"Hunger Doesn't Take A Summer Vacation," Says Senator Wyden

A week before the Oregon Food Bank's annual Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival kicks off, the food bank is kicking off a drive for volunteers.

"We are launching our summer drive for volunteers," said Food Bank CEO Susannah Morgan. "We have hunger all year round and, in fact, the hungriest time of year in Oregon is the summer when kids are out of school.

"We are really calling on our fellow Oregonians to come out and help us keep the food moving."

Morgan was joined by Oregon's senior senator, Ron Wyden.

"Here's the bottom line for Oregonians - hunger does not take a summer vacation," Wyden said. "And it's very clear, for example, when I see basketball programs with youngsters.

"Very often when they come and play around noontime, they haven't had a lot to eat since the previous noontime."

Wyden said he seems families "walking an economic tightrope. Every single month they are balancing their food costs versus their rent costs against their gas bill.

"We just have to do more to help."

The food bank says that in an average month, 270,000 people eat meals from emergency food bank boxes - 92,000 of those people are children.

To volunteer at the food bank, go here.

To volunteer for next week's Blues Festival, head here. They are looking for some more help.