Hunger Action Month: Businesses breaking out the barrels for Food Drive

File Photo - In 2020, Virginia McKay, a 25-plus year veteran with Windy River Gleaners, was at it again this morning, Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2020. Food boxes were prepared for some 950 people in East The Dalles. Cars were lined up past the overpass on Old Highway 30 at 9 a.m.

The Dalles, Ore., Sept. 12, 2023 - September is Hunger Action Month and local businesses are collecting food for the Columbia Gorge Food Bank to help those who are experiencing food scarcity in our communities.

Because no one should be hungry.

“We believe that hunger starves the human spirit and that communities thrive when people have access to healthy, nourishing food. Our services would not be possible without local donations. Food and funds raised locally support local efforts here in the Gorge,” according to the Food Bank website. “Food and funds which come in via drives can support any of our programs and/or partners, without restriction. This allows us to strategically respond to urgent needs. Community support is critical in our ability to serve the community!” 

 Columbia Gorge Food Bank celebrated the completion of their new warehouse, community food center, and learning kitchen located at 3525 Crates Way, in The Dalles, OR on April 13th setting the table for local success.

The new space allows for increased ease in managing the distribution of approximately 2 million pounds of food (annually) to some 6,000 individuals in the region.

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But it cannot happen without your help. 

Columbia Gorge Food Bank distributes food in communities throughout Sherman, Wasco and Hood River counties.

Here is a list of locations where food can be donated:

• Bargeway Pub, 1535 Bargeway Rd, The Dalles

• Last Stop Saloon, 209 E 2nd St, The Dalles

• Urness Motors, 505 Cherry Heights Rd, The Dalles

• Cousin’s Restaurant and Saloon, 2114 W 6th St, The Dalles

• The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce, 404 W 2nd St, The Dalles

• Fun Country Power Sports, 1318 W 2nd St, The Dalles

Locals can visit these locations to drop off food supplies. 

Wanted foods for donation include the following:

• Peanut butter and other nut butters

• Canned and boxed meals, soup, chili, stew..

• Canned meat, chicken, salmon, tuna

• Beans and peas canned or dried

• Pasta, rice and cereal, whole grains

• Fruits and vegetables

• Shelf-stable milk

• Cooking Oil

• 100% fruit and vegetable juice, canned, plastic or boxed

Food that is collected and distributed through the food bank include: 

• Dufur School Pantry- 802 NE 5th St. Dufur (541)467-2509 Thursday 3-6 p.m.

• Salvation Army- 811 East 2nd St. The Dalles (541) 296-6417 Monday Wednesday Friday 1-3 p.m.

• St. Vincent de Paul Pantry- 505 W. 9th St The Dalles (541)340-1927 Tuesday 1-3 p.m. Thursday 3-5 p.m.

• Windy River Gleaners- 3525 Crates Way The dalles (541)370-2499 Tuesday 9 a.m.- 1 P.m.

• Chinook Campus Pantry- 400 E. Scenic Dr. Bldg. 4, The Dalles (541)506-6013 Wednesday Thursday 2-5 p.m.

• Wahtonka Food Pantry- 3601 W 10th St. The Dalles (541)370-2333 2nd and 4th Thursday of the Month, 4-6 p.m.

• Meals on Wheels- 1112 W. 9th St. The Dalles (541) 298-8333 Monday-Friday 12-1:30 p.m.

• Pioneer Potlatch Dufur- St Alphonsus Parish Hall 420 NE 1st St Dufur (541)298-4354 Wednesday 12-1 p.m.

• Pioneer Potlatch/Mosier Community Meals- 501 E 2dn St. Mosier (541)298-4354 Monday and Wednesday 12-1 p.m.

• Lift Raft Pantry- 401 5th St. Maupin (541)973-7814 Thursday 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

• Neighbor to Neighbor Panrty- Wamic Community Center 1st and 3rd Thursday 1-4 p.m.

• SDA Hood River- 1090 22nd Street Hood River, Tues: 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Tues 9:30-11:30 a.m.

  Businesses interested in doing a food drive can contact Columbia Gorge Food Bank at 541-370-2333.

