As the vibrant colors of autumn begin to paint our surroundings, we reflect on the growth and changes we’ve experienced over the past year. This season, we are excited to share some significant updates with you.
From the installation of new security cameras and tablets to the introduction of volunteer management software, our organization is evolving to better serve our community. We’ve also welcomed new volunteers, including a dedicated Facilities Manager, and added new infrastructure like planter boxes and a garden bench.
Additionally, we’re celebrating our Executive Director’s one-year anniversary with PCS. Below, you’ll find more highlights and stories from our journey. Thank you for being an integral part of our community!
One Year for Sharon
One year ago, the Fall 2023 PCS Newsletter kicked off with an introduction to Sharon Thornberry (photo to the right,) our “new” Executive Director. Since then, Sharon has proven to be a strategic leader, guiding our organization through various challenges with the seasoned skill of an experienced warrior in the fight against hunger. We are excited to see where her vision and leadership will take us in the future. Thank you and congratulations, Sharon!
Hunger Action Month
As we wrap up September, please join PCS and Oregon Food Bank in advancing Feeding America’s nationwide effort to take one million actions against hunger as we transition to fall.
Watch our Executive Director’s video to learn how YOU can make a difference in our community. Thank you!
Philomath Community Services is Celebrating 50 Years of Service
As part of that celebration, Philomath Food Bank has been renamed “Nancy’s Food Pantry” in honor of Nancy Flegal who began her food assistance program here in 1974. Nancy was a retired social worker who saw a need in her new home and in the beginning collected and delivered food with a bicycle and cart. From those humble beginnings PCS began. The Baby Bank was founded by June Anderson in the early 1980’s. The program is now known as June’s Kid Kloset.
College United Methodist Church was the original nonprofit sponsor for the Food Bank. The Philomath Rotary Club became a major supporter of both programs when it was formed in 1982. Don Anderson led the effort to bring Philomath Food Bank and Baby Bank together as one organization, Philomath Community Services, as a 501(c)3 in 1991. Philomath Community Gleaners became a program of PCS in January of 1998. The programs had been located in multiple separate locations over the years. The need to find a location bringing the programs under one roof was identified in 1998 and a capital campaign began. Through generous donations from the community a new building was built and opened in November of 2001. Holiday Cheer started soon after and Lupe’s Community Garden joined PCS in 2009.
Philomath Community Services have served the people of our region through economic crisis, personal crisis and the pandemic. Today, people are facing a higher cost of living overall. So many factors have continued to place increasing economic challenges on the residents in our region. Back to school places additional burdens on families with children. In response to these challenges, we have now invited our recipients to shop twice a month at Nancy’s Food Pantry & June’s Kid Kloset. The number of visits to Nancy’s Food Pantry have risen to over 225 monthly; visits to the Kids Kloset have increased by a third; and the Gleaners are serving nearly 180 households. The need for assistance is at an all-time high.
Message from the Gleaners
Our Community Gleaners Program Manager, Patty, shares this message we enter autumn:
As summer is winding down, we ask people to remember that the need for food is extremely high and all food donations are greatly appreciated. The gleaning photos are from a glean at blueberry meadows (top left and top right,) the tomatoes and squash are from a donation by the OSU crop farm (top middle,) and the bottom-left photo is from a generous donor that would like to remain anonymous.
All of this generosity and these donations come together to keep our neighbors fed and healthy. In the bottom-right photo, you can see a delicious dinner made entirely of gleaned ingredients. Thank you, Gleaners, for helping keep food on so many tables throughout our community.
Holiday Cheer Applications Due Soon!
Holiday Cheer applications will be available starting October 1, and pick up will be mid December. The program will run a little bit differently this year, where parents “shop” for their children. Learn more in this introductory video, and stay tuned on the program webpage here.
One Productive Garden
Lupe’s Community Garden is deep into the harvest season now, having made use of the warm weather by drying chive seeds (photo below on left) and growing big, delicious produce. For example, check out the beautiful row of red cabbage below (photo at right.) Once harvested, this fresh produce gets donated to Nancy’s Food Pantry and the Community Gleaners, ensuring that our community has access to nutritious, locally-grown food. Together, we are making a positive impact, one harvest at a time. Here is a note from our Garden Manager, Natalie:
The garden is in full swing, with everything from apples to tomatoes to winter squash ripe for harvest. There have been a few small harvests of okra and peppers, while pole beans have been bountiful. Radishes, carrots, turnips, and potatoes are not far behind and should be ready for an early fall harvest. A couple of ADA beds arrived in late August and are in the process of becoming plant-worthy. We have also been gearing up for winter gardening by getting starts planted of Mustard greens, Spinach, Lettuce, and Bok Choy. This fall, we will be doing some upgrades to our greenhouse building, including improving the air circulation. The garden will be waning down operations in October, so if you have intended to come by, now is the time.
Children at Work
Big thanks to Citizens Bank and Maxtivity for helping gather food for PCS! Back in June, the Philomath branch of Citizens Bank donated $100 to local craft activities store Maxtivity, with a request for their artistic kiddos to create a colorful, eye-catching sign for a PCS food donation barrel to be placed in the lobby of the bank.
The collaboration came together wonderfully for a good cause. What a generous community we have, with such inspiring business leadership.
Newsletter Signup
By the way, if you are reading this but have not signed up for our newsletter, please subscribe here!
Another Successful Frolic & Rodeo Grand Parade
It was fun to see everyone out at the Philomath Frolic & Rodeo Grand Parade! We had a little caravan this year, complete with trailer and new flags. We also took the opportunity to share how our roots go back 50 years into Philomath’s history, while we were incorporated as a nonprofit 33 years ago in 1991.
New Facilities Manager
We would also like to extend the warmest of welcomes to Dale, our new volunteer Facilities Manager!
Dale has over 20 years of Custodial- Environmental Services Management. He has remarkable talent in many technical upkeep areas, from maintenance to keeping multiple departments within budget.
Thank you, Dale! We are so grateful to have your support.
Introductory Presentation
Want to learn more about PCS? In this new presentation video, Executive Director Sharon Thornberry walks through the history, programs, and vision for our deep-rooted, community nonprofit.
This introductory video presentation is also embedded in the home page of the Philomath Community Service website.
National Night Out
Great to see you out at National Night out! What fun to learn about our neighbors and all the amazing organizations that our little community has to offer.
National Farmers’ Market Week
Did you know local farmers donate to PCS? This past summer, we celebrated National Farmers’ Market Week by highlighting Sunbow Produce in this video.
Of course, there are so many generous farmer donors in our community, such as Gathering Together Farm and Red Hat Farm, so thank you to all!
Sunbow is a local certified organic fruit & vegetable farm, which is leveraging a grant to regularly donate to the Community Gleaners. Sunbow is also spearheading an innovative “Sunbacks” program, helping our neighbors afford fresh food.
Volunteer Opportunities at Nancy’s Food Pantry
Our food pantry needs your help! Announcement in the black graphic below. Do any interest you?
New Signage
Finally, we are excited to unveil our brand- new signage, reflecting our updated DEI statement, mission statement, and program names!
Our commitment to service and inclusion is stronger than ever, and our new mission statement is an effort to capture our dedication to making a positive difference in our community, made possible by neighbors like you.
That’s it for now! See you later this autumn!
PCS Online
PCS may be found online at Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and Nextdoor. What is your preferred online platform? You are invited to contact us and let us know where we can reach you online.
Concluding Thought
As we all face challenges at different levels, please know that we are here for you, because you are here for us. Our moto is People Helping People. That is exactly what we are: with support from generous community members like you, we can in turn support those in our shared community who need help.
