High school drive nets lots of food

Sisters students donated thousands of pounds of food for Kiwanis. photo by Jim Mitchell At this time of year, individuals, organizations, churches and businesses make an extra effort to buy and/or collect food and donate it to the Sisters Kiwanis Food Bank.

This year, as in most recent years, Sisters High School has been the champion food collector.

Each year the Sisters High School Leadership Class organizes and manages a food drive to collect food for the food bank. This year, inspired by competition between classes, students collected 3,582 cans, or equivalent non-perishable foods, to help replenish dwindling supplies at the food bank.

This year's contest was close, with the freshman class taking the honors. The sophomores trailed by only 40 cans. Last, in order, were the juniors and seniors.

Teacher Michelle Herron, working with Leadership students, had set a goal of 6,000 pounds. She said the food drive would continue after school resumes in January in an attempt to reach their goal.

The Sisters Food Bank was established in 1983 by the Kiwanis Club of Sisters and has been administered by that club since then.

Kiwanis members perform all functions -- food buying and collection, sorting and shelving, and distribution.

Food is available to those meeting published government guidelines on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Kiwanis House, corner of Oak Street and Main Avenue.

Director Glenn Keeran pointed out that without community contributions in both food and money the food bank could not continue.

This year has seen record numbers of food recipients, with an average of 60 families a month receiving help.

When the food bank started in 1983, 18 families were served -- for the whole year.

Some food is purchased, at minimal cost, from the Oregon Food Bank and the Central Oregon Community Action Agency Network (COCAAN). The balance comes from community donations of food and cash.

The food bank has no refrigeration but does have four freezers, so donated food must be non-perishable or freeze-able. Excess bakery products are donated by local food markets and bakeries. Bread and pastries are kept frozen until distributed, along with hamburger, which is purchased with cash donations.

The Christmas Food Share program is another piece of the food bank.

On December 22, about 125 families will receive a generous food basket (actually several boxes) from Sisters Kiwanis, toys and gifts from Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire Department, and pet food from The Nugget.