When Mike Fleck started his tenure as Community Sharing’s Executive Director a little over seven years ago, the food pantry was distributing an average of 450 to 500 boxes a month packed with stables like bread and other boxed foods.
Four years later, distribution soared to 700 boxes, sometimes reaching as high as 900. It has never come back down.
“It’s not unusual that we’ll sometimes hit as high as 800, 830 boxes a month,” Fleck said. The boxes are aimed at combating food insecurity—one of the many services offered by community sharing including housing assistance. The most recent data released earlier this year by the Ford Family Foundation, in conjunction with Oregon State University showed food insecurity on the rise in Lane County but defining it can be difficult.
By Caitlyn May, Cottage Grove Sentinel