 * “I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; And because I cannot do everything I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.”
—Helen Keller
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To contact me, please click here: Sen.JeffGolden@oregonlegislature.gov
This weekend Rogue Valley folks came together in a big way to make sure their neighbors have enough to eat.
On Saturday, we came together at the Medford Library for a combination Town Hall and Food Drive. Thank you to everyone who attended and generously donated…and I mean generously. In total, we donated 1,500 pounds of food to local food pantries.
 We organized this event before finding out that the state had arranged to prevent cancellation of SNAP benefits for November, which is very good news. But the fact remains that the federal government has a strategy that’s likely to endanger food assistance to vulnerable families for quite a while. That’s why it’s so important to fortify our Food Banks as much as we can. If you weren’t able to make it to this event, please consider donating directly to our local Food Banks either here or here.
 On Sunday we came together in Phoenix for Empty Bowls. Empty Bowls is a great fundraising event that brings together local ceramic artists, volunteers, and community members to raise money to help keep our neighbors fed. All proceeds from yesterday’s event will be donated to the Phoenix and Talent food banks.
These events were small, local examples of a new kind of community spirit that is spreading fast. People of all kinds are standing up in a new way, choosing engagement and personal responsibility over lonely despair at what’s been happening. Thanks to all who are embracing this new spirit—and there’s plenty of room for more.
 Senator Jeff Golden, Oregon Senate District 3
P.S. This article seems to clarify the confusion around Oregon and SNAP funding.
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