COMMUNITY
A4 • HERMISTONHERALD.COM
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2020
Local farmers work to aid COVID-19 affl icted families
By BRETT KANE
STAFF WRITER
Kenzie Hansell has been
farming wheat for Farm-
ers Ending Hunger since
the nonprofi t’s inception in
2004, but this year he’ll be
doubling his efforts.
The organization, which
takes produce donations
from farmers around the
state and ships them to food
banks, set a goal earlier this
month to double their output
in order to supply the Ore-
gon Food Bank and smaller
organizations to provide
area families who are in the
midst of fi nancial strain in
the wake of the COVID-19
outbreak with enough food
to make it through the crisis.
According to a recent
press release, an average of
84,000 children in Oregon
rely on meals from emer-
gency food boxes.
“Our board of direc-
tors decided that, in this
time of need, we donate our
efforts,” Farmers Ending
Hunger Founder and Pres-
ident Fred Ziari of Herm-
iston said. “We asked our
growers to give more, which
has never been an issue in
the past.”
Although wheat and
alfalfa are their primary
produce, Hansell Farms
also grow grass seed, lima
beans, and carrots. They
also lease a portion of their
land to watermelon, onion,
and potato farmers.
“EVERYONE NEEDS TO EAT.
EVERYONE IS IMPACTED BY
THIS IN ONE WAY OR
ANOTHER — PRODUCER OR
CONSUMER.”
Kenzie Hansell, who is farming wheat for Farmers Ending
Hunger
“It’s a goal, and that’s the
most important thing,” said
Hansell, who runs farms in
Athena and Hermiston with
his brothers, T.J. and Luke.
“It’s a situation where food
insecurity is on a lot of peo-
ple’s minds. If us farmers
can come together, we will
continue to be connected
and work as a state to make
sure some people’s insecuri-
ties can be met.”
Hansell’s farm in Athena
is roughly 2,500 acres of
owned and leased land that
primarily grows wheat and
alfalfa. The wheat that he
donates is used for pancake
mix at Pendleton’s Grain
Craft and Continental Mills
based out of Seattle.
“This is good product,”
Hansell said. “Everyone
needs to eat. Everyone is
impacted by this in one way
or another — producer or
consumer.”
Hansell and his broth-
ers spend their days plant-
ing, seeding, working the
ground, and harvesting
their product to ready it for
donation. They are part of
approximately 100 farms
across the state working
with Farmers Ending Hun-
ger to aid in coronavirus
relief.
The nonprofi t delivers to
food banks across the state,
at minimum, once a month.
“This is a time where
people are afraid,” Ziari
said. “Food shelves are
empty. People are losing
their jobs. The stress of food
insecurity is even greater
(now). We as a farming
community wanted to make
sure our fellow Oregonians
are not hungry.”
The nonprofi t’s efforts
will likely span all year long
and into the next, according
to Executive Director John
Burt.
“It’s planting time right
now, and they’re planting
extra,” said Burt, a resident
of Dallas. “It’ll grow as the
year goes on. The response
is positive from the growers.
They understand the issue,
and they want to help.”
Along with the portion
of their harvest donated by
participating farmers, addi-
tional help from food pro-
cessors and public donations
aid Farmers Against Hunger
in their mission. Last year,
Eastern Oregon farmers in
Umatilla and Morrow coun-
ties donated more than 3
million pounds of produce.
Their goal of doubling that
number this year will help
food banks struggling to
keep up with need.
“Food banks are scram-
bling right now,” Burt said.
“Lots of people are going to
need food, and lots of people
are afraid to go out. They’re
going to run out of things.
People are also going to be
out of work. That unem-
ployment check might not
come soon enough. Farm-
ers, we’re still going. Noth-
ing has changed.”
While the day-to-day
routine for participating
farmers has remained rela-
tively unchanged, Farmers
Ending Hunger has faced its
share of setbacks due to the
COVID-19 outbreak. They
were the target nonprofi t for
the Dancing With the Pend-
leton Stars event that was
canceled due to concerns
over the coronavirus spread,
along with two fundraisers
set for April.
The organization accepts
public help through their
Adopt-an-Acre
program.
Supporters can donate at
www.farmersendinghunger.
com, or send contributions
to P.O. Box 7361, Salem,
OR 97303.
