Oregon food pantries have seen a decline in attendance in recent months. The Oregon Food Bank is worried fear among immigrant and refugee communities may be keeping families from seeking the food assistance they need.Jen Turner with the Food Bank says they don’t disclose recipient information or collect data on immigrant or citizenship status. However, people may still avoid visiting pantries because of their official atmosphere.
“A lot of times places that ask for a signature, self-declaration that you meet a certain income requirement, many of our partners ask to see proof of residence – they can often feel like official or governmental places,” says Turner. “If you’re afraid you’re going to take every precaution you can think of to avoid being caught.”
Oregon Food Pantry suspects ICE activity in the Portland and Eugene areas may be fueling fears. Pantry manager and DACA recipient Francisco Rodriguez Dominguez was recently detained and released because of public outcry. Turner says immigrants and refugees in Oregon experience a disproportionately high level of food insecurity. Because of this, Oregon Food Bank is looking for ways to strengthen trust between pantries and their recipients and educate recipients of their rights.