Soaring Fuel Costs Impact Food for Lane County

As fuel prices have soared due to the war with Iran, Food for Lane County is significantly impacted by this rising expense. We operate a fleet of over 15 vehicles (mostly large trucks), and we’re very concerned about the high cost of keeping our trucks on the road to pick up food donations and deliver food across the county to our partner agencies.

In March and April of 2026, we spent 70% more filling our trucks than we did in the same months in 2025. Additionally, our generators, which are an essential component of safeguarding food that is distributed across the county, need to be refilled. That cost us $10,000 more this year compared to last year. Fuel prices also affect the cost of food we purchase from suppliers.

As critically, the families we support are also stressed by high fuel prices. These families already face painful decisions—paying rent, buying healthy food, getting medicine, and filling their gas tanks to get to work. We’re very concerned about their ability to make ends meet and provide for their families with this additional financial pressure. When families don’t have enough, they often sacrifice healthy, nutritious food in order to stretch their dollars a bit further.

Donations and community support help us meet the need in Lane County regardless of high gas prices. Thank you for your generosity. Curious to learn more about our operations and how we’re dealing with rising costs? Reach out to us at development@foodforlanecounty.org.