More than 60 university departments participated in this year’s drive, each represented by a volunteer coordinator. Combined across campus, the UO brought in the equivalent of 136,700 pounds of food, or 102,000 meals. Most donations go to FOOD for Lane County.

The support is especially welcome now that COVID-19 has stalled FOOD for Lane County’s spring event schedule as need is rising due to layoffs and business closures across the region, according to Stefani Roybal, the agency’s community and donor engagement coordinator.

“The governor’s drive happened at a great time because we were able to finish it up before everything closed down,” Roybal said. “Spring drives we’ve postponed so far mean that we are losing between 50,000 and 70,000 pounds of food.”

Much of that loss is due to the cancellation of UO’s spring scrimmage football game.

“That event really stocks our shelves in the pantries over the summer,” Roybal said. But UO athletics has stepped up to move giving online, replacing the canned food drive with a virtual one.

Cash donations during the February drive came from purchases of Woodblock chocolate, department fundraising events, payroll deductions and online donations. An additional 3,000 pounds of nonperishable food was collected in barrels throughout campus.

The Governor’s State Employees Food Drive was founded in 1982, when then-Gov. Vic Atiyeh saw that state employees have a role to play in supporting those in the community who need help. Since then, more than 65 million meals have been provided by Oregon state employees.

UO will participate in the next Governor’s State Employees Food Drive in February 2021.

—By Larissa Ennis, Government and Community Relations