Brookings-Harbor is experiencing a seasonal uptick in food insecurity. “Summer is often a hungry season for families,” explains Sister Cora Rose, who ministers at St. Timothy Episcopal Church in Brookings. “Students aren’t at school receiving meals and snacks; and some forms of supplemental food resources are tied to seasonal charitable giving, like special holiday food boxes and community holiday meals – these typically aren’t available apart from the winter holiday season. ”The Community Kitchen, Brookings CORE Response, and Brookings-Harbor Community Helpers (Food Bank) are all feeling the crunch with increased demand for food from during the summer slump, paired with decreased purchasing power for grocery price inflation.

In addition, temporary climate refugees add to the need for food resources on the coast. “We are seeing seasonal uptick of new faces, as folks flee areas with a lot of wildfires, high heat and summer smoke,” says Fr. Bernie Lindley, whose church hosts the Community Kitchen several days of the week. “We expect to see this pattern summer after summer.”

Can you help spread the word about opportunities to donate items to three great community organizations in Brookings-Harbor to help meet the needs of your neighbors this summer?

In particular, these organizations are in need of the following:

Community Kitchen

Kitchen funds and pantry available for all participating churches administered by St. Timothy Episcopal Church as the distribution hub for the kitchens.

Financial donations (tax-deductible) and nonperishable food donations are appreciated.

Drop Off : 401 Fir Street, Brookings (Monday, Wednesday, or Friday 9:00 AM – noon)

Mailing address: St. Timothy Episcopal Church, PO Box 1237, Brookings, OR 97415

Brookings CORE Response

Financial donations (tax-deductible) and non-perishable, individually-wrapped snack items and water bottles are appreciated.

Drop off: 97900 Shopping Center Ave #31 in Harbor, Mon.-Thurs. 9:00-3:00 PM

Mailing: PO Box 4160, Brookings, Oregon 97415

Brookings-Harbor Community Helpers (Food Bank)

Financial donations (tax-deductible) and nonperishable food donations are appreciated.

Drop off: 539 Hemlock Street in Brookings, Monday through Friday from 9am to 2pm

Mailing address: Brookings Harbor Community Helpers, Inc., P.O. Box 1415, Brookings, OR 97415

For those in Brookings-Harbor looking for a little extra help meeting their family’s food needs right now, the following resources are available this summer: The Brookings-Harbor Community Helpers (Food Bank) is offering a Snack Pack program for youth ages 2-17 on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM this summer, through August 30. In the month of August, the snack packs also include breakfast items for the following day.

Brookings Community Resource (CORE) Response offers snack packs coffee, water, and daily snack packs Monday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

The Brookings-Harbor School District offered school lunch for youth ages 0-18 four days a week through July 31st. Additionally, students enrolled in Kinder Academy can receive meals for the school week starting August 12, 2024.

Summer EBT program provides $10 per week per eligible child for summer groceries. Families that have foster youth or are eligible for free and reduced lunch can learn more and apply by calling 833-ORE-SEBT. Families that already receive SNAP, TANF, or Oregon Health Plan should have already received the Summer EBT benefit without applying.

The Community Kitchen offers a fresh meal each day of the week at the following locations:

Monday: St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church, 11:00 AM − 12:00 PM.

Tuesday: St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church, 12:00 − 1:00 PM.

Wednesday: Star of the Sea Catholic Church, 12:00 − 1:00 PM.

Thursday: Brookings Presbyterian Church, 12:00 − 1:00 PM.

Friday: Trinity Lutheran Church, 12:00 − 1:00 PM.

Saturday:

St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church, first, third, and fifth Saturday, 12:00 − 1:00 PM.

Brookings Church of the Nazarene, second and fourth Saturday, 12:00 − 1:00 PM.

Sunday: St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church, 3:00 − 4:00 PM.

The Chetco Activity Center provides a hot lunch Monday – Friday starting at 11:15 AM. For persons over age 60, the meals are by donation; a person of any age may purchase a meal.

Reporter: Lori Gallo Stoddard

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