Building Food Security Together
We partner with many community organizations, local groups and community members throughout Crook, Deschutes, Jefferson counties and the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, to strengthen food security throughout the region.
Local Voices
Food Security Advisory Committee
We know that in order for our programs to best meet the needs of the community, we need to include the community in our process and decision making. That is why we believe community members interested in improving food security should have the opportunity to provide feedback and input into our programs and become leaders in our work.
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The purpose of the committee is to provide feedback on our current work, shape new initiatives, and build the leadership capacity for the future of food access in Central Oregon.
The committee is composed of volunteers from the Central Oregon community, including program beneficiaries, food security organizations, and HDFFA board and staff. We seek members from Crook, Deschutes, Jefferson counties and the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs
Applications typically open in the winter.
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1 year commitment.
3 virtual meetings a year (1.5 hours/ea).
Minimum of 1.5 hours of program support in 1 of our 3 food access programs.
In-person opportunities for networking & program feedback (ex: recipe testing).
Stipends are available to members who meet minimum commitment expectations.
Current Members
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Barbara Lowe
HDFFA Warm Springs Tribal Food Access Coordinator
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Lexie Houchins-Park
Community Member
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Jess Moran
Community Health Worker
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Morgan Farnell
United Way of Central Oregon
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Arianne Henry
Community Member
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Olivia Shields
La Pine Community Kitchen
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Jordan Reeher
NeighborImpact Food Bank
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Talia Stockwell
Community Member
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Cynthia Jurgensen
Council on Aging of Central Oregon
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Emily Katz
Community Member
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Tim Ellis
Shepards House Ministries
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Alisha Spangler
Community Member
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Tori Wild
Family Kitchen
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Hannah Joeseph
Seed to Table Programs Director
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Kimberly Rivers
Family Kitchen
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Debbie Robison
Community Member
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Susan Hermreck
Crook County Commissioner
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Kelly Ornberg
St Charles Health
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Rita Rhoden
Crook County Public Health
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Jon Jones
Bend Foodies Administrator, The Bend Foodie, Upper Left Digital Media
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Eli Loewenstern
City of Bend Human Rights and Equity Commission, Mosaic
Warm Springs Collaboration
Throughout the year, HDFFA’s Tribal Food Access Coordinator leads multiple community projects, events and initiatives on the Warm Springs reservation, bringing the community together in meaningful ways through good food and connection.
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HDFFA partners with Carol Sahme at the Community Wellness Center, Recreation Department who oversees the garden and its programming. The Children’s Garden has become a beloved hands-on learning center for youth to learn about gardening, soil and growing their own food.
In 2023, HDFFA and ThermoFisher volunteers supported the major undertaking of constructing a new greenhouse for the garden. HDFFA regularly supports the purchase of seeds, compost and other garden supplies. The purchases are always determined by Warm Springs tribal members.
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In August 2025, HDFFA’s Tribal Food Access Coordinator, Barbara Lowe, taught a canning class on preservation techniques for community members. Each member received canning supplies to take home with them to continue practicing this skill.
In October 2025 HDFFA hosted a Fall Festival in partnership with Carol Sahme with the Community Wellness Center, Recreation Department. Attendees enjoyed pumpkin painting, a community seed swap, and took home fresh produce bags from Seed to Table.
In 2023, Labor of Love was an event hosted in partnership with the Warm Springs Community Action Team. Attendees shared meaningful or traditional recipes and exchanged community stories. Each attendee received food preservation supplies to take home.
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In 2023 & 2024, HDFFA supported the publication of Aswan’s Garden, Luppah’s Trail and Waluxpykee’s Rez, children’s books written and illustrated by Carina Miller, to teach kids from Warm Springs about first foods, traditional language and the land.
Community Projects & Gathering Highlights
Annual Farmers Market Pop-Ups: Seasonal produce demos and tastings
Find us at Central Oregon’s regional farmers markets each summer. We highlight local produce available at the market that day. Stay tuned for 2026 pop-up dates.
Food Systems Convening November 2025
In partnership with Oregon’s Department of Environmental Quality, HDFFA brought together food systems leaders throughout Central Oregon to discuss the most pressing issues facing our local food system.
Los Sabores De Centro de Oregon / The Flavors of Central Oregon Community Recipe Book, June 2024
This recipe book and valued community resource was born out of HDFFA’s first Spanish event in Madras. Community members came together to share meaningful recipes, discuss local food access, and celebrate the abundance of summer. The event was hosted in partnership with Latino Community Association & Oregon Humanities.
Grow & Give 10th Anniversary Green Drinks May 2025
HDFFA kicked-off Grow & Give’s 10th season with a celebration full of good, local food, farm tours, and like-minded community members who share a passion for food waste reduction. The event was made possible through partnership with the Environmental Center, Well Rooted Produce, and Roots at Heart Nutrition.
Green Bag Projects 2024
The Green Bag project is a national initiative to collect shelf-stable food donations from local neighborhood & community groups. The donations provide much needed staples to local food banks. HDFFA helped bring this initiative to rural areas of Central Oregon through the following partnerships:
Crook County in partnership with Crook County Green Bags
Jefferson County in partnership with Madras Community Food Pantry
La Pine in partnership with Live Well La Pine & Newberry Regional Partnership