A6
COMMUNITY
East Oregonian
It takes a village
Community to
wrap up holiday
spirit for area
foster kids
By TAMMY MALGESINI
East Oregonian
U M AT I L L A- MOR-
ROW COUNTY — A tug-
on-your-heartstrings sort
of moment was recently
shared among employees of
the Hermiston Department
of Human Services Child
Welfare offi ce when look-
ing at a Christmas Wish
List.
The program had distrib-
uted the form to the 240 or
so foster kids in Umatilla
and Morrow counties. As
a guideline, the list follows
the Four Christmas Gift
Challenge — identifying
something they want, some-
thing they need, something
to wear and something to
read.
With assistance from a
caregiver, a 7-year-old boy
identifi ed his Number 1
need as “Love,” — followed
by socks, jeans, beanies and
mittens or gloves.
Jaime Meakins, who
works as a case aide in the
Hermiston DHS offi ce, said
children sometimes indicate
on their wish list that they
want to go home or be with
their mom.
“In years past, there have
been kiddos that have writ-
ten ‘love,’” Meakins said.
“It kind of shows you the
trauma they go through.”
Each year, staff at DHS
makes a list and checks it
twice while trying to pro-
vide for kids during the hol-
iday season. Over the years,
several community part-
ners have assisted by host-
ing public giving trees,
including Hamley Western
Store in Pendleton and Les
Schwab Tire Center in Hep-
pner. People can pluck a tag
from a tree and shop from
the wish list. Also, employ-
ees at the Walmart Distri-
bution Center in Hermiston
participate in a giving tree
program.
This holiday season,
DHS workers have reached
out more to increase its
Photo contributed by Marvin Hamilton
Employees at the Hermiston Goodwill got into the holiday
spirit in 2018 when store manager Jessica Fernandez orga-
nized a giving tree for area foster children.
efforts to help ensure each
foster child in Umatilla
and Morrow counties have
a merry Christmas. The
organization launched “It
Takes A Village” to further
involve the community in
giving to kids that may not
have as many resources.
Among those driving the
initiative is Rogers Toyota of
Hermiston. Glenn Silaski,
the dealership’s general
manager, said the company
encourages a spirit of com-
munity and giving.
“They’re our kids too,”
Silaski said. “We just
believe strongly in helping
kids’ programs to help them
grow up to be a part of the
community.”
In addition to hosting a
pajama drive for area foster
kids of all ages, Silaski said
Rogers Toyota is a drop-
off location for gift cards.
DHS is collecting cards
for online shopping, local
restaurants and stores and
Visa gift cards for teens in
foster care.
Meakins said youths
13-18 can sometimes be dif-
fi cult to shop for — by pro-
viding gift cards with a sug-
gested value of $25, they
can choose what they want.
It can be something as sim-
ple as a Dutch Bros. Cof-
fee card to stores at the mall
or even Amazon cards, she
said.
“We need cards from
anywhere,” Meakins said.
“We can match it up and
make it work for a specifi c
kid.”
In addition to Rogers
Toyota, other drop-off loca-
tions for gift cards include
Harley Swain Subaru, New
Hope Community Church,
Victory Baptist Church,
Columbia Bank, Banner
Bank, Umatilla Morrow
County Head Start and the
Hermiston DHS offi ce.
Other local businesses
involved in the effort
include Harley Swain Sub-
aru, which is hosting a coat
drive. New coats, hats and
jackets are needed for all
children and youth sizes.
Lamb Weston and the
Walmart DC are hosting
toy drives to collect items
for newborns to kids up to
age 12.
The “It Takes A Vil-
lage” initiative runs through
Monday, Dec. 9. People are
invited to make donations
to help brighten the holi-
day season of foster chil-
dren in Umatilla and Mor-
row counties.
“If any member of the
public wants to donate we
have a big huge box right
in the middle of the show-
room,” Silaski said. “We’re
proud to be a part of this
great community and are
thrilled with the work of
DHS and others in helping
kids.”
For more information,
contact Meakins at 541-314-
7614 or jaime.l.meakins@
dhsoha.state.or.us or stop by
the Hermiston DHS offi ce,
950 S.E. Columbia Drive,
Suite C.
