Sisters Kiwanis Food Bank gets big boost

Friday the 13th turned out to be a day of good fortune at the Sisters Kiwanis Club Food Bank. OnPoint Community Credit Union representatives Steve Wymer and Rocky Johnson were in town to present a check for $10,000 to support the Food Bank.

Wymer, regional director for OnPoint, said they are set up to work with communities like Sisters.

“OnPoint knows when we all work together, donations are increased. We try to bridge the gap in funding to help support communities,” he said.

Johnson, chairman of the board for OnPoint, was happy to be in Sisters to spread some holiday and New Year cheer.

“Both Steve and I saw a need here in Sisters and immediately wanted to help,” he said.

Doug Wills, president of the Kiwanis Club of Sisters, was very thankful, since 75 percent of the donations the Food Bank receives come in October, November and December.

Tom Hespe, Food Bank coordinator for the Kiwanis Club, stated they have tried different promotions to encourage everyone in the community to give throughout the year, but nothing has really caught on to help them provide for clients who need them.

“Monthly we get about 130 families and 30 homeless citizens. Each family comes through every two weeks. That’s 260 family visits and about 10,000 pounds of food monthly. The Food Bank has to purchase over 50 percent of this supply. This check is a kickstart for 2020 and OnPoint has done this for us,” he said.

Wills shared information on how the process works when individuals or families come in for help.

“The amount each client can take home is based on their family size,” he said. “They complete an application on their first visit, then can visit every two weeks to pick up food supplies to help them through hard times.”

The Food Bank has a grocery cart for clients to use, so they can choose what food they need and want.

When the Kiwanis Club first started the Food Bank, they were telling people in need what to take. They found food was being returned because it wasn’t something the family could use or would eat.

Johnson thought it was great that the community members can feel in control and choose items they know their family will enjoy and appreciate. Wymer was in complete agreement.

“Giving people the respect they deserve and the dignity to take home what they need is another key part of the work the Food Bank performs,” he said. “The new system of letting customers choose their food is much more efficient and effective.”

The entire group appreciated Sisters’ local support of the Food Bank, including: Wander+NW donated 144 pounds of food from their December 12 event, Sisters Cub Scout Troop collected over 700 pounds November 2-9, and Aspen Lakes donated over 900 pounds.

Summing it up, Wymer stated “OnPoint is about employees helping communities. Our employees at OnPoint have put in over 10,000 hours volunteering in communities all over Oregon. OnPoint is happy to help the Sisters Kiwanis Food Bank get over the finish line of 2019 and move them into 2020.”

For more information on volunteering or donating, visit Sisters Kiwanis on Facebook or http://www.sisterskiwanis.org. The Sisters Kiwanis Food Bank is located at 328 W. Main Ave. and is open Thursday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.