Welcome to the Homeplate Program, Oregon’s premier initiative dedicated to fighting food insecurity among school-age children. Founded by Phil Rees and his wife Kathy, our program aims to ensure that no child goes hungry during weekends and holiday breaks when they may not have access to school meals. Inspired by the national Feeding America BackPack Program, we provide bags of nutritious and easy-to-prepare food to qualifying students, allowing them to have nourishing meals even when they’re away from school.
Phil Rees, the Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the Homeplate Program, has been a driving force in the fight against food insecurity for over nine years. His journey began when he volunteered at the West Linn Food Pantry after seeing an ad in the local Tidings newspaper. Phil’s dedication and passion for making a difference led him to become the ninth annual recipient of the prestigious Robert Moore Award, presented by the West Linn City Council.
With a deep understanding that judgment should have no place in the fight against hunger, Phil has learned to empathize with the diverse circumstances faced by those seeking assistance. His unwavering commitment to serve the community led him to extend his efforts beyond the food pantry. In collaboration with West Linn schools, he and his wife launched the Homeplate Program, which seeks to mirror the success of the national Backpack Buddies initiative.
Although Phil encountered numerous obstacles along the way, he persevered and found success. One fateful day, after a visit to the food pantry, the principal of Willamette Primary School had a change of heart and embraced the Homeplate Program. Since then, the program has flourished, providing essential food support to approximately 70 students from six primary schools in its fourth year of operation.
The Homeplate Program operates with utmost discretion, ensuring that the distribution of food packages is respectful and private. Rather than backpacks, the program utilizes plain brown bags to hold the weekly supply of nutritious and easy-to-prepare foods. Each bag is carefully filled with items such as peanut butter, jam, ramen soups, tuna, fruit cups, crackers, oatmeal, snack bars, fruit juice, popcorn, cocoa, and granola, ensuring that the children receive hot and filling meals. The program relies on the dedication of volunteers, who assemble the bags and deliver them to the counseling office for distribution within the schools.
We believe that every child deserves to have access to nourishing food, regardless of their circumstances. The Homeplate Program is committed to ensuring that students facing food insecurity have the sustenance they need to thrive and succeed. By partnering with us, you contribute to the well-being of Oregon’s youth and help create a brighter future for our community.
