Feb. 8, 2008

To: All DHS employees

From: Bruce Goldberg, M.D., Director

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"The war against hunger is truly mankind's war of liberation."
~John F. Kennedy

One of the things I most admire about our agency is the spirit of generosity that guides so much of what we do -- not only on the job, but in our personal lives as well. And that caring nature is on full display right now during the Governor's State Employees' Food Drive.

This year we've set the bar higher than ever before -- we want to raise 800,000 pounds of food to fight hunger in Oregon. That's up from 750,000 last year, and I'm confident we will make our goal. Already, just a few days into this annual event, we have collected nearly 40,000 pounds of food at DHS offices throughout the state.

That's an impressive start, and I thank everyone who has donated food and money this first week. And if you haven't helped out yet, please do so. Every pound is desperately needed. Many of Oregon's local food banks are facing higher food costs that increasingly strain their ability to buy food for Oregonians facing hunger. A $1 donation in years past bought 6 pounds of food, but now buys just 5 pounds. And as we enter what looks to be a coming recession, more people are going to need food assistance.

Another great aspect of the food drive, beyond the good it does for our most vulnerable neighbors, is the opportunity it provides for employees to get together at events, build friendships and simply have some fun.

Some of the creative fund-raising ideas coming up during the next few weeks here in the Salem headquarters building include next Friday's Twilight Zone lunch hour, where for a $2 donation employees can watch two episodes of the original Twilight Zone series in Room 137 B-D. Want to see a young William Shatner face off against an airplane gremlin? This is your chance.

You also have the opportunity to enjoy a huge variety of bake sales, food sales, plant and flower sales, participate in walks and runs and auctions, send "Val-O-Gram" messages, and enjoy a range of other fund-raising activities taking place every day this month at DHS offices statewide.

And to put a fun final exclamation point to the month, you can attend the $25-per-guest first-ever "Putting on the Ritz" semi-formal gala Friday evening, February 29, where you can enjoy blues, jazz, refreshments, and the chance to win door prizes and get your "prom" photos taken. The event will begin at 7 p.m. in the lobby of the Salem headquarters building, and it's open to all DHS employees, families and friends.

Offices looking for even more ideas for fund-raising activities can find them at www.oregon.gov/fooddrive.

I also want to take a moment to acknowledge the energy and creativity of this year's food drive coordinators -- Joan Claypool, Dee Humphreys and Alondra Rogers, all of the Addictions and Mental Health Division. And, I want to thank their managers in AMH, whose support and encouragement made possible their participation in this important annual effort. Joan, Dee, Alondra and their managers are role models I hope we all can emulate.

But most importantly, it is the efforts of you -- our 10,000 employees at all of our offices and facilities throughout the state -- and the work of our many division and office food drive coordinators, who make this drive a success year after year, and who I am confident will donate even more food this month than ever before. I challenge you to help surpass this year's goal. Your generosity, your caring, will make a huge difference in the lives of our neighbors.

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