The number of children seeking food at the Kids Korner, a food pantry in Bend, has nearly doubled this this year compared to the same period last year, The Bend Bulletin recently reported. Triggered by the coronavirus crisis, the sharp rise in food insecurity in Central Oregon mirrors the struggles of families all across the nation — a situation that demands renewed, robust congressional action.

One of the main engines that has kept the economy moving — that has prevented greater suffering during the coronavirus crisis — is about to be taken out of commission. Unless Congress takes action, unemployed Oregonians will stop receiving additional $600 weekly Unemployment Insurance (UI) checks.

The City Club of Eugene held an online forum titled “What We Know (and What We Don’t Know) About Post-Coronavirus Employment” on June 5.