The tough economy has touched us all.  Most of us have put off vacations, started using mass transit, or have cut out lattes to make ends meet.  For many others, simply feeding their family is major financial challenge.  In the spirit of Create.Play.Care, KEEN’s Customer Service team recently spent an afternoon helping to feed those facing hunger in Oregon and neighboring Clark County, WA.

Led by KEEN Chief Operating Officer Dave Boeschenstein and Customer Service Manager Mary Hardaker, the team organized, packaged, and packed donated food at the Oregon Food Bank.  This food will be distributed to six regional food banks and to hundreds of local emergency food pantries throughout the state.  According to OFB Volunteer Manager Star Farris, over 240,000 residents of Oregon and Clark County, WA are facing crisis levels of hunger.  Compounding this problem is Oregon’s 11.3% rate of unemployment, the fifth highest figure in the nation.  With such demand, food, money, and volunteer labor donations are greatly needed and appreciated by the people and agencies seeking to alleviate the suffering caused by hunger.  In conjunction with other volunteer groups, KEEN’s team helped process over eight tons of food that will provide sustenance for 12,000 hungry people.

Hunger and tough times don’t respect state lines.  To find out how you can help in your community, visit Feeding America at www.feedingamerica.org.