———
Contact Community Edi-
tor Tammy Malgesini at
tmalgesini@eastoregonian.
com or 541-564-4539
Historical society launches
new heirloom-quality book
East Oregonian
PENDLETON — A new
hardcover pictorial history
book, published by the East
Oregonian in cooperation
with several local partners,
is being offi cially released
this weekend.
The Umatilla County
Historical Society will host
a book launch for “Umatilla
County Memories: A Pic-
torial History of the mid-
1800s through 1939.” The
free event is Saturday from
10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Heritage
Station Museum, 108 S.W.
Frazer Ave., Pendleton.
“This book is beauti-
fully put together and I’m so
honored to have been a part
of the project,” said Kari
Brooks, executive director
of Umatilla County Histor-
ical Society. “The release
date is so perfect to pick up
as many copies as you need
for Christmas gifts.”
The
heirloom-quality
coffee table style book fea-
tures a glimpse of Umatilla
County from the 1800s to
1939 through stunning his-
toric photos — many of
them never before published.
The book features historic
photos from the Umatilla
County Historical Soci-
ety, Athena Public Library,
city of Echo, Milton-Free-
water Area Historical Soci-
ety, Pendleton Round-Up,
Tamástslikt Cultural Insti-
tute, as well as from local
newspaper readers.
Copies of the limited edi-
tion book will be available
in the Heritage Station gift
shop the day of the launch.
The 10% off November Sale
in the museum gift shop
gives members an addi-
tional 10% off through Nov.
30. For more information,
call 541-276-0012 or visit
www.heritagestationmu-
seum.org.
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BRIEFLY
including a $500 cash prize.
Stamped cards must be
turned in by 4 p.m. on Sat-
urday, Dec. 7. The drawing
will be held during the com-
munity tree lighting event at
5 p.m.
For more information,
visit www.facebook.com/
PendletonDowntownAsso-
ciation.
PDA rolls out
annual Holiday
Stroll Raffl e
PENDLETON — The
Pendleton Downtown Asso-
ciation is gearing up for the
annual Holiday Stroll.
Prior to the Dec. 7 festiv-
ities, people are reminded
about the Holiday Stroll
Raffl e. It begins Saturday,
Nov. 30 and crescendos Sat-
urday, Dec. 7 at 5 p.m. with
the raffl e drawing.
To participate, people
can pick up a Raffl e Stamp
Card at the PDA offi ce (365
S. Main St.), the Pendle-
ton Chamber of Commerce
(501 S. Main St.) or partici-
pating locations. People can
then collect stamps through-
out the week at participating
stores (while also browsing
holiday promotions).
When your cards are full
(nine stamps), people can
turn them in at the chamber
offi ce (up to two per day).
Also, don’t forget about
Two-Stamp Saturdays — on
Nov. 30 and Dec. 7, people
get two stamps for each visit
to participating locations.
The more Raffl e Stamp
Cards a person turns in,
the better chance they have
at winning great prizes,
Hit a home run
with raffl e prizes
STANFIELD — A vari-
ety of prizes are up for
grabs as the Mizuno Mani-
acs 16U Softball Team
hosts a fundraising raffl e.
The drawing will be
held Dec. 8, which will pro-
vide winners with some
great Christmas gifts.
Items available include two
Seahawks tickets (Dec. 22
game against the Cardi-
nals) and four custom Sea-
hawks TV trays; a $500
Sportsman’s
Warehouse
gift card and guided fi shing
trip for two; an Oakley gift
basket; a $200 Spa Day gift
card; and Seattle Mariners
tickets. Altogether, more
than 60 gift baskets valued
at $50 or more are featured
in the drawing.
Contact Cecili Mar-
Fire district sizzles
with toy drive
PILOT ROCK — The
Pilot Rock Fire District
2019 Toy Drive is now
underway.
People are invited to
donate a new, unwrapped
toy that will be distributed
to families in need in the
Pilot Rock area. The dona-
tions are being accepted at
Class 5 Coffee Works, 241
S.W. Fourth St., and the
Pilot Rock Fire District,
415 N.W. Elm St. People are
asked to drop off the dona-
tions by Thursday, Dec. 5.
Also, families that may
benefi t from the generos-
ity of the community can
fi ll out an application for
consideration to receive
gifts. The form (available
at
www.facebook.com/
pilotrockfi re) must be sub-
mitted by Dec. 1.
