ORCCA and Coos Bay

Since my last post quite a bit has transpired. Winter Break, transition, and now traveling to Coos Bay, OR. Oh, ya… so I’m in Oregon now. Our second round project is with an organization called Oregon Coast Community Action. Their mission is to feed, clothe, warm and educate the people of the South Oregon Coast. As we found out during our initial orientation today, they do so in an incredible variety of ways. One of their major programs is the South Coast Food Pantry – one of about 20 regional food banks in Oregon and the organization responsible for providing food to 33 food pantries throughout the southern Oregon coast. The food pantry receives food from the state food bank, Feeding America, corporate donations, salvaged food through the Fresh Alliance program, food drives, and private donations from individuals and organizations. ORCCA is also responsible for the Head Start and Early Head Start programs in the area, which serve to provide early childhood education. Along with these major programs is a legion of other programs that have come together under the umbrella of ORCCA. The staff members here are incredibly passionate about the work that they’re doing and seem excited and prepared to put us to work improving the capability of ORCCA to meet the needs of community members. One of the most striking things that the South Coast Food Share director shared with us was the idea that when a client seeks one of the services offered by ORCCA, they would be intentionally exposed to the array of programs available to them that address many of the factors that contribute to poverty.

Our involvement with the program will be far-reaching and, to be honest, is a little confusing to me still. We’ll be supporting the Food Share by organizing their warehouse in preparation for a move to new facilities, processing orders, and processing food from other organizations. We’ll be providing classroom support to several local Head Start programs, in addition to improving classroom and playground facilities at these sites. As part of ORCCA’s work with area food pantries, we’ll also be administering state mandated Civil Rights and Food Safety trainings to employees and volunteers on-site. Several of the team members will support the Fresh Alliance program by visiting grocery stores with whom ORCCA has a relationship and working with them to identify ways in which they can donate surplus food. Aside from these major tasks, we’ll be supporting events, working with a youth community service program, and working on several building and artistic projects. I know I’m missing several other projects, but I think you get the point.