COMMUNITY
A6 • HERMISTONHERALD.COM
BRIEFING
Read-a-thon planned
in Hermiston
The Friends of the Herm-
iston Public Library and
Altrusa International of
Hermiston are promoting lit-
eracy and a love of reading
with the Read Across Herm-
iston Read-a-thon.
The event is Saturday,
March 5, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
at the Hermiston Pub-
lic Library, 235 E. Gladys
Ave. In addition, it will be
livestreamed on the library
friends’ Facebook page.
It will feature a series of
community members read-
ing in 20-minute segments.
Participating readers who
have confi rmed, include
Hermiston City Manager
Byron Smith, Hermiston
School Superintendent Tricia
Mooney, Agape House Exec-
utive Director Mark Gomol-
ski, Good Shepherd Health
Care System CEO Brian
Sims and Umatilla County
Commissioner Dan Dorran.
Other community leaders
will be added as available.
They will share from their
favorite books across a vari-
ety of genres.
In addition, local authors
Carol Clupny and Ben Arm-
strong will share excerpts
from their work. Clupny is
the author of “The Ribbon
of Road Ahead,” a memoir
of her experience with Par-
kinson’s Disease. And Arm-
strong, a Hermiston High
School student, had his short
story, “Sleigh 54,” published
last fall.
The library friends and
Altrusans are asking the
community to support their
favorite readers by donating
to literacy projects sponsored
by both groups. Donations
may be made electronically
through the Friends of the
Hermiston Public Library
Facebook page, at the Herm-
iston Public Library and at
the Hermiston offi ce of Ban-
ner Bank. For questions, call
the library at 541-567-2882.
Young ag
entrepreneurs eligible
for award
The board of the John
F. Walchli Ag Entrepreneur
Award is seeking appli-
cants for its third annual
award. Applicants must be
22 years old or younger and
be engaged in agriculture
either directly or in an agri-
culture-related fi eld. This
is a cash award based on
entrepreneurship and may
be used at the discretion of
the recipient — the award
recipient does not cur-
rently have to be enrolled in
school.
To be eligible, the appli-
cant must attend or have
graduated from a high
school in the west end of
Umatilla County, includ-
ing Echo, Hermiston, Stan-
fi eld or Umatilla. The selec-
tion is not based on grades,
but rather innovation and
accomplishments in any fi eld
of agriculture.
The deadline to apply is
March 31. For more infor-
mation, contact board mem-
ber Mike Mehren at 541-
561-4762 or mehrens@
eotnet.net.
— Hermiston Herald
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2022
Dashing for diapers coming back
Hermiston Church of the Nazarene/Contributed Photo
People walk their dogs March 6, 2021, during the Diaper
Dash in Hermiston. The eighth annual event is Saturday,
March 5, 9 a.m. at Hermiston Church of the Nazarene.
Annual run/walk, this year on
March 5, helps parents in need
By TAMMY MALGESINI
Hermiston Herald
M
eeting a need in
the local com-
munity in a
simple way has turned
into an annual fun run/
walk to collect diapers.
In its eighth year, the
Diaper Dash is Saturday,
March 5, 9 a.m. at Herm-
iston Church of the Naz-
arene, 1520 W. Orchard
Ave. Onsite registration
begins at 8:30 a.m. The
entry fee is a package of
diapers — any size, brand
or quantity.
Gabrielle Fritz, the
church’s offi ce manager,
said the most-requested
sizes for toddlers are 4, 5
and 6. In addition, people
have donated wipes.
“These are quite often
requested by families and
it’s so nice to be able to
also have that available,”
Fritz said.
Participants can choose
from the 5K or 10K route.
Starting at the church, peo-
ple will go through Riv-
erfront Park, along the
Oxbow Trail, and back up
Northwest 11th Street to
end up back at the church.
The event, Fritz said,
began shortly after Pas-
tor Eric Fritz started at the
church. When asking a
group of young adults for
ideas about how to meet a
need in the community —
the response was “diapers.”
And it has continued to be
“NEARLY EV-
ERY WEEK,
WE ARE AP-
PROACHED
FROM THOSE
REQUESTING
DIAPER HELP.
THE DONAT-
ED DIAPERS
GO TO LOCAL
AGENCIES
AND FAMILIES
IN NEED ALL
THROUGHOUT
THE YEAR.”
— Gabrielle Fritz, Nazarene
church offi ce manager
a need over the years, Fritz
said.
“Nearly every week, we
are approached from those
requesting diaper help,”
she said. “The donated dia-
pers go to local agencies
and families in need all
throughout the year.”