The distribution of gifts
will take place Dec. 14-15
from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
For questions, call Reilly
Miller at 541-975-4845.
— EO Media Group
COMING EVENTS
older, must have proof of age and photo I.D.
Basic pot $20, prizes range from $20-$750.
(541-567-7615)
HERMISTON WARMING STATION VOL-
UNTEER TRAINING, 6-7:30 p.m., Hermiston
Warming Station, 1075 S. Highway 395, Herm-
iston. Volunteers wishing to help at the warm-
ing station must attend a training class and
pass a background check. Free. (Adelaide
541-289-2150)
FIDDLER’S NIGHT, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Avamere
Assisted Living, 980 W. Highland Ave., Herm-
iston. Enjoy light refreshments, listen to some
favorite oldies or join in the jam session. All
ages welcome. (Lori 541-567-3141)
RED CROSS DISASTER SERVICES VOLUN-
TEER RESPONSE TRAINING, 6:30-7:30 p.m.,
private business, 214 S.E. Emigrant Ave., Pend-
leton. Join local Red Cross response volunteers
to learn how you can help in disasters. (Don
Tombleson 541-276-9222)
FIRST DRAFT WRITERS’ SERIES, 7-9 p.m.,
Pendleton Center for the Arts, 214 N. Main St.,
Pendleton. Harold Johnson will read from his
work. Open mic slots of 3-5 minutes available
following main presentation. Free. (Roberta
Lavadour 541-278-9201)
”SHREK, THE MUSICAL”, 7:30 p.m., Blue
Mountain Community College Bob Clapp The-
atre, 2411 N.W. Carden Ave., Pendleton. The
story of the sullen ogre, his donkey sidekick
and the citizens of the troubled kingdom of
Duloc comes to the stage. tickets are available
online at collegecommunitytheatre.com or at
the theatre box offi ce.
THURSDAY, NOV. 21
BOARDMAN SENIOR MEAL SERVICE, 12 p.m.,
Boardman Senior Center, 100 Tatone St.,
Boardman. Cost is $4 for seniors 55 and over or
$5 for adults. (541-481-3257)
HERMISTON SENIOR MEAL SERVICE, 12 p.m.,
Harkenrider Center, 255 N.E. Second St., Herm-
iston. Cost is $4 for adults, free for children 10
and under, $4 for Meals on Wheels. Extra 50
cents for utensils/dishes. Bus service available
by donation. (541-567-3582)
PENDLETON SENIOR MEAL SERVICE,
12-1 p.m., Pendleton Senior Center, 510 S.W.
10th St., Pendleton. Costs $3.50 or $6 for those
under 60. Pool, puzzles, crafts, snacks, Second
Time Around thrift store 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. For
Meals On Wheels, call 541-276-1926. (Tori Bow-
man 541-276-5073)
SENSORY STORY TIME, 12:30 p.m., Boardman
Public Library, 200 S. Main St., Boardman. For
children from birth to age 4. (541-481-2665)
WEEKLY CRAFTERNOON, 3-4 p.m., Athena
Public Library, 418 E. Main St., Athena. For chil-
dren 5 and up; younger children welcome with
a helper. Free.
ARTIST RECEPTION: NATALIE BALL, 5-7 p.m.,
Crow’s Shadow Institute of the Arts, 48004 St.
Andrews Rd, Pendleton. Ball will give an infor-
mal Artist Talk at 5:30 p.m. and discuss her
work. Proofs of new prints will be on display.
Free admission. (Nika Blasser 541-276-3954)
YARN CLUB, 5:30 p.m., Hermiston Pub-
lic Library, 235 E. Gladys Ave., Hermiston.
(541-567-2882)
THE ARC UMATILLA COUNTY BINGO,
6-10 p.m., The Arc Building, 215 W. Orchard
Ave., Hermiston. Doors open at 6 p.m., seats
may be held until 6:30 p.m., then all seats
fi rst come, fi rst served; games begin at 7 p.m.
Proceeds benefi t Umatilla County citizens
with developmental disabilities. 18 years or
FRIDAY, NOV. 22
PRESCHOOL STORYTIME, 10 a.m., Weston
Public Library, 108 E. Main St., Weston. For
babies, toddlers and preschoolers and their
parents/caregivers. Free.
HOLIDAY
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