High Desert Food & Farm Alliance Launches Drive

The Bend organization is seeking $75,000 to fund three local food access programs as part of its year-end effort.

Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Philanthropy

Screen-print poster illustration of a wooden produce crate filled with seasonal vegetables, reflecting the mission of local food access programs.
The High Desert Food & Farm Alliance has launched a $75,000 campaign in Bend to fund three regional food access programs. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The High Desert Food & Farm Alliance has launched a $75,000 year-end fundraising campaign to support food access in Central Oregon. The initiative targets three core programs designed to connect residents with fresh, locally grown food.

Why it matters

The effort aims to strengthen the local food supply chain and provide direct nutritional support to those in need. By funding programs like VeggieRx, the organization hopes to bridge the gap between regional agriculture and community health.

The campaign goal of $75,000 is divided into specific targets, including $50,000 for VeggieRx and $10,000 for the Protein Perks program. This follows a 2025 effort that secured 7,000 pounds of produce alongside meat, bread, and jam donations.

The players

High Desert Food & Farm Alliance

This is a Central Oregon non-profit organization dedicated to fostering a sustainable and healthy local food system.

The details

Donations are processed through an online portal and allocated across three phases supporting the Fill All Pantries, Protein Perks, and VeggieRx programs. The funds are intended to expand upon previous years, during which the organization provided substantial quantities of produce and pantry staples to regional families.

Timeline

  1. The year-end fundraising campaign launched in October 2026.

  2. The inaugural Fill All Pantries campaign took place in 2025.

Market Landscape

This campaign aligns with the broader regional trend of leveraging community philanthropy to secure local food access. It positions the organization to scale its outreach efforts within the competitive landscape of regional non-profit service delivery.

Residents in the area can participate by donating online, which directly funds the procurement of local produce and protein for community distribution. This initiative serves as a primary method for local donors to impact regional food security outcomes.

The takeaway

Donors looking to support regional agriculture can focus their contributions on specific programs like VeggieRx or Protein Perks. These targeted funds allow the community to directly influence the availability of fresh produce at local markets.

Further reading

Learn more about local efforts to support community health and food access on the Bend Philanthropy page.

More information

To contribute to the initiative, visit the year-end campaign donation page.

Source note: This article includes information reported by MyCentralOregon.

Live Poll

Do you believe donating to local food programs is the best way to address regional hunger?