Governor praises state employees for helping to fight hunger in Oregon
State employees raise the equivalent of 4.25 million pounds for food bank
(Salem) – Governor Ted Kulongoski today congratulated state workers for donations made to the Oregon Food Bank that will help many Oregon families through this difficult economic time.
“This year’s food drive was more important than ever. Oregon families – our friends and neighbors – are struggling, many for the first time,” the Governor said. “The efforts of state employees and all other Oregonians who are giving what they can mean a warm meal on the table for Oregon families across the state.”
State employee cash donations and payroll deductions totaled more than $825,000. According to Oregon Food Bank, every dollar donated is equivalent to five pounds of food. Therefore, between monetary and food contributions, state employees donated the equivalent of 4.25 million pounds of food for Oregon families. This represents an increase from last year and a total of 55 million pounds of food donated by state employees since 1982.
More than 52,000 employees representing over 75 state agencies, departments, boards and universities participated in the food drive. The agencies are divided by size into six teams. For each team, the Governor announces the highest pounds-per-employee raised and the largest increase compared to the previous year.
The 2009 winners are:
Team 1
Pounds-per-Employee: Mortuary and Cemetery Board (1st); Employment Relations Board (2nd); Legislative Fiscal Office (3rd)
Largest Increase: Oregon Board of Pharmacy
Team 2
Pounds-per-Employee: Private Health Partnerships (1st); Community Colleges and Workforce (2nd); Oregon Board of Nursing (3rd)
Largest Increase: Workers Compensation Board
Team 3
Pounds-per-Employee: Bureau of Labor & Industries (1st); Housing & Community Services (2nd); Public Employees Retirement System (3rd)
Largest Increase: Public Safety Standards and Training Department
Team 4
Pounds-per-Employee: Department of Forestry (1st); Legislative Administration/Counsel (2nd); Oregon Lottery (3rd)
Largest Increase: Legislative Administration/Counsel
Team 5
Pounds-per-Employee: Department of Justice (1st); Employment Department (2nd); Department of Consumer and Business Services (3rd)
Largest Increase: Department of Justice
Team 6
Pounds-per-Employee: Western Oregon University (1st); Oregon State University (2nd); Oregon Institute of Technology (3rd)
Largest Increase: Eastern Oregon University
Contacts:
Anna Richter Taylor, 503-378-6169
Jillian Schoene, 503-378-5040
Courtney Warner (Governor’s Oregon Way Office), 503-991-9560
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