Photo contributed by Kenzie Hansell
From left to right: Kenzie, Luke, and T.J. Hansell are among
the over 100 farmers across the state doubling their eff orts
to supply Farmers Ending Hunger with enough produce to aid
families affl icted by the COVID-19 outbreak.
WORSHIP
COMMUNITY
Plaza project seeks artists for mural designs
Contest open to artists
throughout the region
By TAMMY MALGESINI
COMMUNITY EDITOR
The
Milton-Freewater
Downtown Alliance is look-
ing for Umatilla County art-
ists to help paint their town.
Plans are underway to
create the Freewater Square
plaza, which is envisioned
as a community gather-
ing place, said Julie Cul-
jak, executive director of the
Milton-Freewater
Down-
town Alliance. It will be
located in an underused lot
on the corner of North Main
and Fifth Avenue.
As part of the Freewater
Square project, the down-
town alliance is holding a
mural competition and is
seeking artists to submit
designs. Plans include the
installation of four individ-
ual wall panels.
“We’ve been wanting to
improve our downtown dis-
trict,” Culjak said “People
seem to be gravitating to
these types of plazas.”
The contest is open to all
artists living in Umatilla and
Union counties in Oregon,
the best thing about Sundays
1520 W ORCHARD AVE
Sunday Worship Service
10:30 am Classes for Kids @ 9:15 am
Contributed by MFDA
Conceptual drawings of the Freewater Square plaza. The Milton-Freewater Downtown Alliance
is seeking entries from artists from throughout the region for a mural contest as part of the
project.
and Columbia and Walla
Walla counties in Wash-
ington. Participants may be
individual artists or teams
of two-three members. The
team leader must be at least
18 years old.
There is no entry fee to
submit a design for consider-
ation. The fi nalists, who will
paint their winning mural,
will receive a cash award
of $500. The mural installa-
tion is currently set for May
1-15. However, the time-
frame may be adjusted for
weather or community gath-
ering restrictions because of
COVID-19.
Themes for the murals,
which will measure 15 feet
by 15 feet, should highlight
Milton-Freewater’s unique
culture. Designs could focus
on the area’s agriculture,
multi-cultural
infl uences,
pioneer history, arts and cul-
ture, the Blue Mountains and
more. Organizers encourage
artists to submit uplifting,
colorful, fun and engaging
designs that are suitable for
community gatherings.
Paint and other materials
will be provided. Artists also
are welcome to bring their
own painting tools.
For more information
about the mural contest,
including rules and an entry
form, visit www.mfdown-
town.org and click on “Proj-
ects.” For questions, contact
Culjak at mfda.director@
gmail.com or 541-861-1208.
be identifi ed with the stu-
dent’s name, grade, teach-
er’s name, school’s name
and address, and be mailed
to: Theresa Rea, Oregon
State Archives, 800 Summer
St. NE, Salem OR 97310.
way for fans and students
to show support for their
school. In addition, he said
the program demonstrates
the bank’s commitment to
helping local communities
prosper through a robust
activities program.
“We encourage everyone
to sign up for this mascot
card supporting their school,
as 5 cents per transaction
adds up,” Propheter said.
Initially chartered as
the Gilliam County Bank
in 1945 in Arlington, it
expanded a decade later and
changed its name to Bank
of Eastern Oregon. Based in
Heppner, BEO has 20 branch
locations and fi ve loan pro-
duction offi ces across the
region. For more informa-
tion, visit www.beobank.
com or call 541-676-0201.
authorities.”
“We look forward to
being able to welcome
everyone back to the library
without the worry of safety,”
library director Mark Rose
said.
Online services, such as
audio books and e-books, are
still available at hermistonli-
brary.us. For more informa-
tion, call 541-567-2882.
BRIEFS
Blue Book seeks
student essays
All elementary and mid-
dle school students are
encouraged to refl ect on
their favorite activities,
offerings and memories of
Oregon’s state parks.
Oregon Secretary of State
Bev Clarno invites kids to
write down their thoughts
and enter the 2021-22 Ore-
gon Blue Book Essay Con-
test. The Oregon Blue Book,
published biennially since
1911, is the offi cial state
almanac and fact book.
The theme of the con-
test is 100 years of Oregon’s
state parks. Next year Ore-
gon will celebrate the 100th
anniversary of the opening
of its fi rst state park. Essays
should answer the question:
“What is your favorite Ore-
gon State Park and why?”
Students are also encour-
aged to illustrate their essays
with drawings.
