Oregon Governor, John Kitzhaber, visits FHDC

Goveron visits a successful meal site in Independence

By Saerom Yoo- Statesman Journal

Colonia Amistad, Independence, Oregon — The lively chatter of children socializing filled the outdoor basketball court of an Independence apartment complex.

Balls bounced and swooshed. Books cracked open. Kids playfully shoved one another, competing for an orange-brown seat in a game of musical chairs.

They also ate whole-wheat cheese quesadillas with milk, carrots and peaches.

Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon and Gov. John Kitzhaber on Tuesday visited Colonia Amistad, a Farmworkers Housing Development Corp. community, to highlight the Summer Food Service Program.

There are more than 700 meal sites throughout the state.

"If we want to make sure every child in Oregon is ready to learn when they get to school ... we need to make sure no child in this state is left hungry," Kitzhaber said.

The Summer Food Service Program is federally funded and feeds children in low-income communities.

Patti Whitney-Wise, executive director of Partners, said more than 50 percent of children are eligible for free or reduced-price school lunches.

In the Central School District, about 60 percent of students are eligible, she said.

Making sure that low-income children are fed in the summer is a daunting task that depends on many moving parts to click.

Last summer, about 20 percent of Oregon children eligible for free and reduced-price meals participated in the summer meal program.

In Polk and Marion counties, that number was 19 and 12 percent, respectively.

But Annie Kirschner, child nutrition outreach coordinator for Partners, said Colonia Amistad is a hopeful example of a well-performing meal site.

Its success is because of community partnerships, she said.

The Farmworkers Housing Development Corp. staff provided fun activities. The school district's staff served meals.

The Polk County children and families commission and Independence Public Library provided books.

"This is definitely what we hope to see everywhere," Kirschner said. "This is all the right things."