When November rolls around, we as a nation tend to sit back and reflect on what we are thankful for. I know for me, this November, it has felt harder to pinpoint what I am grateful for when our community is struggling to make ends meet and keep food on their tables. I understand how stressful and frightening it is to be in a situation where you don’t know where your next meal is coming from. Here at the PSU Smallwood Food Pantry, we want you to know you are not alone in this. We are here with you to help navigate these coming weeks and to take them on together. We believe that food is community, in the good times and the bad. Right now, we root down in the PSU community as we face the bad together.

Something I love about Portland as a whole is the people who populate our city. They understand how to be a neighbor. In times where you feel like your safety net has been pulled out from under you, your city is here to catch you. We are seeing coffee shops and restaurants offer free meals to SNAP recipients, no questions asked. (Check out this list of restaurants to see where you can get a free meal near you) Governor Tina Kotek has declared a 60 day food security emergency and has directed 5 million dollars to food banks. Here at PSU, we have seen a massive outpour of support for the food pantry and the Basic Needs Hub. We have hosted State Representative Grayber and Congresswoman Bynum to highlight the need that we are facing and to show them in real time the impact that the PSU Smallwood Food Pantry has on students. We have seen support coming from the PSU administration in terms of fundraising and food drives. Donations- in kind and monetary- have been coming in from community members all week. I know that during times of crisis, it’s easy to shy away and try to handle things alone. I urge you to gather with us, shop with us and use us as a means to keep yourself and your family fed this month. 

We will be doing everything in our power to keep the shelves stocked. You might see our blue barrels around campus over the next couple of weeks. They are there to collect food to be given out at the pantry. While we work on bringing in more food, please know there may be times when the pantry seems empty. We are expecting increased utilization of the pantry without an increase in food that we are receiving from our partners, so we are currently working on how to bridge that gap. I encourage you to check in on the pantry often, as we restock throughout the day. If you have questions, ask a staff member. 

November is a month for gratitude, though there is not a day throughout the year, where I am not thankful for the PSU community and the resilience of the student population. Please turn to the pantry when you need support. Be it a meal, a list of resources or a listening ear, we are here for you to help you through this month with kindness, gratitude and dignity. 

In community, 
Tess Conley 

With SNAP changing, we want to remind you that the PSU Smallwood Food Pantry is here for you. Here are a few resources to further stretch your food this month. 

OFB's Food Finder: Find free groceries and meals near you.
Urban Gleaner's Food Finder: Use this to locate a free public market near you, no personal info required. 
FindHelp.org: Find local financial assistance, food pantries, medical care, and other free or reduced cost help here. 
PDX Free Fridge: Free food in fridges and pantries across Portland, OR

Oregon’s Food System Is Changing. Here’s What You Need to Know 

 
Big changes are coming to Oregon’s food system on top of SNAP pauses. In the coming weeks, more than 300,000 Oregonians will receive notices about major reductions to their SNAP (food stamp) benefits. This will take effect after SNAP returns.

Here’s what’s changing: 

• Some households will lose a utility credit that helps cover energy costs, lowering their overall food benefit. 

• For the first time, adults ages 55 to 64 without disabilities or children must now meet the same work or volunteer requirements—80 hours each month—that already apply to younger adults. 

• Refugees, asylees, trafficking survivors, and certain other immigrants who were previously eligible will no longer qualify. 

These changes begin this month and will roll out across Oregon next year, just as cuts to the USDA’s Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) program are reducing access to locally grown fresh foods.