Central Oregon has a hunger problem. Too many kids, and, by extension, their parents, live in a state of what’s known as food insecurity. They may not be hungry today, or even tomorrow, but as those parents know all too well, there’s no guarantee about the day after that. Nor is there any guarantee that a trip to the market will lead to the best food available. If you’re food insecure, you might settle for something you otherwise wouldn’t buy because it costs less.

In fact, according to Feeding America, just three years ago 25.4 percent of children in both Crook and Jefferson counties lived in food-insecure households, while 20.6 percent of kids in Deschutes County lived with food insecurity. Although those numbers may have fallen a bit, the problem remains. A number of things contribute. Among them:

Oregon ranked 27th for median (the midpoint between high and low) income in the United States in 2015, the last year for which complete numbers are available, and while Deschutes County held up well, median income in both Crook and Jefferson counties was well below the statewide figure. High housing prices only make matters worse. So, too, does distance from a full-service grocery store, a greater problem in Crook and Jefferson counties than it is in Deschutes.

There are no quick fixes, meanwhile, though a variety of programs help. Among the newest is a collaborative effort among First Interstate Bank, NorthWest Crossing and the High Desert Food and Farm Alliance that will get fresh produce to folks who need it most.

It’s pretty simple, really. A child who opens a savings account this summer at a First Interstate Bank branch will receive a $10 donation voucher, not for his or her personal use but to help others get the fresh fruit and veggies so abundant this time of year.

Kids can turn the vouchers in to the food and farm alliance booth at the NorthWest Crossing farmers market each Saturday. The alliance will spend the vouchers at the market and donate the fresh produce to NeighborImpact, which will get it to meal and food distribution sites across the region.

For kids, it’s a small lesson in giving that, with luck, will start them on a lifelong path of helping others in their communities.

For the bank, the new savings accounts are a plus, of course, but at least as important are the twin ideas of getting kids involved and of making a contribution that will both help people and stay in the community.

Merchants at the farmers market win, as well. While many of them donate leftover produce to the food and farm alliance at the end of market day, this will assure they get real money for at least some of it.

As for the food insecure in Central Oregon, they’re the big winners. The food and farm alliance hopes to turn some 18,000 pounds (nine tons!) of fresh food over to NeighborImpact this summer, and First Interstate vouchers will help it reach its goal. Some of what’s given out will show up on plates at Family Kitchen, Jericho Road in Redmond and other meal sites in the region. Some will be available food pantries from Warm Springs to La Pine.

I particularly like efforts like this, ones that involve different people and institutions from across the community. They help us remember that while the Bend of today is much bigger than the community I grew up in, we can get all sorts of things done when we work together to solve problems.

I’m also glad First Interstate is involved. Though its logo is familiar to long-time Bend residents, it may not be to newer ones. Helping those who need it in our community is a wonderful way to reintroduce itself. And while it gets new customers out of the arrangement, it could easily give away more than it gets from its pint-sized investors.

— Janet Stevens is deputy editor of The Bulletin. Contact: 541-617-7821, jstevens@bendbulletin.com