New House members begin legislative service by volunteering

January 06, 2009

OFFICE OF THE SPEAKER

PRESS RELEASE: January 6, 2009
CONTACT: Geoff Sugerman, 503-986-1210

Oregon'is New House Members Begin Legislative Service By Volunteering at Oregon Food Bank

In an effort to bring attention to the issue of hunger in Oregon, as well as show their dedication to community service, Oregon'is new House members from across the state will spend an afternoon volunteering at local pantries of the Oregon Food Bank Network on Friday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. The main volunteer event will take place at Oregon Food Bank'is main distribution center at 7900 NE 33rd Drive in Portland at 1 p.m.

The idea came about during the first day of new member orientation, when the new legislators decided that part of their job should be providing a hand to groups that serve Oregonians. All new House members are participating in the event.

Rep-elect Jules Bailey (D-Portland) is helping facilitate the effort on behalf of the new members.
`iWhen people in our communities think of new legislators, we want them to think of us as dedicated community folks who want to make a difference, not just with our votes in the Capitol, but with our efforts to improve our communities, and make them feel more safe and secure in these very difficult times,^i said Bailey. `iWe also wanted to build bipartisan cooperation among the new members of the Legislature while at the same time focusing on one of Oregon'is toughest issues.

`iOregon Food Bank and food pantries are excellent places to volunteer,^i said incoming State Representative Tim Freeman (R-Roseburg) `iThey are doing great work at helping curb hunger in Oregon. They work with a wide variety of people and organizations, ranging from farmers and ranchers to big chain grocery stores. And they operate statewide. So we'ire asking all Oregon House members to join us in a day of service at the Oregon Food Bank Network.^i

Speaker-Designee Dave Hunt said he was impressed that all new members, both Democrat and Republican, signed on to the event and were reaching out to other legislators to get them involved.
`iThis is just the kind of energy and commitment to Oregon that we need to make it through these tough economic times,^i said Hunt (D-Clackamas County). `iOregonians will be well-served by this dedicated new group of House members and I applaud them for their initiative and dedication to their new districts.^i

Oregon Food Bank Director Rachel Bristol said it was critical that legislators not only understand the value of Food Banks in their communities, but spend some time working with the people served.
`iWe thank the legislators for their volunteer efforts for Oregon Food Bank, which helps raise awareness of hunger in Oregon,^i said Rachel Bristol, executive director and CEO of Oregon Food Bank. `iThe fact that these legislators are taking time out of their busy schedules to volunteer at OFB and at network agencies across the state sets a powerful example for how others can help their neighbors in need, particularly at a time when Oregon Food Bank and its Network agencies are stretched to the limit.^i
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