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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Oregon charter fishing company accused of pocketing money for licenses ... The writing's on the wall ... Oregon Republicans bruised by 'partisan' legislative session ... Oregon charter fishing company accused of pocketing money for licenses ... The writing's on the wall ... Oregon Republicans bruised by 'partisan' legislative session ... SINCE YOU ASKED Since You Asked: ACCESS cash donations support food acquisition, storage and distribution Comment MailTribune.com Writer Posted Dec. 5, 2014 at 12:01 AM Posted Dec. 5, 2014 at 12:01 AM » Social News ACCESS has indicated it can provide five meals for a $1 donation. We were wondering how they can do that (what other resources are combined), and what the meal typically consists of. It's nice to be in a city with this type of service. — Jerry and Judy, Medford We imagine 20 cents doesn't generally buy much of a meal, so we touched base with ACCESS Nutrition Programs Director Philip Yates for insight on how locals' monetary donations to ACCESS are spent. The first thing Yates did was clarify what may have been a misunderstanding of ACCESS promotional material. Yates explained that the organization provides  five pounds of food with each dollar, but doesn't purchase food with those donations. "We don't purchase the food," Yates explained. Instead, ACCESS partners with the Oregon Food Bank cooperative for the bulk of its food donations, which it pays to have trucked down from Portland. It also grows organic vegetables in the summer at five community gardens, sources donations from local grocers, farms and other food businesses such as Harry and David, Amy's Kitchen and Maranatha nut butters.  That food may come without charge, but keeping it stored safely and delivered to hungry families and the approximately 20 organizations that prepare food sourced from ACCESS has a cost.  "Our costs are around $600,000, and combine that with over 3 million pounds of food," Yates said. "So the relationship is five pounds to one." Yates emphasized the importance of community food drives, especially for its emergency food box program. Although food drives aren't the bulk of the organization's donations, he explained that drives help ACCESS provide consistent items in its 65-pound boxes that can feed a family of three for about five days. "Food drives are an important component for us, and help balance the foods we have coming in," he said. Yates encourages individuals curious about ACCESS' operations to stop by its facility to see the organization's coordination efforts. "Sometimes people don't understand what's involved in the whole process," he said. "We're pretty food rich in our area; but it's a case of bringing it all together."   Send questions to “Since You Asked,” Mail Tribune Newsroom, P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501; by fax to 541-776-4376; or by email to [email protected]. We’re sorry, but the volume of questions received prevents us from answering all of them. MailTribune.com Writer Posted Dec. 5, 2014 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501