KarunaNews Story

The Almeda wildfires left thousands of homes in southern Oregon destroyed, and farmworker families faced a brutal choice: Stay and work through the smoke as the fires got closer, or lose their daily wages. Some have relied on a weekly farmers market run by a local nonprofit called Rogue Food Unites, where they can receive eggs, vegetables, and fruits for free. The organization, founded after the Almeda fires, now provides long-term support for families who are still facing food insecurity while also supporting small, independently owned farms. A bill has been reintroduced in the Oregon legislature called “Food for All Oregonians” that would fund a SNAP-like program for Oregonians who can’t access federal benefits due to their immigration status.