MAY 1, 2017
Food Bank provides
boxes, seeks help
The Grand Ronde Food Bank – iskam mfkhmfk haws – is operated
by Marion-Polk Food Share, which has been leading the fight to end
hunger since 1987 because no one should be hungry.
Recipients of SNAP, TANF, SSI or LIHEAP assistance automat-
ically qualify for assistance at the Grand Ronde Food Bank, 9675
Grand Ronde Road. No one will be turned away in need of a food box.
“We believe that everyone deserves to have enough to eat,” Food
Bank Coordinator Francene Ambrose says. “You are welcome to get
a food box at each of our regular weekly distributions. No one will
be turned away in need of a food box.”
Upcoming food box distribution dates will be:
• 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, May 5;
• 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 13;
• 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, May 19;
• 2 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 24.
The Food Bank will be closed on Monday, May 29, which is Me-
morial Day.
Those who are unable to pick up a food box can fill out an authorized
representative form and that person can pick up a food box on your
behalf. The authorization is good for one year.
Ambrose and Larry Bittner attended the Oregon Food Bank’s Hun-
ger Response Day at the state Capitol in Salem on Thursday, April 13.
“We gathered 48 handwritten plates from pantry clients and gave
them to state representatives and shared how important this year’s
budget is for pantries like ours,” Ambrose said. “Thank you for
sharing your stories with us. It made a great impact when we spoke
with them.”
The Food Bank continues to seek volunteers to help with repacking
food, putting food on the shelves, handing out food boxes and end-
of-month inventory.
The Food Bank also is participating in a program called Fresh Al-
liance in which volunteers pick up food donations directly from area
stores. Volunteers with a truck who could pick up at these stores at
least once a week and a partner to ride along and help load are being
sought. Volunteer training will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, May 16.
Call to ensure someone is available to assist. People also can sign
up for a monthly e-mail for the Food Bank calendar and events, as
well as follow the Food Bank on Facebook.
The Food Bank is an equal opportunity provider.
Call Ambrose at 503-879-3663 or contact her at fambrose@marion-
polkfoodshare.org for more information or to volunteer. 
S moke S ignals
3
Century plus two
Photos by Michelle Alaimo
Carmen Parren, left, a caregiver at the Tribe’s Adult Foster Care, holds
the cake as Tribal Elder Opal Davidson blows out the candles during
her birthday party at Cougar Lodge, where Davidson resides, on
Wednesday, April 19. Davidson turned 102 on the 19th and the staff
held a small gathering for her. She is the Tribe’s second oldest member
with Tribal Elder Pearl Lyon at 105 years of age.
MARRIAGES IN TRIBAL COURT
The Tribal Court is now issuing marriage licenses and is able to per-
form marriage ceremonies for a filing fee of $40. For questions regarding
scheduling, please contact the Tribal Court at 503-879-2303. 
Committee & Special Event
Board meeting days and times
Below is the most current information on the meeting days and times for
Tribal Committees and Special Event Boards:
• Ceremonial Hunting Board meets as needed. Chair: Marline Groshong.
• Culture Committee meets at 5:30 p.m. the second Tuesday of the month
at the Grand Ronde Food Bank/iskam mfkhmfk haws, 9675 Grand
Ronde Road. Chair: Francene Ambrose.
• Education Committee meets at 5:30 p.m. on the second Tuesday of
the month in the Adult Education building. Chair: Tammy Cook.
• Elders Committee meets at 10 a.m. the third Wednesday of the month
in the Elders Activity Center. Chair: Gladys Hobbs.
• Enrollment Board meets quarterly in Room 204 of the Governance
Center. Chair: Michael Mercier.
• Fish & Wildlife Committee meets at 5:30 p.m. the second Tuesday
of the month at the Natural Resources building off Hebo Road. Chair:
Tyson Mercier.
• Health Committee meets at 10 a.m. the second Wednesday of the
month in the Health & Wellness Center. Chair: Patti Tom-Martin.
• Housing Board meets at 3 p.m. the third Thursday of the month in the
Housing Department conference room. Chair: Matt Thomas.
• Powwow Special Event Board meets monthly at noon at the Community
Center. Dates vary. Contact Dana Ainam at 503-879-2037. Chair: Dana
Ainam.
• Timber Committee meets at 5 p.m. the second Thursday of the month
at the Natural Resources building off Hebo Road. Chair: Bob Mercier.
• Veterans Special Event Board meets at 5:30 p.m. the first Tuesday of
the month in the old Elders Craft House. Chair: Steve Bobb Sr.
To update information on this list, contact Publications Coordinator Dean
Rhodes at 503-879-1463 or dean.rhodes@grandronde.org.
Carmen Parren, a caregiver at the Tribe’s Adult Foster Care, shows
Tribal Elder Opal Davidson the bird feeder Anna Huston, another Adult
Foster Care caregiver, gave Davidson for her birthday. Parren helped
Davidson open her presents during her party held at Cougar Lodge on
Wednesday, April 19.
Official Tribal Facebook pages
• Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde:
www.facebook.com/CTGRgov
• Grand Ronde Tribal Council:
www.facebook.com/TheConfederatedTribesOfGrandRondeTribalCouncil
• Grand Ronde Higher Education:
www.facebook.com/grand.r.ed
• Grand Ronde Youth Education:
www.facebook.com/CTGRYouthEducation
• Spirit Mountain Community Fund:
www.facebook.com/SpiritMountainCommunityFund
• Grand Ronde Station:
www.facebook.com/GrandRondeStation
• Grand Ronde Royalty: www.facebook.com/CTGRRoyalty
• Veterans Special Event Board:
www.facebook.com/pages/Veterans-Board-of-the-Confederated-Tribes-of-
the-Grand-Ronde-Community
• Community Garden: www.facebook.com/GrandRondeCommunityGarden
• Grand Ronde Food Bank: www.facebook.com/GrandRondeFoodBank
• Grand Ronde Youth Council: www.facebook.com/CTGRYouthCouncil
• Grand Ronde Tribal Police Department:
www.facebook.com/grandrondepolice/