ACT NOW! Farm to School in Oregon Threatened!

Please Help Protect Farm to School Programs! We have just seen the Oregon State Legislature’s current plan for rebalancing the state budget and the state legislature just announced last night that they are threatening to cut programs in the Rogue Valley and across the state, just as schools are feeding our communities and preparing to provide safe outdoor education. The plan includes cuts of $7.8 million to the Oregon Department of Education’s Farm to School Grant Program! This is more than half of the funding and would be devastating for the program.

Don't let it happen!

What YOU Can Do:

  1. Sign the petition here, then share it widely for your friends and family to sign!

  2. Write a letter and email as a PDF to all of the committee members (see template below):

    Sen.LewFrederick@oregonlegislature.gov

    Rep.SusanMclain@oregonlegislature.gov

    Sen.ArnieRoblan@oregonlegislature.gov

    Sen.ChuckThomsen@oregonlegislature.gov

    Rep.TeresaAlonsoLeon@oregonlegislature.gov

    Rep.MikeNearman@oregonlegislature.gov

    rep.carlwilson@oregonlegislature.gov

    Rep.MarkMeek@oregonlegislature.gov

    jwmed.exhibits@oregonlegislature.gov

We need your letters and signatures by Wednesday, July 22nd.

Letter Template (copy and paste):

Subject: Written testimony for Public Hearing on July 23rd

ATTN: Education Subcommittee of the Joint Committee on Ways and Means

July 20th, 2020

Co-Chairs Frederick and McLain and Members of Committee:

Please protect Farm to School funding! It's vital to our community!

YOU ARE TAKING FOOD AWAY FROM OUR CHILDREN, FUNDING AWAY FROM OUR FARMERS.

Please do all you can to protect funding for Oregon’s Farm to School Grant Program! This funding is critical to the state’s economic stability, our farmers’ livelihoods, and children’s well-being.

THE FARM TO SCHOOL PROGRAM WILL LET OUR CHILDREN LEARN OUTSIDE WHERE IT IS SAFE!

This funding is more important than ever in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. These funds are critical for economic development, and school gardens are a key to social distancing as students return to school in the fall.

WE NEED THIS PROGRAM NOW MORE THAN EVER!

We understand that budget cuts are needed. JUST KEEP the Farm to School Grant Programs GOING as mandated by HB 2579.

Sincerely,

Your Name