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A time of need
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| H&N photo by Andrew Mariman Javier Torres, right, and Logan Sweet, both 11, go door-to-door collecting food donations on Clinton Avenue as part of the Boy Scouts’ annual food drive. |
Various organizations offer a chance to give back
By MEGAN DOYLE
H&N Staff Writer
They drop off plastic bags on doorsteps and give people a week to search through their pantries and fill the bags with food. The Scouts then go door-to-door and pick up the bags.
Last year, the door-to-door method filled the Klamath-Lake Counties Food Bank truck with about 24,000 pounds of food.
“The community does great,” said Sonia Foster, a Boy Scouts of America unit commissioner and troop secretary.
This year, they told food bank workers that they would need a bigger truck.
“I think we’ll do pretty good,” she said, noting the local Boy Scouts expected to gather as much food as last year.
More requests for help
Local organizations say more people are requesting assistance this year than in past years. The Klamath Falls Gospel Mission provided about 6,100 meals last month, up from the 4,200 it provided in the same time period last year, said Kent Berry, Gospel Mission executive director.
Those asking for assistance at the Klamath-Lake Counties Food Bank have increased by 23 percent, said Niki Sampson, food bank executive director.
“I have faith that maybe people that haven’t done anything in the past will step up,” she said.
While the need is up, organizations and groups are trying to find creative ways to boost donations.
Last year, teachers and administrators at Mazama High School shaved their heads after students made record-breaking donations for local charities.
Donated cattle
4-H livestock auction buyers donated cattle to Rotary First Harvest to benefit local charity organizations. The club converted the animals into cash and purchased more than $8,000 worth — about 2,880 pounds — from Sherm’s Thunderbird Market from the Iowa Beef Packers at wholesale prices.
The cases of meat were dispersed to Integral Youth Services, Klamath-Lake Counties Food Bank, KLEOS, St. Vincent de Paul, Klamath Basin Senior Center, Tulelake Senior Center and Exodus House.
This is the second year Rotary First Harvest has done a similar project for the community, said Scott Koch, Rotary First Harvest member.
Over six years, Parr Lumber has raised more than $200,000 for the Ronald McDonald House Charities with sales of specialty items and a percentage of revenue from items they sell every day, said Jennifer Swick, Parr Lumber spokeswoman.
The Klamath Blues Society will host its seventh annual Christmas Charity Concert to benefit the food bank. It is scheduled for 5 p.m. Dec. 13 at the American Legion and will feature Broadway Phil and the Shouters from the Rogue Valley. Food will be provided by the Women’s Auxiliary. Ticket prices will be around $10.
The first year, only 25 people attended, said KBS president Phyllis Faries. Last year, about 300 people attended and more than $1,000 was raised for the Klamath County Library.
They chose to benefit the food bank this year because of the increasing need.
“With the economy the way it is and so many layoffs, we think a lot of people will be needing social services,” Faries said. “We wanted something that we thought would be the most effective.”
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