This editorial reflects the importance of addressing food insecurity as a community health issue and highlights collaborative efforts underway in Yamhill County.
Oregonians across the state are feeling the pressure of increasing grocery prices. The most recent County Health Rankings indicate that 13% of people in Yamhill County experience food insecurity (2023). Yamhill Community Action Partnership, the local food bank, has faced a reduction in food supply, and lists food costs as the second most concerning issue behind housing in its 2024 Needs Assessment.
Food insecurity is dangerous. Babies born to a parent with inadequate nutrition are more likely to develop chronic disease, and those children can grow up to pass nutrition-driven risk factors onto their own babies (Barker 2013). Food insecurity is expensive. Healthcare costs are increasing, and chronic disease is a key driver of those costs (Thorpe 2025). Malnutrition limits development in children and impacts productivity in adults. Without intervention, the generational impact of nutrition disparities grows exponentially. Programs that prevent people from developing diseases in the first place, called primary prevention programs, save communities money and make us all healthier.
Because food and nutrition are a health issue, Yamhill Community Care (YCCO) is committed to partnering with local agencies to address food insecurity. As part of the OHSU Moore Institute Nutrition Oregon Campaign, YCCO has joined with Yamhill County Health & Human Services (HHS) to deliver grocery boxes to new and expectant families through the HHS Home Visiting Network. By offering nutritionally complete groceries to families, the chance of a well-nourished mother and baby increases. Families report reduced worry about food insecurity and increased vegetable consumption. Forty families have so far been beneficiaries of this program, meaning at least 40 Yamhill County babies will have a stronger start in life.
The Nutrition Oregon Campaign has a variety of programs in the works, including a Nutrition Summit and a Yamhill Food Program, which recruits local volunteer champions to collect food donations from their neighbors and increase the consistency of food bank donations. By helping our neighbors, we improve the health of our whole community.
Looking to get involved? Email funding@yamhillcco.org to learn more or get connected to volunteer opportunities in your area!