WIC - Your connection to free good food for you and your family of little ones

Cynthia Rojas, Maricelo Elias and Janna Hughit are your local WIC team, ensuring women infants and children are getting good nutrition. Their office is 419 E. 7th St., The Dalles. Give them a call. The team is a lifesaver for folks who are working hard but having to choose between paying the bills and buying groceries.

By Tom Peterson

Food can do powerful things.
It powers that supercomputer running your body.
It can prolong your life. It can turn you from sad or angry to happy.
And it can change lives forever, especially for pregnant or nursing mothers and children growing and learning.

That is why the Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) has been investing in families with nutritionally balanced meals since 1972.

And good news, it is simple to access in Wasco, Sherman and Gilliam counties with a simple phone call.

It is for folks who are doing their best but are still not making ends meet.

So, if you're having to choose between paying bills and buying groceries, this could be a huge relief for you and your family.

WIC provides healthy foods, health and growth screenings, breastfeeding support, nutrition education and community health referrals for needs such as dental care.  

It’s a targeted program that provides a nutritional balance to make children and adults thrive when they need it most.

And it is amazing what it can do for the overall well-being of a family.  

“I am a working mom of one hungry baby with a limited income and a partner with physical disability and times have been tough for us trying to support a happy healthy home…, said a local recipient of the program in an email on Nov. 3. 

“Food is very important to my family as it provides comfort, healing, family time with enjoying meals and cooking yummy meals together. WIC… has helped to support my family financially with offsetting the cost to purchase necessary groceries while I was pregnant and after my baby was born… This program has taken some of the financial burden of trying to feed a growing baby and myself while I nurse. 

The increase in fruits and veggie limit and the Farmers Market Checks have been greatly appreciated as it has allowed me to purchase fresh fruits and veggies to turn into homemade baby food and healthy meals for myself.” 

… WIC has provided for us with decreasing our stress of being able to afford enough food for our growing family…”

Maricela Elias, Janna Hughit and Cynthia Rojas manage the program in our three-county area, and they are not ‘scary’. Rather helpful actually. WIC staff are skilled in providing participant-centered counseling resulting in conversations with families versus yes or no questions and answers. Maricela, Janna, and Cynthia work with families to balance the program requirements with real-life situations.

“We have families and children and we understand what moms go through,” said Maricela, who is the Program Coordinator. “We have great staff, we are caring and compassionate, and we strive to make WIC very easy to understand and use.”

And there’s no judgment, simply help where people need it, said Hughitt, a WIC Certifier.

Maricela said eliminating food insecurities can greatly improve the well-being of a mother as well as her new or unborn child, and for children, it leads to improvement in school with better behavior and retention of information.

How it Works

Simply call the WIC office at 541-506 -2610 and schedule a phone appointment to see if your family qualifies.

Applicants who are interested must meet four criteria to be eligible for WIC:

• Live in Oregon

• Be a pregnant, postpartum or breastfeeding woman, an infant or a child under 5 years old

• Have a household income less than 185% of the federal poverty limit. As an example, a family of 4 can have a monthly income of $4,086. (Individuals who can prove eligibility for Oregon Health Plan/TANF,SNAP/Food Stamps or FDPIR are automatically income eligible for WIC)

• Have a nutritional need or risk

Depending on your needs, you may receive help on breastfeeding or a well-designed nutritional plan, perhaps some assistance from a dental hygienist.

Participants are issued eWIC credit cards to purchase USDA-approved foods at local grocery stores. They have streamlined the process, making it easier to shop without hiccups at the checkout. They even have an App for your phone to ensure what you’re purchasing is an approved food for the card before you get to the checkout.

They’ve made it much simpler than the vouchers used in the past, said Cynthia, Front Office Lead. 

It is making a huge difference for this mother of 2. 

“I am very thankful to have WIC,” she said in an email. “The appointments are very helpful; the ladies guide me to make sure that my girls are being taken care of properly with nutrition facts. Not to mention the ladies are very sweet! Having WIC is a blessing, having the opportunity to have milk provided and cereal and other yummy foods that are healthy for my kids is a blessing.”