DECEMBER 11, 2015, KEIZERTIMES, PAGE A5
KeizerCommunity
KEIZERTIMES.COM
Wolverines dig claws into
HOME pantry-painting project
By ERIC A. HOWALD
Of the Keizertimes
For a group of Whiteaker
Middle School students, the
hardest part of helping out
at Salem’s HOME Youth and
Resource Center was the
most easily overlooked: keep-
ing clean.
“That was the biggest chal-
lenge because there were so
many of us painting in the
small space,” said Megan Pro-
vost.
Provost and seven of her
peers in the National Junior
Honor Society at the school
spent Saturday, Dec. 4, paint-
ing the interior of a food pan-
try at HOME.
“HOME is an organization
for teens ages 11 to 17, and
18 if they are still in school.
They serve lunch and snacks
and dinner for teens that are
homeless,” said student Noah
Gould. “We went there to
paint their pantry, which is
pretty much a shack in the
backyard of the house that
they have there.”
“Teens can go to HOME
to take showers and get food,”
added Paytonn Wirt. “I wish
we could have done more.”
The project was arranged
by Pat Curran, a Whiteaker
counselor, as part of the stu-
dents’ commitment to the fi ve
principles of the NJHS: char-
acter, scholarship, leadership,
service and citizenship.
“There’s a difference be-
tween sitting at home think-
ing, ‘I’m in National Junior
Honor Society and that’s cool,’
but not doing anything,” said
student Kacey Whitfi eld. “A
Submitted
Bailey True and Kacey Whitfi eld put their painting skills to the test inside a pantry at Salem’s
HOME Youth and Resource Center.
lot of adults underestimate
what we can do as kids.”
To be considered for the
NJHS, students must maintain
a 3.5 grade point average and
then apply to be part of the
program. The process includes
writing a cover letter and fi ll-
ing out an application that is
reviewed by Whiteaker teach-
ers who make the fi nal deci-
sion as to who gets in. There
are about 40 Whiteaker stu-
dents in the NJHS, but many
complete independent service
projects ranging from free
babysitting to assisting at their
churches.
“We do the projects as part
of NJHS, but you don’t have
to be part of it to help out,”
said Alyssa Richardson.
GoFundMe account set
for Tommy Fountain
A GoFundMe account has
been established for Keizer
native Tommy Fountain, who
died after falling during a climb
on Mount Jefferson Nov. 29.
Tommy was climbing with
wife Alison when he fell and
landed in a crevasse. Alison was
uninjured and rescued the next
morning, but rescuers found
Tommy deceased.
To make a donation in hon-
or of Tommy Fountain go to
https://www.gofundme.com/
qgd7wmjw or donate at any
US Bank in the name of Alison
and Tommy Fountain.
“Tommy was in love,” the
GoFundMe page reads. “He
loved life, he loved his wife
and daughter, and he loved
the mountains. He proposed
to Alison on Mt. Kilimanjaro,
they were married and honey-
mooned on Mt. Rainier and
spent any free time they had
tackling their latest peak. We
will miss his passion and spirit
Uptown hosting food
drive for food bank
Through the end of the
year a program at Uptown
Music will benefi t the Keizer
Community Food Bank. For
the ninth year Uptown Mu-
sic’s Give a Meal, Get a Gift
will provide a free $10 store
gift card in exchange for a $10
cash donation or non-perish-
able food donation to benefi t
the pantry.
Megan Provost
and Paytonn
Wirt prep the
area between
shelves for
painting.
In addition to lending their
time and talent to HOME,
the students learned about the
types of services the organiza-
tion offers to youth in need.
“They have a culinary pro-
gram where they can make
food for each other and it
helps them build skills for
fi nding a job,” said Ashley Do-
erfl er.
“It was interesting to fi nd
out about how other people
are living,” added student
Grace Trammell. “Not every-
one can have as much as we
do and it was cool to see how
other people are helping those
kids. It was nice to be able to
give back to them.”
As much work as it was to
paint the pantry, student Bai-
ley True said it was equal parts
fun.
“We got to climb on the
shelves and between them to
paint the walls,” she said.
