Nourishing Farmworkers’ Families in Woodburn

Thanks to your generosity, AWARE Food Bank is providing important support to farmworkers and their families in the Woodburn community.  

From March to November, AWARE’s mobile pantry delivers fresh produce and shelf stable items directly to work sites and farmworker housing sites, twice a month throughout the greater Woodburn area. The mobile food distributions include culturally relevant food such as rice, beans, masa flour and tortillas.  

“People are very grateful,” says Deisy, Manager at AWARE Food Bank. “Sometimes we bring toys to the farmworker housing sites. There are two of them where there are a lot of kids. It’s really great to see the kids happy when they get new toys. That’s always really fun.” 

In addition to the mobile pantry deliveries at the work sites, AWARE also offers evening food distributions twice a month in order to be more accessible to farmworkers and their families. Along with providing food at these evening distributions, AWARE coordinates with local community partners to provide information and resources about overall health, legal aid, labor laws and rent assistance to help farmworkers and their families succeed. 

“Recently, I was able to talk with a client who was getting food with his wife during our Tuesday evening distribution,” says Miguel, Farmworker Outreach Coordinator. “He told me they have been out of work for about a month now but that they are able to stay fed thanks to how often we are open.” 

It’s helpful for farmworkers to receive food and information about local resources all in one place. They don’t have to worry about missing work or making several appointments at various locations to find the resources they need.  

“Knowing someone is there to listen to them, who cares for them, and is thinking about them instead of feeling like they are forgotten, is important to them,” says Joana, Pantry Coordinator at AWARE Food Bank. 

Your generosity is a catalyst for addressing hunger while also providing advocacy, connection, and dignity for local farmworkers. Marion Polk Food Share and AWARE Food Bank would like to thank Maps Community Foundation, Roundhouse Foundation, Spirit Mountain Community Fund, Ann and Bill Swindells Charitable Trust of Oregon Community Foundation and community members like you.