in Portland. The allotment fills the shelves with staples such as cereal, canned fruits and vegetables, soup, rice, dried beans and peanut butter, Burns said, but the shelves are soon bare.

A person is eligible to visit the food pantry twice a month.

The allotments do not contain hygiene products such as shampoo, combs, toothpaste or toothbrushes, or soap.

The Northeast Oregon Regional Food Bank does not receive any government assistance to operate. It relies entirely on donations.

Burns said she believes hunger in Wallowa County has gotten worse since the COVID-19 pandemic. During the pandemic, the government increased SNAP benefits for people. But once the pandemic was over, many saw their benefits drop back to pre-pandemic levels.

“Some (people) are not able to stretch to the end of the month,” Burns said.

There are certain food items the food bank uses most and where the need is greatest. Burns mentioned they run out of canned fruit, soup and cereal the most.

“We also don’t get condiments — salad dressing, mustard, and ketchup,” she said. “Those things we don’t get from Fresh Alliance. We don’t get butter.”

The food bank also does not receive flour, sugar, or other items necessary for baking. It can no longer accept fresh eggs due to federal regulations. 

The Northeast Oregon Regional Food Bank accepts cash donations and donations of food and hygiene products. Donations may be brought to either the Enterprise or Wallowa food pantry.

“Our community is in need,” Burns said.

“Not everyone has time or money to give. What can you do? Take your neighbor to dinner and right there you’ve done something beautiful,” she added.

“Everything matters.”

Community Connection of Northeast Oregon coordinates free food distribution for individuals and families in need at several locations in Wallowa County. 

People can pick up emergency food boxes up to twice a month at a local food pantry. Fresh Alliance food distributions are open to all community members.

Enterprise

Wallowa County Community Center, 702 NW First St.

Food pantry: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays (closed for lunch)

Fresh Alliance: 11 a.m. Wednesdays and Fridays

Wallowa

Community Connection meal site, 204 E. Second St.

Food pantry: 2:30-4:30 p.m. Thursdays

Fresh Alliance: 11 a.m. Wednesdays and Fridays

Joseph

The Place, 301 S. Lake St.

No food pantry

Fresh Alliance: 11:30 a.m. Mondays and Fridays

“Everything is increasing. People can’t afford to buy food to feed their family.”

— Cassandra Burns, Community Connection of Northeast Oregon