Given that, it’s no won-
der they had trouble keeping
clean.
Members of the Whiteaker
NJHS are looking for new projects
to tackle in the coming months. If
you know of a project that needs
assistance, contact the school at
503-399-3224.
immensely, but are comforted
in knowing that he died living
life to the fullest. He died do-
ing something he loved with
someone he loved, and we can
honestly say there’s no other
way he’d want to go.”
The page also thanks all
involved in the rescue pro-
cess and for all the well wishes
from family and friends. Do-
nations will help pay for fi nal
arrangements, rescue person-
nel and for Tommy’s daughter,
Penelope.
As of Wednesday morning,
nearly $8,400 had been col-
lected on the page.
Keizer City Councilor Ro-
land Herrera, who coached
Tommy in Keizer Little League,
brought up the topic during
Monday’s council meeting.
“It was a tragic accident,”
Herrera said. “I can’t imag-
ine what the family is going
through. He was a great kid to
coach.”
The most needed items in-
clude soups, chili, peanut but-
ter, macaroni and cheese, ce-
reals, pasta and sauce, canned
fruits and vegetables.
Uptown Music is located
at 3827 River Road N. For
information contact Paul El-
liott at 503-393-4437 or Curt
McCormack at 503-390-
6145.
MHS performing arts
packs in play, concerts
The McNary High School
performing arts department
has a whole slate of holiday
events and concerts planned
for the coming weeks.
Here’s the list:
• Friday, Dec. 11 - 7 p.m.
- A Christmas Carol: Live Ra-
dio Play. The advanced theatre
arts and directing students take
the stage to perform a fourth
completely different take on
the classic Charles Dickens
story in the style of Prairie
Home Companion or Thrilling
Adventure Hour. Musical ac-
companiment by the McNary
choir. $5 tickets available on
mcnaryhs.ticketleap.com
• Tuesday, Dec. 15 - 7
p.m. - McNary band winter
concert. Help support the
McNary band for a wonderful
evening of winter celebration.
• Thursday, Dec. 17 - 7
p.m. - McNary orchestra win-
ter concert. The students of
McNary’s multiple orchestras
will take the stage to celebrate
the holidays with strings.
• Friday, Dec. 18 - 6 p.m.
- Sing We Now of Christmas, the
McNary’s choirs will present a
night of song, hors d’oeuvres,
and a silent auction begin-
ning at 6 p.m. and a concert
at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 for
the whole evening. Reserved
seating only. Tickets available
on mcnaryhs.ticketleap.com.
WorshipDirectory
These Salem-Keizer houses of worship invite you to visit.
Call to list your church in our Worship Directory: (503) 390-1051
John Knox Presbyterian Church
JOIN US FOR
SUNDAY WORSHIP
8:30 am • 10 am • 11:30 am • 6 pm
PEOPLESCHURCH
4500 LANCASTER DR NE | SALEM
503.304.4000 • www.peopleschurch.com
Celebration
Services
Saturday Evening
6:00 pm
Children’s Programs, Student and Adult Ministries
1755 Lockhaven Dr. NE Keizer
503-390-3900
www.dayspringfellowship.com
Sunday Morning
9:00 am
and
10:45 am
452 Cummings Lane North • 393-0404
Father Gary L. Zerr, Pastor
Saturday Vigil Liturgy: 5:30 p.m.
Sundays: 8:15 a.m. & 10:30 a.m.
La Misa en Español: 12:30 p.m.
Rev. Dr. John Neal, Pastor
Worship - 10:30 a.m.
Education Hour - 10:00 a.m.
Nursery Care Available
www.keizerjkpres.org
Jason Lee UMC
820 Jeff erson St. NE
Salem OR 97301
Dr. Jon F. Langenwalter, Pastor
The church with the purple doors
503-364-2844
Worship at 9:30 am • Child Care Available
Faith Lutheran Church
4505 River Rd N • 393-4507
Sunday Schedule:
9:00 a.m. Children’s Church
9:15 a.m. Adult Bible Study
9:30 a.m. Children’s Activities
Pastor
Virginia Eggert 10:30 a.m. Worship with Communion