Food bank needs help from community

The Kiwanis Food Bank has helped many, many people in the Sisters community, and now it needs the community's help to continue its mission.

"Donations of cash and food have not kept pace with the growing number of families using the food bank and the Christmas Food Share is now upon us," Kiwanis volunteer David Hiller reported. "Applications for the Christmas Food Share have been arriving since October, and the numbers will meet or exceed last year's 200-plus families."

Cash donations are the most helpful way to contribute, especially as the food share program has changed.

"The Christmas Food Share will also have a new look this year," Hiller noted. "As many who have helped in past years know, the food distribution has outgrown the elementary school facilities. This year Kiwanis will be providing gift certificates for food only, which will be redeemable at either Ray's Food Place or Melvin's Fir Street Market."

As in the past, Kiwanis, Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire Department and The Nugget Newspaper will come together to distribute food gift certificates, toys and the "Furry Friends" pet food on the same day. This year's event will be held on Friday, December 21, at the Sisters Fire Department Community Hall on Elm Street across from The Village Green. The hours of distribution this year will be from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

According to Hiller, the food bank facility has outgrown its home of 22 years, a pre-World War II single-car garage.

"Although, thanks to an Eagle Scout project, the outside of the food bank has been greatly improved, the inside is woefully inadequate," Hiller told The Nugget. "Receiving, sorting and storage of much of the food takes place in a separate building and items must then be brought to the food bank as needed. Kiwanis has decided the best and least-costly long-term solution is to build a larger, more efficient building."

The Kiwanis Club of Sisters has committed $24,000 for this project, and they are now reaching out to foundations and the community at large for additional funding. The grant-writing committee is finalizing grant applications to be sent out in December, and the building committee is readying the plans for submission to the City of Sisters. If Kiwanis can secure the funding, the plan is to raze the existing garage facility and build a new facility this coming spring. In order to keep the costs down, Kiwanis plans to utilize the Sisters High School construction class, volunteer labor and local contractors.

The Kiwanis Club appreciates any assistance the community may provide. Tax-deductible donations may be sent to: Kiwanis Club of Sisters, P. O. Box 1296, Sisters, OR 97759.

Indicate on your donation whether you are donating to the food bank for food, the Christmas Food Share or the new food bank building.