YOUR SUPPORT MEANS THE WORLD
TO THE KLAMATH-LAKE COUNTIES FOOD BANK
AND THE 50 OTHER PROGRAMS WE SUPPORT

I wish I could thank and give a big hug to each and every man, woman and child, along with every organization and business that supports the Klamath-Lake counties Food Bank.  It would require so much more space and many hours to do so.  For this reason I will try and sum up my gratitude and appreciation in this letter.

In 2006-07 we assisted 12,400 people, in 2007-08 12,800.  We just finished our fiscal year on June 30. In the last 12 months . . .  16,358 people ate from a food box!!!! About 2,000 have never had to look to the food bank for help.  Most commented on how they've always supported the food bank financially or by donating food through their children's food drives at school.

We also provided food to assist in the preparation of 340,000 meals through 24 other non-profit agencies.  These meals fed 2,200 children, seniors, those who had special needs or were homeless.

Lay-offs, work hours reduced and those on fixed income have found it harder to stretch their limited dollars.  With the lack of employment available right now, we foresee more people looking for some help when unemployment benefits run out.

Your help over the years and more so this year than any other, has allowed me to sleep at night knowing we've turned nobody away who needed some help.  We distributed about 23,000 pounds of food weekly - July 1, 2008 thru June 30, 2009.  Let's face it; we've all had a time in our lives where we needed a little support to get through the rough times.

We've kept up with the demand because of all the wonderful local support we get from the private sector.  When many people give a little, we ensure that when times are tough all our eggs aren't just in a few baskets.  We have many eggs in many baskets.  Some good eggs had a rough year, but new good eggs stepped up to the plate (no pun intended) to make up the difference.  When we receive a check for $5.00 and the donor writes in the FOR section of their check, "75 pounds of food," we know the food bank message is being heard.

We can't distribute 23,000 pounds of food per week without some help!!  Monetary donations, food drives and volunteerism makes it work!

In a small, rural community, every dime we can save other programs, vital to the community, makes other communities want to aspire to do the same.  You give more per capita/person than some of the bigger counties in Oregon.  Give yourself a hand!

Thanks to the volunteers who make this program work.  Their efforts, their time and passion ensure everyone who needs a little help can get it.  These volunteers gave more than 13,800 hours of their valuable time to the food bank and our associated programs in 2008-09.

For those who might need a little help, please call us our check out our website for places you can access food assistance.  There's no shame in asking for a little help now and then.  When you get back on your feet, do what so many others have done; grab the kids and make a day of volunteering at the food bank.  You're giving back and helping the next family who may find themselves in a financial bind.

For more information about the food bank:

Klamath-Lake Counties Food Bank
3231 Maywood Dr.
Klamath Falls, OR 97603
e-mail: niki@e-isco.com
541-882-1223