Food for the Spirit

Date: 07/11/22

At Trillium, we support the whole health of our communities. Through partnerships such as Trillium Produce Plus and the Rockwood Food Hub, Trillium is proud to help increase access to culturally specific food for historically underserved and marginalized populations in our service area.

Trillium Produce Plus

In partnership with FOOD For Lane County (FFLC), Trillium Produce Plus brings high-quality fresh fruits and vegetables, plus additional food items, to people in need at community and neighborhood locations such as clinics and public centers. We select both urban and rural sites that serve diverse populations, including Latinx, immigrant, tribal, LGBTQIA+ and senior communities.

During 2021, 55,754 individuals and 18,131 households accessed food assistance from Trillium Produce Plus partners. In other words, this partnership distributed 291,120 pounds of food, averaging 5 pounds per person, or 16 pounds per household per visit. 

Perhaps most importantly, Trillium Produce Plus increases access to healthy food when other programs are unavailable, such as during school vacations. As one participant told us, “This month was very helpful since schools are closed during Spring Break. We were able to provide food to our families during that week. Our families were grateful and came even though it was raining; our line was backed up, but we were able to get them a food box.”

Rockwood Food Hub

The 40,000 residents of Multnomah County’s Rockwood community represent approximately 13 cultures and speak 88 different languages. The majority of people living in Rockwood are food insecure, and Trillium is partnering with the Rockwood Food Hub to provide culturally specific food items for the families they serve. 

Every week, the Rockwood Food Hub program serves a different cultural group. Rockwood Food Hub assembles boxes which include food from Oregon Food Bank and culturally specific food items purchased with funds from Trillium. These boxes are delivered to individuals and families in the Rockwood area, reaching 100-140 households or 500-700 individuals. To date, the Rockwood Food Hub has provided culturally specific food boxes for the African American, Latinx, Russian, central African, Muslim and Southeast Asian communities. 

To learn more about Rockwood’s food programs, visit their website.

 

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