Pendleton Foundation Trust Partners with CAPECO to Address Local Food Insecurity
Pendleton Foundation Trust awarded a $20,000 grant to Community Action Program of East Central Oregon (CAPECO) to help address rising food insecurity in the Pendleton area. The grant will strengthen the local food distribution system at a time when demand for basic food assistance continues to grow.
Recent community conversations and data point to a troubling increase in food insecurity across Pendleton. A community forum highlighted in the East Oregonian underscored how many local families, seniors, and individuals are struggling to keep food on the table. Delays in SNAP benefits in November further intensified the strain on households and the organizations working to support them.
“As a community foundation, our purpose is to respond to real needs in ways that create lasting impact,” said Tiffany Hegarty, Executive Director of Pendleton Foundation Trust. “Food insecurity is a growing challenge in Pendleton, and this grant reflects our commitment to step forward when our neighbors need it most. By strengthening CAPECO, we are helping ensure that essential food resources reach families, seniors, students, and individuals across our community. No one in Pendleton should go hungry.”
CAPECO serves as the region’s food bank through the Oregon Food Bank network and plays a critical role in Pendleton’s hunger-relief efforts. From its recently completed warehouse facility, CAPECO distributes food to Pendleton food pantries, provides monthly nutrition boxes to seniors, and delivers meals directly to homebound seniors. As the central hub of the local food system, CAPECO’s capacity directly impacts local organizations on the front lines of hunger in Pendleton.
This grant is part of Pendleton Foundation Trust’s strategic approach to philanthropy, which includes both responsive grantmaking and a limited number of proactive, high-impact initiatives aligned with pressing community needs. By investing in CAPECO, the Trust aims to help stabilize and strengthen the local food pipeline during a period of heightened demand and limited resources.
About CAPECO
Community Action Program of East Central Oregon (CAPECO) works to reduce poverty and improve lives by providing food assistance, housing support, energy services, and other essential resources throughout the region.
