As we approach Thanksgiving, I am often thinking of abundance and scarcity. I am so grateful to have a stocked pantry, and to be able to enjoy a hearty meal after a long night of dancing. As a country, we are rich, and yet so many of our neighbors are struggling to make ends meet. Prices are rising, federal funding for SNAP has been significantly reduced, and more people than ever are turning to assistance to feed themselves and their families. 

The Oregon Food Bank Network consists of 21 regional food banks and more than 1,400 food assistance sites, and they are facing increasingly complex challenges in food sourcing and distributing -- the intensity of community need means food is moving fast and supply has become harder to predict. Fund drives like this help the Food Bank leverage its purchasing power to get the most out of every dollar.

It's hard to dance on an empty stomach. If donating would not burden you, I hope you'll join me in supporting the Oregon Food Bank.

- Ariel