Oregon Food Bank’s grassroots Community Food Assessment model is grounded in an intentional, community-based data gathering process that combines social research methods and community organizing principles to create a living document that inspires change.

Oregon Food Bank partnered with the Resource Assistance for Rural Environments (RARE) AmeriCorps program to place 11 month AmeriCorps members with local host organizations* in rural counties throughout Oregon. These positions provided rural communities with graduate-level AmeriCorps members who completed projects aimed at developing long-term solutions to hunger.

*Host organizations have included Regional Food Banks, Economic Development Districts, Community Development Corporations, community-based non-profits, Community Action Agencies and Oregon State University Extension. Through placement with local organizations (rather than as a remote Oregon Food Bank staff member), we supported capacity development of our partner organizations, which ensured that projects continued beyond the AmeriCorps members’ term.