Local food pantries are increasing their supply in anticipation of greater need from lower-income Oregonians.

February is the last month Oregonians will receive increased emergency food benefits.

Since April 2020, the federal government allowed states to provide Emergency Allotments (EA) to SNAP households. The EA was in addition to the regular SNAP benefits, but the program expires in February, which means Oregonians will not get the extra benefits beginning in March.

Families will still receive their regular SNAP assistance, but the expiration of EA will impact many families in need.

Feeding Umpqua is taking extraordinary measures to prepare for the change.

"We've just been bringing in as much food as we can," Feeding Umpqua Program Manager Sarah McGregor said. "Right now we are pretty maxed out on space. We even have food filling one whole side of our mezzanine, and we're just doing that sort of in anticipation. We already know we're going to be giving out a lot of food starting at the beginning of February for all of our pantries, and we're just trying to see how long we can hold it together."

McGregor encourages people to prepare for a change in benefits as soon as possible.

"Go to the food pantry now," she advised. "Go before you go shopping. I always try to tell people and encourage them to do that. If you know that you're not going to be able to make it until the end of the month with the money that you have, just go to the pantry first because then you can see what you're going to get there and then you can build upon it when you go grocery shopping."

For Douglas County residents, visit ucancap.org for the location of local pantries and how you can get help.

Lane County residents can seek out more information at foodforlanecounty.org.

South Coast residents should visit www.orcca.us.