News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sisters' traditional food programs are in full swing this holiday season.
The Sisters Kiwanis Holiday Food Share program and the Furry Friends Pet Food Drive help Sisters families provide a Christmas dinner with all the trimmings and food for those families' pets.
Donations for the food basket program are in good shape, according to Kiwanis President Glen Keeran.
However, the Furry Friends program is way short of the amount of food needed.
"The Furry Friends Food Drive is in its 11th year and we hope this year will be as successful as past years," said Kiki Dolson of The Nugget, sponsor of the drive. "The Sisters community has always been so supportive."
Dry pet food with treat bags are distributed in conjunction with the Sisters Kiwanis food baskets.
"We are desperately in need of cash and food donations for the Furry Friends Food Drive this year," Dolson said. "Last year we distributed about 3,300 pounds of food to feed over 225 Sisters area pets. We have about 300 pounds in the office right now. The end of the drive is less than one week away and we need 3,000 pounds of food by next Tuesday, December 16."
As in year's past Ray's Food Place and Sisters Feed Company are assisting in the program.
Sisters Feed Company at 192 E. Main Avenue brings in a dry cat and dog food especially for the drive. They will deliver the food for customers who purchase it for the drive.
Ray's Food Place in the Three Wind Shopping Center is running a Furry Friends special this week on large bags of Purina dog food and Alley Cat dry cat food. They also post in-store signs for treat specials.
"Donations of dry pet food, treats and biscuits are all needed for cats and dogs," Dolson said. "Cash donations are welcome and 100 percent of your donation goes toward the purchase of food. Checks may be made payable to The Nugget Furry Friends Food Drive."
According to Keeran, Sisters Kiwanis expects to serve over 100 families this year. As of last Thursday, 97 were registered to receive food baskets.
Last year the program served 102 families.
"I really think we're going to be up to 110 or 115," Keeran said.
That increase reflects a marked upsurge of families using the Sisters Kiwanis Food Bank. Keeran said the food bank is up 20 families since September and had 15 new sign-ups in November alone. That's an unusual surge for this time of year, when many people have moved on from summer stays in the area.
"I don't know where everybody is coming from," Keeran said.
Sisters High School is in the midst of an extensive food drive to benefit the food bank.
The Sisters Food Bank is located on the corner of Main Avenue and Oak Street. Hours are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Friday. Donations of cash or foodstuffs are welcome.
Cash donations are preferred for the holiday food basket program so that the appropriate foodstuffs can be purchased.
Pet food or cash donations may be dropped off at The Nugget office located at 442 E. Main Ave. in Sisters. Cash donations (check or money order) may also be mailed to P.O. Box 698, Sisters, Oregon 97759.
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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