Oregon FFA Members “Drive Away Hunger”

By |2025-10-18T11:26:07-04:00October 18th, 2025|Categories: FFA in the USA|Tags: , , , , |
Sutherlin FFA members hold the food drive bags.

Sutherlin FFA members with the food drive bags.

For the past 10 years, chapters like Sutherlin FFA have been collecting thousands of pounds of food to help communities in need. The “Drive Away Hunger” initiative was started in 2013 by the Oregon FFA Association and Les Schwab Tires Centers, with the goal of collecting food and raising awareness about food insecurity every October. 

Sutherlin FFA has been carrying out this goal ever since its first food drive in 2013. Every year, they partner with Sutherlin Lauren Young Les Schwab Tire Center to promote and run the Les Schwab Food Drive. 

Starting early in the morning, members meet at Sutherlin High School to prepare thousands of bags for distribution. This includes sorting them and stapling a flyer on each one that describes the purpose and mission of the food drive. Recently, all donations have gone to UCAN, a nonprofit that provides social and family services in several counties throughout Oregon.

FFA members then distribute these bags throughout town. From there, it is up to the community to donate nonperishable food or give a monetary donation. Once the food is collected, it is brought to Sutherlin Lauren Young Les Schwab Tire Center, where it is sorted and sent to UCAN. 

“We are proud to be a partner with our local FFA chapter in sponsoring their annual food drive,” Scott Cameron with the Sutherlin Lauren Young Les Schwab Tire Center says. “Lauren Young Tire Center is involved with our community in many ways, and the food drive is just one way we can give back to our very giving community. We would like to thank those involved, doing their part in our community service.”

The donated and sorted food at Sutherlin Lauren Young Les Schwab Tire Center.

The donated and sorted food at Sutherlin Lauren Young Les Schwab Tire Center.

In the last decade Sutherlin FFA has participated in the food drive, it has collected more than 10,000 pounds of food and countless cash donations. This all goes back to helping Oregon families, specifically those in Douglas County, fight food insecurity and beat hunger. In 2019, the chapter hit a record amount of donations, with 2,605 pounds of food collected. Members continue to collect more than 1,000 pounds of food every year.

“In FFA, we do a lot of different community events, which I find value in,” Sutherlin FFA Chapter President Ryder Murphy says. “But to me, the food drive stands out in my mind for its importance and impact. I appreciate every person who contributes to the event and makes it happen!”

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