Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 6, 2023)
Page 4 September 06, 2023 Oregon to Issue Additional Pandemic EBT Food Benefits Clackamas Community College Metallica Scholars receive support the pur- chase of tools, textbooks and personal protective equipment Oregon is providing additonal support to help students and families struggling with food security. Assistance for approximately 325,000 students The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) will begin issuing ap- proximately $39 million in Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) food benefits to approx- imately 325,000 students in Oregon. Starting August 31 and through the month of September, $120 in food ben- efits per eligible child will be issued to Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) cards. These additional food benefits are part of the P-EBT program, a tempo- rary COVID-19 response program meant to provide additional food support for children whose access to adequate and quality food received through school programs may have been impacted by COVID-19. Since 2020, Oregon has is- sued $1 billion in P-EBT food benefits to help children in Oregon get enough qual- ity and nutritious food. The P-EBT food benefits will be is- sued onto the P-EBT cards mailed to stu- dents in Spring 2023. Families who lost or threw away their card can contact the P-EBT call center at (844) ORE-PEBT or (844) 673-7328 to request a new card. Newly eligible students will receive a letter addressed to them notifying them they will receive P-EBT and a separate envelope with their P-EBT card that has $120 of food benefits on it. Students are eligible for this P-EBT issu- ance if they received free or reduced-price National School Lunch Program meals at school or attended a Community Eligibili- ty Provision school in May 2023. There are more P-EBT food benefits to come for certain children. Oregon has received federal approval to provide addi- tional P-EBT food benefits to children un- der 6 years old who received Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program food benefits between July 2022 and August 2023. De- tails about when and how these children will receive their P-EBT food benefits will be announced as soon as it is available. P-EBT does not replace any child nu- trition program already offered and fami- lies are encouraged to continue to partic- ipate in meal programs in their schools and communities. P-EBT food benefits are issued in ad- dition to regular SNAP benefits. P-EBT benefits are not considered in a public charge test. “We are grateful to be able to provide these food benefits to eligible students in Oregon,” said Claire Seguin, director of the ODHS Self-Sufficiency Programs. “As communities continue to be affected by COVID-19 and the rising cost of food, we know that many families are experi- encing hardship and are struggling to get enough healthy food for themselves and their children. We encourage anyone who is struggling to meet their basic needs to contact our partners at 211, the Oregon Food Bank and their local Community Action Agency for support during this dif- ficult time.” CCC Rocks On For Year Five of Metallica Scholars Initiative Offering emergency support and assistance Metallica’s foundation, All With- in My Hands, continues its multimil- lion-dollar investment in critical work- force programs at community colleges nationwide. Among the schools, Clackamas Community College was invited to return for year five and will continue to receive Metallica Scholars funding to enhance career and techni- cal education programs. The Metallica Scholars initiative was launched in 2019 by All Within My Hands in partnership with the American Association of Community Colleges. The workforce initiative marks its fifth year with an ambitious expansion into new curricula. Metallica Scholars now directly supports 42 community col- leges across 33 states, and by the end of this year, it will have helped more than 6,000 students pursuing careers in the trades. To date, Metallica and its foun- dation have invested over $6 million in the American workforce. “The Metallica Scholars Initiative is so important to us because we are seeing results. Five years in, with the help of community colleges across the country, we are helping people fill these essential jobs which require skills and training. We are so proud and grateful that we can facilitate this program,” Lars Ulrich of Metallica said. Reaffirming a commitment to ca- reer and technical education at the local level, each new school brings incredible opportunities to a thriving and growing community. “Clackamas Community College is honored to be part of Metallica Schol- ars. Through this partnership, we are providing essential skills and training to our students, preparing them for meaningful careers,” CCC President Tim Cook said. “The Metallica Schol- ars program exemplifies the power of collaboration between education and industry, and we remain committed to ensuring the success of our students and the growth of our community.” What began with 10 colleges and mostly manufacturing programs has developed into a diverse offering of workforce opportunities for students in- terested in gaining the skills and train- ing necessary to find meaningful and well-paying careers in fields and posi- tions, including CCC’s heavy metals programs like welding, industrial tech- nology and automotive technology. “The Metallica Scholars Initiative is a strong and cooperative assemblage of the nation’s best community colleges, creating a supportive climate for par- ticipants to communicate directly and share best practices. As a result, our Metallica Scholars leave the program well-trained and confident. Ultimately, the impact is felt locally and nationally as Metallica Scholars enter the work- force and fill in-demand technical posi- tions,” said Peter Delgrosso, All With- in My Hands executive director.
