4
MAY 15, 2020
Food Bank providing
boxes on Fridays in May
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 automatically
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.”
In reaction to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, the Food Bank will
be holding May food distributions only from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fridays.
“We are asking clients to not come for a food box if they are having
any symptoms or concerned about their health,” Ambrose said. “We are
going to limit our geographic service area to Sheridan to Otis on High-
way 18 and Sheridan to Hebo on Highway 22. We are asking clients and
volunteers to wash their hands immediately upon entry to the building.
Our lobby is closed until further notice.
“Food box distribution is happening outside while maintaining a safe
distance between clients. We are sanitizing and keeping the food quar-
antined for three days before distribution. Pre-made boxes are available
on distribution days, limited to two days of food for two adults. Clients
within our geographic service area are still welcome to visit us weekly.”
People must check in 15 minutes before closing to receive a food box.
If you need immediate assistance, call 211 or visit 211info.org.
Those who are unable to pick up a food box can fill out an authorized
representative form and that designated person can pick up a food box
on your behalf. The authorization is good for one year.
The Food Bank continues to seek volunteers to help with repacking
food, putting food on the shelves, handing out food boxes, end-of-month
inventory and picking up food donations at area stores.
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.
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.
• Editorial Board meets monthly. The next meeting has not been sched-
uled. Chair: Siobhan Taylor. Contact: Editorial.Board@grandronde.org.
• Education Committee meets at 5:30 p.m. on the first 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: Penny DeLoe.
• Enrollment Committee meets quarterly in Room 204 of the Governance
Center. Chair: Debi Anderson.
• Fish & Wildlife Committee meets at 5:30 p.m. the second Tuesday of the
month at the Natural Resources building off Hebo Road. Chair: Bryan Langley.
• Health Committee meets at 10 a.m. the second Tuesday of the month
in the Molalla Room of the Health & Wellness Center. Chair: Bernadine
Shriver.
• Housing Grievance Board meets at 3 p.m. the third Thursday of the
month in the Housing Department conference room. Chair: Simone Auger.
• Powwow Special Event Board meets monthly at noon at the Community
Center. Dates vary. Contact Dana Ainam at 503-879-2037. Chair: Dana
Ainam.
• TERO Commission meets at 10 a.m. the first Monday of the month in
the Employment Services building. Chair: Russell Wilkinson.
• Timber Committee meets at 5 p.m. the second Thursday of the month at
the Natural Resources building off Hebo Road. Interim Chair: Jon R. George.
• Veterans Special Event Board meets at 5:30 p.m. the first Tuesday of
the month in the old Elders Craft House. Chair: Rich VanAtta.
Smoke Signals
yesteryears
a look
back...
2015 – A decision on the Tribe’s re-
quest to have its flag hung in the Willa-
mina High School gym was postponed
by the School Board. After listening to
42 minutes of sometimes emotional com-
ments in support of the Tribe’s request,
File photo
the board decided not to act on the 2015
request until a meeting the following
month. No one spoke in opposition to the proposal and School Board
members did not explain why they would not address the request.
2010 – A permanent exhibit at McMinnville’s Evergreen Aviation
Museum honored a late Tribal member. Air Force Capt. Carroll
Grenia served as a B-17 pilot based in England during World War
II. He led his men through 35 missions without being hit, enjoyed a
long career in the Air Force and retired in the 1960s. He walked on
in 2002. After his passing, word reached Evergreen Aviation Muse-
um and the exhibit was created, which included Grenia’s jacket and
flight suit, photographs and his carrying bag.
2005 – The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde was honored with
a stewardship award from the state’s Water Resources Division. The
award is given out annually for outstanding commitment to manag-
ing, conserving and restoring Oregon’s water resources. “I want to
say we are honored to receive this award,” Tribal Council member
Chris Mercier said. “We really appreciate the partnership with the
Water Resources Commission.”
2000 – Oregon’s Start Making a Reader Today program paired the
Tribe with the Portland Trail Blazers to help children become better
readers. The program was targeted at children from kindergarten
through second-grade. The program received a boost from Spirit
Mountain Community Fund to help children at elementary schools
across western Oregon, including Willamina and Grand Ronde.
1995 – There were 14 candidates nominated for Tribal Council at
the General Council meeting. They were Joyce Kirk, Janell Haller,
Randy Butler Sr., Kathy Tom, Kathryn Harrison, Ed Larsen, Joyce
DeHart, Tom Jones, Margaret Provost, Earl Floyd LaBonte, Albert
Jeffers, June Sherer, Pam Warren and Reyn Leno.
1990 – Tribal member Angie Leno was the first recipient of an
Oregon Minority Achievement Scholarship. She was a senior at
Willamina High School who maintained a 3.98 GPA. The scholarship
paid full tuition and fees for the next five academic years.
1985 – The first Native American press conference was held in
Warm Springs and attracted almost 100 representatives from the
United States and Canada. Workshops were held in layout/design,
writing/editing, business operations and advertising. Attendees
also were encouraged to submit copies of their newspaper for the
competition. Of 100 entries, the Siletz Tribe received an award for
overall excellence.
Yesteryears is a look back at Tribal history in five-year in-
crements through the pages of Smoke Signals.
cultural
education
A
re you missing out on what Cultural
Education has to offer? Follow us on Facebook
to get detailed class information, photos from
events, and updates.
Plus, check out the tribal calendar for a quick
glance of upcoming events and classes.
Open to Tribal and Community members.
Join us!
Search Facebook for Grand Ronde Cultrual Education
To update information on this list, contact Publications Coordinator Dean
Rhodes at 503-879-1463 or dean.rhodes@grandronde.org.
(Editor’s note: All committee and special event board meetings
have been suspended during the Tribe’s limited shutdown
in reaction to the coronavirus pandemic.)
Tribal Calendar // www.grandronde.org/tribal-calendar
