News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
The giving tree is up at Ray's Food Place.
The Sisters community has launched its annual holiday food drive to help folks in need in the area.
The Sisters Kiwanis Christmas Food Basket program is now taking donations to assemble the baskets, which will be delivered to qualifying families on December 22.
The baskets contain "a complete Christmas dinner from the turkey to dessert," according to project coordinator David Hiller.
Hiller expects to serve between 90 and 100 families this year, up from 87 last year. Families may apply for a food basket at the Kiwanis Food Bank on the corner of Main Avenue and Oak Street or at Sisters Family access Network at the same location.
All the churches in the area also have applications.
According to Hiller, cash donations to the Kiwanis Food Basket program are preferred, since the service club must directly purchase most of the items for the food baskets.
Checks may be made out to Sisters Kiwanis Food Bank, P.O. Box 1296, Sisters, Oregon 97759.
Furry Friends Food Drive 2001 Spokes-Dog "Lukie"
Hiller also noted that a donation of time and labor would be much appreciated. Volunteers will gather at the Sisters Fire Hall at 9 a.m. on Friday, December 21, to sort food and fill baskets.
Community members are invited to turn out to lend a hand.
Donations of food are also welcome, since the Food Bank expects to serve large numbers of people through the winter months.
Food donation boxes will be set up at the Sisters Post Office, US Bank, High Desert Hair, B-J and Friends, The Stitchin' Post and at Black Butte Ranch.
According to Hiller, the Food Bank has seen an increase in food service applicants of more than 10 percent over last year.
Director Bob Walter said the Kiwanis have indeed seen more and more people in need of service.
"I just see a continuing increase in use of the food bank," Walter said. "We're seeing people that haven't been there for six or eight months that are back."
Walter speculates that some of the increased usage may be attributable to a weakening economy; some of the returning food bank users may be seasonally employed, out of work for the winter and unable to find a new job right now.
According to Walter, the Food Bank needs prepared meals -- canned foods such as chili and stew. Spaghetti sauce and pasta are always welcome and canned fruits and vegetables are a constant need.
"This community is really great as far as supporting the food bank," Walter said.
The community supports many donation programs during the holidays. The Furry Friends Pet Food Drive works in conjunction with the food basket program to ensure that pets are well fed.
Pet food donations may be made at The Nugget office, 442 East Main Avenue. Cash donations are welcome and 100 percent of the funds go to the purchase of pet food. Last year more than 200 pets were fed through the program and the need is expected to increase this year.
The Sisters-Camp Sherman Rural Fire Protection District is also participating through the Spirit of Christmas Tree program. Givers may select a recipient and a gift request from the giving tree located at Ray's Food Place. The giver may then purchase a needed gift for a child and deliver it (unwrapped) to the Sisters Fire Hall.
The recipients are the same people who are receiving food baskets. According to Fire Chief Don Rowe, gift requests are usually for clothing.
The fire department is also accepting toys for its annual toy drive. Toys may be dropped off (unwrapped) at the Sisters Fire Hall at 301 S. Elm Street at any time.
The Sisters-Camp Sherman Rural Fire Protection District will also host its annual Christmas dinner at 1 p.m. on Christmas Day. Anyone who wishes to may come to this free dinner.
Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.
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