Food bank closes in on goal of earning matching grant.

Byline: Susan Palmer The Register-Guard

FOOD for Lane County is more than halfway to a matching grant of $75,000 that will help it speed more meals to needy families.

The food bank, Oregon's second largest, received a Meyer Memorial Trust challenge grant that promised the money if the agency raises $150,000 through its Scan-a-Coupon program by June 30.

The bar-coded coupons can be purchased and scanned at many area stores in increments of $1, $5 or $10. It's a convenient way of directing donations to FOOD for Lane County.

The food bank's first business partner in the effort, locally owned Market of Choice, has since been joined by 11 other establishments - from banks to garden centers. Since the program began five years ago, they've raised more than $275,000.

During the food bank's current fiscal year, which runs from July 1 to June 30, the agency has raised $86,500 through the Scan program - 56 percent more than the previous annual average - with 5 1/2 months to go to meet the challenge grant.

The money will go into the food bank's general fund with about 90 percent being spent directly on food distribution, Executive Director Pat Farr said.

Last year, the agency distributed more than 6 million pounds of food to 120 other agencies, including pantries that provide emergency food boxes. It takes about 38 people to move that food from the local warehouse to pantries in Oakridge, Florence, Cottage Grove, Junction City and dozens of other smaller communities throughout the county. And it isn't just paid staff doing the work, Farr said. Last year, dozens of volunteers put in just more than 60,000 hours.

The result? The agency fed 80,000 people, about one in five county residents. And that may be why so many people have scanned coupons, Farr said.

"People do understand we're directly supporting their neighbors," he said. "They see their food donation or their cash donation in action immediately."

Besides Market of Choice, coupons are available at Down to Earth, Friendly Street Market, Gray's Garden Centers, Sundance Natural Grocery, Sundance Wine Cellars, Red Barn Natural Grocery, Reed & Cross, King Estate Winery, UO Bookstore and Duck Shops, Wells Fargo Bank and Wild Oats.

Meyer Memorial Trust is an Oregon foundation that provides support in arts and humanities, education, health, social welfare, community development, and environmental conservation and restoration to nonprofit groups in Oregon and Clark County, Wash. With assets of more than $500 million, Meyer expects to donate $25 million in its fiscal year that ends on March 31.