Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Darlene Hooley (OR-5) announced that $253,269 in federal funding has been awarded to Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon as part of the USDA’s Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service’s (CSREES) Community Food Projects (CFP) program to help low-income people meet their food needs.

“These funds will help Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon continue their notable efforts to make food available to disadvantaged communities,” said Hooley.  “Collaborative partnerships over the past few years helped Oregon shed its dubious distinction of being one of the hungriest states in the country."

The CFP program has been working toward meeting the food needs of low-income people for the past 11 years.  Grants are intended to help private, nonprofit entities with a one-time infusion of federal funds to establish and execute multipurpose community food projects.

Examples of funded projects include expanding access to healthy and local foods in a low income, high unemployment area by employing teens to develop community gardens and market their produce; a county-wide operation of community kitchens for micro-enterprise development with low-income participation and leadership; and improving access to healthy foods through a variety of methods, including supermarket development, promoting local produce, a community kitchen and educational programs.

“I applaud the tremendous work by organizations in Oregon to help reduce hunger and food insecurity,” added Hooley.  “A lot has been done but much work still lies ahead.”

Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon (EMO) is an association of 17 Christian denominations including Protestant, Catholic and Orthodox bodies across the state that work together for unity and justice. Through community ministry, public policy advocacy, theological education and dialogue and environmental ministry, EMO participates in the collective task of building a just and compassionate world for all people.