Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon

Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon is a private non-profit organization whose mission is to aid and complement the work of the Oregon Hunger Relief Task Force in strengthening Oregon's families and communities. Together, we work to end hunger and its causes and consequences. Our common goal is to provide family economic stability and food security so that all Oregonians have sufficient means and ready access to an adequate amount of nutritious, quality food. If you would like to donate by mail or online, please proceed to our donations page .

 
Staff Biographies

Patti Whitney-Wise, Executive Director
When it comes to ending hunger, Patti Whitney-Wise is one of the nation’s most effective activists. Her creative approaches and innovative leadership of the Oregon Hunger Relief Task Force helped Oregon become the only state in the country to reduce hunger, as measured in the 2005 USDA report. She has won multiple awards for her work and is an author of “Act to End Hunger: 40 Ways in 5 Years to Make a Difference.” Patti’s 30 years of experience ranges from multi-state outreach for the Children’s Rights Group on all federal food programs to addressing a broad range of poverty issues as the Executive Director for the California Council of Churches.

Jessica Chanay, Programs and Communications Director
Jessica is the Programs and Communications Director and provides guidance on program planning and public relations support to Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon. She was previously the Assistant Director and Director of Programs and Services at FOOD for Lane County, a non-profit food bank. She holds a Masters degree in Community and Regional Planning from the University of Oregon, with an emphasis on food systems planning and community food security. In 2005, Jessica was awarded the Oregon Food Bank Ron Cease award for excellence in leadership, service and dedication to the mission of addressing hunger and its root causes.

Nancy Weed, Food Stamp Outreach Coordinator
Nancy is a former welfare and food stamp recipient, who was successful in putting herself through graduate school as a single parent. She considers her former client perspectives as a powerful additional asset for her ongoing client advocacy work. Coming to the Task Force with a strong background in community organizing, Nancy has coordinated the successful food stamp outreach project that has helped increase food stamp participation statewide by over 80%!

Judith Auslander, Food Stamp Outreach Organizer for Washington County
As a recent addition to the Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon team, Judith is very excited about the opportunity to help seniors find out more about food stamps.  She is most excited about sharing with seniors how food stamps can benefit them and better support their community.  Judith has her Masters Degree in Education from Pacific University as well as her certification as a professional Life Coach.  Outside of Partners, Judith runs her own coaching business and volunteers with local organizations to get health care for all Oregonians.

Annie Kirschner, Child Nutrition Coordinator
Annie came to the Oregon Hunger Relief Task Force as an AmeriCorps VISTA, before joining the staff of Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon full time in 2006. As a VISTA, she coordinated child nutrition outreach in Multnomah and Clackamas counties' summer food and after-school meals programs. Annie currently supports our statewide outreach work for the Summer Food Program, building partnerships and increasing participation in 7 target counties in Oregon. She holds a Bachelors degree in Creative Writing and previously worked with a teen anti-drug media project and tought ESL to recent refugees.  

Rick Freed, Child Nutrition Outreach Specialist
Rick collaborates with our Child Nutrition Coordinator to expand federal child nutrition programs in Oregon, with a special emphasis on the After-School Meals and Snacks Program. He also works on outreach updates and revisions, fundraising, and providing research and publication assistance for many PHFO projects.  Rick moved to Oregon from Florida, and earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology at Portland State University, concentrating on sociology of religion, social deviance and conflict theory, after an earlier career as a chef. 

Shauna Petchel, Administrative Assistant 
Shauna joined Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon in 2006 after graduating from the University of Nevada with a bachelors degree in Nutrition Science. She coordinates the day-to-day operations of the office, assisting staff with programs and projects, as well as helping to facilitate monthly meetings of the Oregon Hunger Relief Task Force.  Outside of her work at Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon, Shauna attends Portland State University where she is working toward a Masters degree in Public Health.