During the past seven
years, Fritz said the com-
munity has donated more
than 71,000 diapers. Kristi
Atkins, executive direc-
tor of Trucare Pregnancy
Clinic, has appreciated
the partnership with the
church.
“It’s a great feeling of
Gabrielle Fritz/Contributed Photo
Gabrielle Fritz, Hermiston Church of the Nazarene offi ce manager, gets ready to deliver a
pickup load of diapers on Feb. 17, 2022, to Sweet Potato’s Closet, Hermiston. The donation
was made possible from diapers collected during the church’s annual Diaper Dash. The 2022
fun run/walk is Saturday, March 5, 9 a.m. at the church.
connection with the com-
munity,” she said. “And
being able to help our cli-
ents with resources, we
provide things when we
can.”
Fritz said other agen-
cies they’ve partnered with
include Made to Thrive,
Sweet Potato’s Closet, the
Hermiston School District,
www.eomediagroup.com
DIRECTORY
MEET PONGO!
Pongo is a special needs dog and a work in
progress. He is looking for a special foster parent
who will help become a happier boy. He can be
anxious which causes him to be destructive, can
not be crated because it makes his anxiety worse.
He can be mean, but loves to play with another
dog buddy. He is still working on potty training.
Pongo needs someone who can be home with
most of the day to lovingly teach him to be the
good boy he can be.
St. Johns
Episcopal Church
Join Us
N.E. Gladys Ave & 7th, Hermiston
541-567-6672
JOIN OUR INCLUSIVE
CONGREGATION
ON OUR JOURNEY WITH JESUS
Services 9:00am Sundays
In-person or streaming
on Facebook or Zoom
First Christian Church
“Grow Your Faith Through God”
Sunday School...9:00 am
Worship Service...10:30 am
567-3013
775 W. Highland Ave., Hermiston
Mark Sargent, DVM • Brent Barton, DVM
Robert Thonney, DVM • Jana Parks, DVM, cVMA
Small and Large Animal Care
541.567.1138
“The donated diapers go
to local agencies and fami-
lies in need all throughout
the year,” Fritz said.
For more information,
a registration form and a
route photo, visit www.
hermnaz.church. For ques-
tions, contact Fritz at 541-
567-3677 or offi ce@herm-
naz.church.
Church
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PET OF THE W EEK
Mon: 8-6
Tue - Fri: 8-5
Sat: 8-12
Emergency Service
the Migrant Education Pro-
gram with InterMountain
Education Service Dis-
trict and Umatilla-Morrow
Head Start, including its
Women, Infants and Chil-
dren program. In addition,
she said they’ve connected
with a local neighborhood
and numerous parents and
families.
80489 Hwy 395 N
Hermiston
www.oregontrailvet.com
Due to the
COVID-19
pandemic, animal
shelters need
our help more
than ever. Please
donate to your
local shelter, or
offer to foster an
animal in need.
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
Seventh-day
Adventist Church
Saturdays
Sabbath School........9:30 a.m.
Worship Service......11:00 a.m.
English & Spanish Services
541-567-8241
855 W. Highland Ave.
Hermiston, OR 97838
LANDMARK BAPTIST
CHURCH
125 E. Beech Ave. • 567-3232
COME WORSHIP
WITH US AT THE
COUNTRY
CHURCH
Sundays at 11:00am
32742 Diagonal Rd.
Hermiston, OR
Hermiston Christian
Center & School
Sunday Gathering: 10:00 AM
Pastor David Dever
Sun. Bible Classes...................10:00am
Sun. Worship Service..............11:00am
Sun. Evening Worship..............5:00pm
Tues. Creation Club (Sept-May)..4:30pm
Wed. Prayer & Bible Study......5:00pm
Nursery care is available 3 years & under
Kids Club available 4 years-5th grade
Sunday Prayer Gathering: 6:00 PM
NEED PRAYER? CONTACT US!
www.hermistonlmbc.com
1825 W. Highland Ave.
541-567-3480 | hcc4u.org
Our Lady of Angels
Catholic Church
Iglesia Católica Nuestra
Señora de los Ángeles
565 W. HERMISTON AVE.
hcc4u2020@gmail.com
565 W. HERMISTON AVE.
541-289-4774
If interested please go to fuzzballrescue.com and fill out an application.
If you are not able to adopt, but would like to foster or donate, visit fuzzballrescue.com
or you can mail in donations to Fuzz Ball Animal Rescue, PO Box 580, Hermiston, OR 97838
To advertise in the Church Directory, please contact
Audra Workman 541-564-4538 or email aworkman@eastoregonian.com