COMMUNITY
A6 • HERMISTONHERALD.COM
WEDNESDAY, MAY 18, 2022
Sweet Potato’s Closet seeks new home
Yard sale to raise money,
reduce inventory is Saturday
By TAMMY MALGESINI
Hermiston Herald
The clock is ticking — a non-
profi t organization that provides
clothing, shoes and other necessi-
ties for area foster families and other
at-risk youths is again searching for
a home. Jessie Miller, Sweet Potato’s
Closet executive director, received
notifi cation that the building where
the facility is housed has been sold.
Samantha Montee, 17, a local fos-
ter youth, said the organization has
provided everything from summer
clothes when she fi rst entered fos-
ter care to personal hygiene items. In
addition, she has obtained notebooks
and school supplies at Sweet Pota-
to’s Closet.
Montee said with limited
resources, it’s nice that she can pick
up quality items at no charge. She
visited the closet recently in prepa-
ration for prom, fi nding some glitter
spray and a hair clip. But even more
important, Montee said she feels
like the people affi liated with Sweet
Potato’s Closet really care.
“It’s a safe place for kids — you
can make a connection with Jessie or
any of the volunteers there, as well
as get the supplies you need,” she
said. “I go occasionally and I help
put away clothes.”
Jessie Miller/Contributed photo
Jessie Miller founded Sweet
Potato’s Closet to aid foster parents
by supplying donated goods for
their foster children.
Jessie Miller/Contributed photo
Sweet Potato’s Closet, a nonprofi t organization that supports area foster
families and at-risk youths, will host an inventory reduction/fundraising
yard sale Saturday, May 21, 2022, in Hermiston. Executive Director Jessie
Miller is searching for a new building for the facility.
Closet must vacate its current facil-
ity by June 10.
Miller is searching for a site in
the Pendleton/Hermiston area or
north Morrow County. With lim-
ited fi nancial resources, Miller also
is busy applying for grants and try-
ing to raise money to rent/purchase
a building. She said Sweet Potato’s
Fundraising yard sale is Saturday
With uncertainty about the abil-
ity to quickly secure a space that’s
suitable — Miller said approxi-
mately 3,000 square feet is needed
— a fundraiser is planned. In addi-
tion to bringing in additional money
for the nonprofi t, it will assist with
reducing the overstocked inven-
tory prior to the anticipated move.
A yard sale is planned for Saturday,
May 21, 9 a.m to 5 p.m. at 635 N.
First St., Hermiston.
“In 25 days we will have no
building,” Miller said Monday,
May 16. “And we don’t have any
solid leads.”
Miller said anything from retail,
industrial or commercial to old stor-
age garages/warehouses, a tradi-
tional storefront or basements could
work. The nonprofi t got its start in
June 2020 when Miller and her hus-
band, Kyle, began collecting items
that foster parents might need. They
quickly outgrew space in their home
and rented a storage unit and then a
second one.
In February 2021, Sweet Potato’s
Closet moved to its current location
with the landlord off ering its use at
no charge. The larger facility, Miller
said, provided an opportunity to
help even more clientele — increas-
ing the number served from about
60 a month to more than 300. Items
are donated by both local businesses
and individuals, Miller said. And,
the nonprofi t is run entirely on a vol-
unteer basis. A number of people are
registered as monthly donors to sup-
port the nonprofi t’s mission.
“Everything is completely free.
We don’t charge for anything,”
Miller said. “This community is
100% why the closet is successful
— people in our community are so
awesome.”
The facility got its name from
a baby the Miller family cared for
shortly after she was born. To pro-
tect her privacy as a foster child, they
referred to her as “Sweet Potato” in
social media posts.
For more information about
Sweet Potato’s Closet, including a
link to make donations, visit www.
sweetpotatoscloset.org or search
www.facebook.com/sweetpotato-
scloset. For questions or possible
leads on a building, contact Miller
at sweetpotatoscloset@aol.com or
541-656-8597.
