SIUSLAW NEWS | WEDNESDAY, JULY 18, 2018 | 9A
Friends of the FEC seeks
donations, vendors for
Indoor Yard Sale
Trying to figure out what to
do with those items piling up
in your spare bedroom and
garage? You know, the ones
that are way too good to throw
away but that are taking up
way too much space? Donate
them to the Friends of the
Florence Events Center Indoor
Yard Sale scheduled for Satur-
day, Aug. 4.
The Friends use proceeds
from the sale of your dona-
tions for much-needed proj-
ects and improvements at
the event center, the gem of
Florence. Donations may be
dropped off at Florence Events
Center, 715 Quince St., during
normal business hours.
Alternatively, you can be-
come a yard sale vendor by
purchasing a booth.
If you are a nonprofit orga-
nization, a single booth costs
only $35; the price is $45 if you
are an individual or a nonprof-
it organization.
For complete information,
call the event center at 541-
997-1994 or go online to www.
eventcenter.org and click on
the Indoor Yard Sale icon.
The online application is
located there, or you can pick
one up at the Florence Events
Center.
Applications are being ac-
cepted now and are expected
to sell out.
FOOD SHARE from page 1A
up at the end of last year, with
only a small reserve fund on
hand to pay the outstanding
debts.
This led to a fiscal shortfall
at the end of 2017 that nearly
terminated organizational op-
erations due to lack of money,
which necessitated a direct
request to the community for
aid in order to remain in op-
eration.
The response to the request
for assistance was positive and
Florence Food Share received
a number of significant do-
nations, in addition to many
smaller amounts, which avert-
ed a forced closure. It also re-
ceived a substantial financial
commitment from local busi-
ness Top Hydraulics to sup-
port the food pantry for 2018.
Florence Food Share still
needs to receive donations or
funding for the operational ex-
penses it incurs every month.
However, the organization
does not have to worry about
paying rent, as the New Life
Lutheran Church has for many
years essentially donated the
buildings and land used for
the Food Share Garden. This
donation allows the nonprofit
to focus on obtaining the an-
cillary funding it needs to op-
erate the pantry and to pay its
small staff.
“My first priority is to reach
out to our donors and commu-
nity partners in order to make
a difference through commu-
nity outreach and education,
in partnership with other
organizations, to minimize
hunger and develop successful
programs that have a signifi-
cant impact in our communi-
ty,” Montes said.
This is the work that Montes
is going to focus on in the next
few months, with additional
attention going to encourag-
ing some of the more active
donors and volunteers to con-
sider a long-term endowment
or legacy donation. Support of
this kind could help ensure the
future for an organization that
has helped thousands of Flor-
ence area residents over the
past 30 years.
When asked what was most
needed by the organization at
this time, Montes said, “We are
always in need of volunteers.
If it wasn’t for the hard work
and dedication of our team of
volunteers, we would not be
able reach our goal to alleviate
hunger.”
For more information about
Florence Food Share, visit
www.florencefoodshare.org or
call 541-997-9110.
Florence Food Share has
had a bit of a rollercoaster ride
during the last year, capped by
Barton’s exit and the hiring of
Montes.
Last summer, an upgrade
to the facility provided neces-
sary additional space to serve
clients and to prepare food for
distribution. The workspaces
for staff were also improved,
making the physical layout of
the building more user friend-
ly. These modest renovations
were paid for by a combination
of a grant coupled with com-
munity donations.
Unfortunately, public per-
ception was such that since
construction and renovations
were underway at the food
share, its financial situation
was secure — which proved to
be inaccurate.
The money received for
structural improvements was
dedicated for that purpose,
and other uses for those funds
were restricted. Operating ex-
penses were not part of that
grant and the bills were piling
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