COMMUNITY
A6 • HERMISTONHERALD.COM
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2020
Altrusa fi nds ways to make a difference
By TAMMY MALGESINI
FOR THE HERMISTON HERALD
Guidelines
imposed
because of COVID-19 have
altered how people work,
socialize and participate in
recreational activities. Stay
home orders, social dis-
tancing and restrictions on
group gatherings have also
changed how people engage
in service organizations and
volunteer activities. This is
the fi rst story in series for
the Hermiston Herald that
will highlight how area ser-
vice clubs and groups have
responded to the pandemic.
As summer winds down
each year, members of
Altrusa International of
Hermiston are typically
gearing up for their annual
fundraiser. However, the
novel coronavirus has dis-
rupted normal plans and the
group was forced to cancel
this year’s Altrusa Auction.
According to club pres-
ident Stephanie Hughes,
Altrusa is an international
nonprofi t organization that
strives to make local com-
munities better through lead-
ership, partnership and ser-
vice. The Hermiston club,
she said, offers an opportu-
nity to make a real differ-
ence in Hermiston and the
smaller neighboring towns
of Echo, Irrigon, Stanfi eld
and Umatilla.
“We undertake a variety
of service, literacy, fundrais-
ing and international proj-
ects each year,” Hughes
said.
Altrusans have appreci-
ated the generosity of the
community for the past four
Photo contributed by Stephanie Hughes
Altrusa’s members met with masks on and over video chat during their most recent club
meeting in Hermiston.
decades, as their annual auc-
tion event raises money to
support a variety of proj-
ects throughout the year.
The club has provided sup-
port to such organizations
as the Hermiston Warming
Station, Made to Thrive and
the American Red Cross, as
well as encouraging read-
ing through its Little Red
Library project, assisting
middle school girls as they
transition to high school
during their Girls Night
In program, and provid-
ing scholarships for area
residents seeking higher
education.
With the auction serv-
ing as the club’s only annual
fundraiser, Altrusans are
tapping into creative ways to
raise money and continue to
help meet needs in the com-
munity. Finding ways to do
that in the current situation,
Hughes said, is a bit diffi cult
— but not impossible.
“We are a hands-on vol-
unteer project organiza-
tion,” she said. “Being out in
the public and helping with
what is needed has been
something we strive for and
always look forward to.”
Club members, Hughes
said, are looking at dif-
ferent forms of fundrais-
ing. In addition to recently
establishing a BottleDrop
account, they are learn-
ing how to write grants and
are looking into a “Donate
Now” button on their Face-
book page.
Hughes expressed appre-
ciation to individuals and
businesses who have already
responded by making dona-
tions. As a nonprofi t organi-
zation, she reminds people
that fi nancial gifts are tax
deductible.
“At our auctions in the
past, we have had amazing
donors of items as well as
participants in the bidding
and purchasing,” Hughes
said. “We are hopeful that
some of those folks and oth-
ers will be able to donate
funds, or items when we do
drives for the community.”
The international ser-
vice organization celebrated
its centennial in 2017. The
Hermiston club was orga-
nized May 14, 1977, and
currently has 35 members
living locally.
As a result of the pan-
demic, the general member-
ship has been meeting virtu-
ally. However, Hughes said
many of the committees
are small enough to utilize
social distancing and meet
in person.
“We have a committee
that is focused on member-
ship engagement and cele-
brations,” she said. “They
fi gured out how to honor
our birthdays and anniversa-
ries with special no contact
delivery. So, we are trying to
do what we can.”
Club members repre-
sent varying occupations
and lifestyles, Hughes said.
Each member possesses a
shared interest in commu-
nity service and enjoys the
friendship, fun and satisfac-
tion that comes from work-
ing together for the benefi t
of others.
“We are always seeking
new volunteers to join our
organization and make a dif-
ference,” Hughes said. “We
are looking for projects and
new members to help us
overcome and grow.”
On the horizon, the club
is looking at helping with a
room at Martha’s House. In
addition, they will continue
to keep books in the little
libraries, award scholarships
and provide help where they
are able.
In celebration of Altru-
sa’s Make a Difference Day
— Saturday, Oct. 24 — club
members will be on hand
at Little Red Library sites
from 1-2 p.m. at Belt Park,
Sunset Park and Greenwood
Park, all in Hermiston. The
public is invited to enjoy
ice cream bars, receive free
books and learn more about
Altrusa.
For more information,
email
hermistonaltrusa@
gmail.com, call Hughes
at 541-720-9769 or visit
www.facebook.com/Altru-
saInternationalOfHermis-
ton. A Zoom link is avail-
able for virtual meetings,
which are the fi rst and third
Thursday of each month at
noon. Donations can be sent
to: Altrusa International of
Hermiston, P.O. Box 794,
Hermiston, OR 97838.