Annual car show set to cruise into Echo
Event includes afternoon
activities, evening
concert
By TAMMY MALGESINI
Hermiston Herald
Echo is getting revved up
for an afternoon of fun as the
Echo Car Show & Concert
gears up for its annual event.
Serving as a fundraiser for
various student groups and
the Echo Parent-Teacher
Organization, the event is
May 28 in downtown Echo.
Registration for the
A.C.E. Car Club Auto Show
is open from 9 a.m. to noon
or can be completed online
at www.eventbriet.com prior
to the event. The vehicle
Hermiston Herald, File
A 1933 Ford Coupe owned by Todd and Mary Dimbat was on
display May 28, 2016, during the Echo Car Show. A fundraiser for
student groups and the Echo Parent-Teacher Organization, the
2022 event, which is May 28 in downtown Echo, crescendos with
an evening concert featuring Shanks Pony at Echo Ridge Cellars.
registration fee is $25 or $5
for the student division.
In addition to hot rods
and classic cars, all vehi-
cles are welcome to enter.
Participants will be vying
www.facebook.com/rach-
elle.reed.73113.
The Breath of Life fund-
raiser is Saturday, May 21,
5:30 p.m. at the Maxwell
Pavillion, 255 S. First Place,
Hermiston. Tickets, which
are $20 each, will be sold at
the door. Kids 8 and under
are free.
The Saturday evening
event includes a baked
potato chili bar for dinner
and dessert from Sweet E’s
cupcakes. A live auction
will begin at 6:30 p.m. and
entertainment starts around
7:45 p.m. It features live
music with Soul Patch, fea-
turing local musicians Luke
Basile and Frazer Wambeke
as well as Brewer’s Grade, a
regional band that is fronted
by Zac Grooms, husband of
the event organizer.
Brown-Grooms of Herm-
iston was diagnosed with
cystic fi brosis when she was
18 months old. A genetic
disease, it causes the lungs
to produce a thick, sticky
mucus, resulting in a shorter
life expectancy. However,
because of advances made
through research, the life
expectancy, which used to
be age 5, now surpasses 40.
Continued funding of
research helps people with
the disease continue to
breathe. For more about
the disease, visit www.cff .
org; and for more about
the upcoming fundraiser,
go to www.facebook.com/
events/5094466047264289.
for special trophies created
by students in the industrial
arts class. The car show
runs from noon to 4 p.m.,
with the award presenta-
tion at 3 p.m. Closing out
the show, there will be a
car cruise at 4 p.m. Lind-
say Murdock, Echo School
District curriculum direc-
tor, said be sure to purchase
a “ticket to ride” for $5 for
a chance to ride in style
during the cruise.
In addition to viewing the
vehicles, there will be plenty
to do before the evening con-
cert. A kid zone will feature
a bounce house, wood car
painting and racing along
with other fun and games.
Also, food vendors will be
on hand — diff erent student
groups will provide various
food and concessions. Also,
the H&P Cafe will be open
for business.
“There are also so many
donated items from busi-
nesses and individuals that
we have for our raffl e, which
will be displayed downtown
during the car show,” Mur-
dock said. “Tickets can be
purchased at the registra-
tion table during the event.”
They are $1 each or six for
$5.
Closing out the event is
a free concert — although
donations
are
gladly
accepted on behalf of the
Echo PTO — featuring
Shanks Pony. The Walla
Walla band, who plays cur-
rent classics with yester-
day’s favorites, will crank
things up from 6-9 p.m. at
Echo Ridge Cellars, 551
N. Thielson St. All ages are
welcome, but children must
be supervised.
The Echo FFA Meats
team that is headed to the
national competition in
October in Indianapolis,
Murdock said, is hosting a
fundraiser featuring a meal
and non-alcoholic bever-
ages. Also, beer and wine
will be available for pur-
chase through Echo Ridge.
For more information,
search
www.facebook.
com/EchoSchoolCarShow.