Contest winners’ entries
will be included in the 2021-
22 edition of the Oregon
Blue Book. The winners
will be invited to the Oregon
Capitol for the offi cial Blue
Book release party and cele-
bration in early 2021.
For contest information
and details, visit https://
sos.oregon.gov/blue-book.
The deadline for entries is
Oct. 22. Each essay must
Schools cash in with
BEO mascot debit cards
A number of school dis-
tricts across the region are
featured in the Bank of East-
ern Oregon’s exclusive mas-
cot debit card program.
Bank customers can show
their colors as they support
local high school sports and
activity programs. BEO’s
mascot debit card program
began in 2013 and currently
serves high school associ-
ated student body programs
in Athena, Boardman, Con-
don, Heppner, Ione, Irrigon
and Colfax, Washington.
The program generates
5 cents per transaction per-
formed with the mascot card
to that school’s program
and the full annual renewal
fee for each card ($10) also
goes directly to the ASB.
Since the inception of the
school mascot debit card
program, more than $35,000
has been contributed to ASB
programs.
The program, said Gary
Propheter, BEO executive
vice president and chief
operations offi cer, is a great
Library suspending
curbside pickups
The Hermiston Public
Library is suspending its
curbside service for now.
After the library closed
to the public, staff had still
been offering the option to
call for a book and pick it
up. On Friday, the library
announced in a news release
it was ending the practice
for now and the duration
of the suspension will “be
determined based on direc-
tion from state and federal
Me and My Prince Ball
postponed until 2021
Due to uncertainties
of the ongoing coronavi-
rus pandemic, the Me and
My Prince Ball commit-
tee has decided to postpone
the annual father-daughter
dance until next year.
In its 16th year, the next
Me and My Prince Ball will
be held May 15, 2021, at
Eastern Oregon Trade and
Event Center in Hermis-
ton. Businesses and indi-
viduals who have already
made contributions for the
2020 ball are being notifi ed
of the change in plans. They
are being given the option to
either be reimbursed or stay
on as sponsors for the 2021
dance.
United Way’s online
sponsorship form (www.
uwbluemt.org/sponsorship)
will remain open for those
who would like to support
next year’s ball.
SEEKING JESUS, SHARING LIFE, SERVING PEOPLE
www.hermistonnazarene.org
Our Lady of Angels
Catholic Church
565 W. HERMISTON AVE.
DAILY MASS: Monday-Friday
...............................English 7:00 am
Thursday...............Spanish 6:00 pm
SATURDAY:.........English 5:00 pm
...............................Spanish 7:00 pm
SUNDAY:..............English 9:00 am
..........................Bilingual 11:00 am
..............................Spanish 1:00 pm
Office..............................567-5812
St. Johns
Episcopal Church
Join Us
On Our Journey
With Jesus.
Scripture, Tradition and Reason
Family service 9am Sunday
N.E. Gladys Ave & 7th, Hermiston
t. PH: 567-6672
We are an all inclusive Church
who welcomes all.
The Full Gospel
Home Church
NEW BEGINNINGS
235 SW 3rd
Phone 567-7678
Rev. Ed Baker - Rev. Nina Baker
Sunday:
Sunday School........10:00 am
Worship...................11:00 am
Evening Service........7:00 pm
Wednesday Service..7:00 pm
“Casting all your care upon him;
for he careth for you.”
1 Pet. 5:7
Worship Service 10:30 AM
Sunday School 9:00 AM
Pastor J.C. Barnett
Children’s Church &
Nursery Available
700 West Orchard Avenue
P.O. Box 933
Hermiston, Oregon
First Christian Church
LANDMARK BAPTIST
CHURCH
“Proclaiming the Message of
Hope, Living the Gospel of Love”
CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP
541-567-8441
125 E. Beech Ave. • 567-3232
Sunday School...9:15 am
Pastor David Dever
Worship Service...10:30 am
567-3013
Sun. Bible Classes...................10:00am
Sun. Worship Service..............11:00am
Sun. Evening Worship..............6:00pm
Wed. Prayer & Bible Study......6:00pm
775 W. Highland Ave., Hermiston
www.hermistonlmbc.com
Children’s Church 10:45 am
Seventh-day
Adventist Church
Saturdays
Sabbath School........9:30 a.m.
Worship Service......11:00 a.m.
English & Spanish Services
567-8241
Hermiston Jr. Academy
1300 NW Academy Lane, • Hermiston
To share your
worship times call
541-278-2678