WORSHIP
COMMUNITY
Boardman food pantry off to a good start
By JADE MCDOWELL
NEWS EDITOR
A year full of disasters
fi nally got the ball rolling on
Boardman’s fi rst food pantry
for residents in need.
The project has blos-
somed rapidly since it began
in March.
“We went from a closet
full of donated food in
March to over $150,000
in mid-September,” Anna
Browne said.
Browne, Oregon State
University Extension’s open
campus coordinator in Uma-
tilla and Morrow counties,
said she didn’t think the
pantry would exist today if
it hadn’t been for the pan-
demic. Boardman received
a $4,325 grant from the Ore-
gon Food Bank in 2018,
but talks about how to use
the money had stalled until
plummeting
employment
numbers in March spurred
community members into
action.
An employee of Colum-
bia River Health voiced con-
cerns about people needing
food, First Baptist Church
of Boardman volunteered to
start handing it out and the
Oregon Food Bank gave its
blessing for the grant to go
toward that effort. Browne
lent her expertise to help
the new pantry gain offi -
cial nonprofi t status and cre-
ate a board and bylaws. The
health clinic donated shelv-
ing. Local farms and food
processors like Tillamook,
Lamb Weston and Threemile
Canyon Farms began donat-
ing food, along with individ-
uals and other churches.
The donations really took
off, however, a severe wind
storm in May caused signif-
icant damage in Boardman,
including mobile homes
Staff photo by Ben Lonergan
Samantha Weiss fi lls boxes at the Boardman Food Pantry in the
First Baptist Church of Boardman on Monday, Sept, 14, 2020.
destroyed by falling trees in
Wilson Road Mobile Home
Park. Oregon Food Bank
responded with 102 emer-
gency food boxes and three
additional pallets of food.
Later, Amazon Web Ser-
vices donated $25,000 to
the pantry, and the Mor-
row County Board of Com-
missioners recently voted to
use $100,000 of its CARES
Act funding to help the pan-
try purchase a permanent
location (Browne said they
believe they have found a
suitable building but it is not
fi nalized yet).
Mary Killion, board chair
for the pantry, said she was
thrilled to see how much the
pantry was already serving
residents in need.
“This is the most exciting
thing I think I’ve ever been a
part of,” she said. “The vol-
unteers are committed, and
they have made it so easy,
and everyone has been so
supportive, I feel like I can’t
take any credit.”
More than 100 house-
holds are being served every
week, through picking up
food at the church or hav-
ing it delivered if they don’t
have transportation, are sick
or are worried about their
risks for COVID-19. Food
is available for pickup from
9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Mon-
days, and Thursdays from
6-7 p.m.
“We are getting new
faces every week from peo-
ple that just heard about us.
We don’t get the same peo-
ple every week, because
people are trying to make it
on their own. I believe that
with all my heart,” Killion
said.
Shara Wiess of First Bap-
tist Church of Boardman
said people in the commu-
nity have been extremely
supportive. The fi rst round
of food came from a woman
whose husband had recently
died, and she used a portion
of the life insurance check to
shop for food for the pantry.
“People (receiving the
free food) have asked what
they can do for the church
— can they clean? Can they
pull weeds?” she said.
Boardman residents were
previously able to go pick up
food at Irrigon’s food pan-
Here for you when
you need us.
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
LANDMARK BAPTIST
CHURCH
125 E. Beech Ave. • 567-3232
Pastor David Dever
First Christian Church
“Proclaiming the Message of
Hope, Living the Gospel of Love”
Sunday School...9:15 am
Sun. Bible Classes...................10:00am
Sun. Worship Service..............11:00am
Sun. Evening Worship..............6:00pm
Wed. Prayer & Bible Study......6:00pm
Children’s Church 10:45 am
www.hermistonlmbc.com
775 W. Highland Ave., Hermiston
St. Johns
Episcopal Church
Join Us
Us
Join
On Our Journey
With Jesus.
Join us on ZOOM 9:00 AM Sunday
Email: chuckb@eotnet.net for link
N.E. Gladys Ave & 7th, Hermiston
PH: 567-6672
We are an all inclusive Church
who welcomes all.
Worship Service...10:30 am
567-3013
NEW BEGINNINGS
CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP
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
541-289-4774
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
Hard times happen. If they do, ask us about payment
assistance and billing options available to you.
Discover more at:
www.UmatillaElectric.com
Our Lady of Angels
Catholic Church
Hermiston Office
Boardman Office
750 W. Elm Ave.
Hermiston, OR 97838
(541) 567-6414
400 N.E. Eldrige Drive
Boardman, OR 97818
(541) 481-2220
TURNING 65?
Confused about
Medicare?
Get answers from a
trusted local
resource!
Call me for a
complimentary
PERSONAL
CONSULTATION
today!
JOSH GOLLER
125 SE 7th St.,
Hermiston, OR
541-289-7261
www.simmonshealthinsurance.partners
To share your
worship times call
541-278-2678