For questions, email jtho-
mas@echosd5.org,
lmur-
dock@echosd5.org or call
541-376-8436.
share Sunday, May 22, 4 p.m.
at Pendleton Center For The
Arts, 214 N. Main St. Admis-
sion is free and appetizers and
drinks will be available.
Born and raised in
Alaska, Peterson had plans
to join the military but
because of a progressive
movement disorder, decided
instead to focus on a career
as an educator and advocate
for others. As a non-binary
person with disabilities, they
have personal experiences
with discrimination. Peter-
son uses the skills they’ve
learned as a self-advocate
and educator to help others.
Peterson is a member of
the Hermiston City Coun-
cil. They’ve participated in
local groups, such as Pride,
Disability Day of Mourn-
ing, “Celebrate! Faith and
Cultures,” and the Women’s
March. Peterson currently
works as a disability ser-
vices accessibility specialist
at Columbia Basin College.
PFLAG believes in meet-
ing people where they are
and collaborating with oth-
ers. It realizes its vision
through support, educa-
tion and advocacy. For
more information, search
https://www.facebook.com/
PFLAG.Pendleton.
For
questions, contact Vickie
Read at vickie_read@hot-
mail.com.
IN BRIEF
Events raise money,
awareness for cystic
fi brosis
The Bearded Villain East
Oregon Chapter is hosting a
fundraiser in support of Jes-
sica Brown-Grooms’ annual
cystic fi brosis fundraising
event.
Those in attendance
are in for an evening of
fun while raising aware-
ness and money to help fi nd
a cure for cystic fi brosis.
The beard contest is Friday,
May 20, beginning at 6 p.m.
at The Bridge Bistro &
Brews, 1501 Sixth St., Uma-
tilla. Beard competitors must
register by 5:45 p.m. — or in
advance at www.eventbrite.
com. The cost is $25.
The beard competition
will feature multiple catego-
ries for beard types, and no
experience is necessary. For
additional details, search
LARGE BREED FOSTERS NEEDED!
Fuzzball Animal Rescue is in
DESPERATE NEED for fosters, for small
or large breeds, but especially for
large. Short or long term. If you have
the time and space, PLEASE go to our
website: www.fuzzballrescue.com
and fill out and application
DIRECTORY
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
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
Our Lady of Angels
Catholic Church
Mark Sargent, DVM • Brent Barton, DVM
Robert Thonney, DVM • Jana Parks, DVM, cVMA
Pet of the week
Sponsored by:
Small and Large Animal Care
Mon: 8-6
Tue - Fri: 8-5
Sat: 8-12
Emergency Service
541.567.1138
80489 Hwy 395 N
Hermiston
www.oregontrailvet.com
To adopt, foster or donate, please visit fuzzballrescue.com
You may also donate by mail to Fuzz Ball Animal Rescue,
PO Box 580, Hermiston, OR 97838 or visit our Facebook page.
Editor’s Note: Nancy Peterson is the
wife of the Hermiston Herald editor/
senior reporter Erick Peterson.
Church
PFLAG hosts
educational forum
PFLAG Pendleton is host-
ing an educational event enti-
tled “Knowing Nancy, A Les-
son in Self-Defi ning Growth.”
Nancy Peterson, a speaker,
organizer and writer, will
█
565 W. HERMISTON AVE.
COME WORSHIP
WITH US AT THE
COUNTRY
CHURCH
Sundays at 11:00am
32742 Diagonal Rd.
Hermiston, OR
LANDMARK BAPTIST
CHURCH
NEW BEGINNINGS
125 E. Beech Ave. • 567-3232
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
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
www.hermistonlmbc.com
541-289-4774
Iglesia Católica Nuestra
Señora de los Ángeles
First Christian Church
565 W. HERMISTON AVE.
“Grow Your Faith Through God”
Pastor David Dever
CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP
Sunday School...9:00 am
Worship Service...10:30 am
567-3013
775 W. Highland Ave., Hermiston
To advertise in the Church Directory, please contact
Audra Workman 541-564-4538 or email aworkman@eastoregonian.com