By Lindsey Doi

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Ore. -- Rural Oregon counties have the highest rates of childhood poverty--and they're continuing to rise.

The US Census Bureau just released its 2008 statistics. They reveal that more than 25 percent of students in some school districts live in poverty. The statistics show that school districts in Douglas County have anywhere from 15 to 24 percent of students living in poverty, causing the need for services to grow faster than ever.

At Head Start, hundreds of children from low-income families receive a free pre-school education. It's all to create a warm and nurturing environment early on that will ensure successful development.

Although Head Start currently provides services for over 350 kids throughout the county, directors say the need is easily double that. More families continue to fall into poverty, with incomes less than $22,000 a year for a family of four.

The same demand can be felt at the Umpqua Community Action Network Food Bank, which supplies food to over a dozen pantries throughout Douglas County. The Food Bank's director says extra food is often the first thing families cut when money is tight, causing many kids to go hungry.

The Food Bank estimates that 40 percent of its supplies primarily go toward feeding county children. They say it's important to remember that children are hungry throughout the year, not just during the holidays, and that giving typically drops off in January, which is exactly when demand is at its highest.