EOU Contributes More Than 19,000 Pounds of Food to Annual State Drive

EOU Contributes More Than 19,000 Pounds of Food to Annual State Drive

LA GRANDE, Ore. – Eastern Oregon University’s participation in the state of Oregon’s annual Employee Food Drive has been counted and weighed. EOU has been a long-standing partner in the initiative and has been active for more than four decades.

Traditionally, contributions have taken the form of food donations, collected at the end of the month and distributed by Community Connection of Northeast Oregon to food pantries in Union County. More recently, partly as a result of continuing the drive uninterrupted during the COVID-19 pandemic, EOU has encouraged the campus community to make donations through payroll deductions.

This year’s results have been tallied:

• Direct withdrawal/cash donations: $4,565
• Food donations: 986 lbs (448 kg)
• Converted into pounds of food ($1 = 4 lbs): 19,246 lbs (8,748 kg)
• Meal equivalents (as calculated by the state): 14,434

Professors Matt Gougherty and Bill Grigsby coordinate the food drive, publicity, and collection of both food and non-food items.

“Our campus community, through thick and thin, always shows up to support our neighbors and fellow community members. Everyone deserves enough to eat,” said Grigsby, now in his 20th year helping with the food drive.

In addition to donations made by members of the campus community, Grande Ronde Hospital contributed $500. Karrine Brogoitti, communications and marketing director for Grande Ronde Hospital and Clinics, emphasized their commitment to community support.

“At Grande Ronde Hospital, we believe in showing up for our community—and supporting the annual State Employees Food Drive is one small but meaningful way we can do that,” Brogoitti said. “We’re proud to stand alongside Eastern Oregon University and other local organizations to help address food insecurity in our region. EOU’s long-standing leadership in this initiative is something we admire, and we’re grateful for the impact these donations will have across Union County and beyond.”

EOU has partnered with Community Connection of Northeast Oregon to help expand the organization’s capacity to reach the community through local food pantries. Audrey Smith, CCNO’s regional food bank manager for Union, Wallowa, Baker and Grant counties, was pleased with this year’s results.

“We so appreciate the efforts of EOU students and staff in this year’s food drive,” Smith said. “The Regional Food Bank has seen a 30% increase in program usage over the past year, with no comparable increase in food supply. These donations will go a long way toward serving folks in Union, Baker, Grant, and Wallowa counties, and we are thankful for EOU’s participation in the State Employees Food Drive year after year.”