Warm Greetings from Philomath Community Services!

The air is humming with bees and anticipation (and pollen) as we launch into this productive, busy, sunny season. We have new team members, we are making new connections, and we are ready for the challenges ahead. Whether it is a meal, a pair of shoes, or even just a quiet understanding, please remember that we stand by your side. Our doors are open, and we extend our hand as a community of People Helping People.

We thank you for your support. Your participation matters, and we are grateful for you. ☀️

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Welcome Aboard, Kim!

Thank you for being part of our story, Kim. We are excited that you are joining us as a Board Member for a future filled with hope, connection, and shared purpose.

Kim has a heart for community service, and we are fortunate to have her energy, expertise, and enthusiasm. She is retired and brings 15 years of Board membership experience. Kim as has served as a Treasurer, legal advisor, event organizer, and community liaison.

We are excited to have Kim on board.

Welcome, Administrative Assistant Liza!

We would like to introduce you to Liza, our new Administrative Assistant!

Liza’s food journey began foraging for dandelions and mushrooms with her grandfather. She has experience as a professional chef and culinary instructor. Liza also served as a Market Manager, helping to implement SNAP transactions to enable access to fresh food.

Food access is a passion for Liza, and as a Gleaner and gardener, she hopes to help PCS build food security in our area. We are lucky to have you, Liza.

Fresh Herbs at the Food Pantry

Nothing tastes better than fresh herbs! The Philomath Food Bank has acquired an aero-garden. This nifty device grows herbs in a small space year-round, right in the food pantry’s window.

As basil, dill, and parsley grow, we harvest them and put them out for our participants. Fresh herbs add flavor and nutrients to meals, enhancing the nutritional value of pantry staples. Yum!

Message from Patty, our Gleaners Program Manager

Hello Philomath,

Many of our friends and neighbors are experiencing higher rates of food insecurity, and that is why Philomath Community Gleaners is so important. The need is high, while resources to obtain food are slowly disappearing. Gleaners is a hand-up—not a handout—organization that requires our members (who are able to) to donate 8 hours per month, in order to partake in a weekly food distribution. Our group is currently in need of donations of shelf stable food products to meet the needs of our growing membership.

We are currently gearing up for the upcoming harvest season, and we are ready to serve our community. Our group is experienced and respectful to come into your fields or backyards to pick whatever agricultural product that is donated. Please call Patty at 541-829-[three]980 to set up a convenient time for you, so our group can feed the members of Philomath Community Gleaners.

Lastly, we would like to thank the Confederated Tribe of Siletz Indians for their generous donation to our group. We are grateful for their continued support of Philomath Community Gleaners.

Watching the Garden Grow

And here is a message from our Lupe’s Community Garden co-managers and supporting volunteers:

We just received a grant from the Evening Garden Club to support Lupe’s Community Garden. Thank you so much, both to the Evening Garden Club and all other contributors! We are excited to watch the garden grow.

What a time we’ve had in the garden this Spring! We moved from a sleepy, winter garden without any green to a colorful area. The orchard is looking great after a good late winter pruning, with fruit setting on (look at those cherries!) that may be ripening soon.

Many veggie starts were produced in the greenhouse, and almost all the pathways have been covered in wood chips (two loads from Peak Tree Service so far, and are working on the third.) We’ve placed and filled eight galvanized raised beds with garden soil ordered from the Bark Place, which are each 6 feet by 2 feet by 2 feet from Home Depot. So far, four have been planted with potatoes.

We’ve also weeded many garden beds, amended the soil with compost from Handy Hands, and have planted peas, green beans, tomatoes, salad greens, cabbage, cucumbers, and kale. The perennial beds of Marion berries, blueberries, rhubarb and strawberries are looking great. Rumor has it that the strawberries are delicious.

So far this year, we’ve had garden participants consisting of PCS Board Members, Gleaners, and community members. We hosted Benton County’s Master Gardeners two Saturdays in April for their Seed to Supper program, teaching vegetable gardening.

And we had a real treat; 23 Oregon State University “Sustainability” class students came out and volunteered three hours each over three weeks!

Year-to-date, total volunteer hours are 395 hours, including 12 gleaners with 29 hours. Total produce leaving the garden is three pounds.

What a great season for growing food, with so much sunshine and rain. More to come this summer!

National Children’s Day

Earlier in June, we recognized National Children’s Day, in order to honor the children who participate with, support, and bring joy to PCS.

One of our participants, Shelby, shared her perspective as a child in this video for National Children’s Day. Enjoy!

Thank you, Healing Motion!

Here is a nice little example of how our wonderful neighbors come together to serve through PCS, making our work possible.

Thanks to Healing Motion for coming out during a precious Saturday to help volunteer at June’s Kids Kloset (JKK.)

If you’re unfamiliar with JKK, this is the PCS program that serves families in the Benton County area by providing clothing, diapers, layettes, and other necessities for children. JKK accepts donations of new and gently used washed clothing (and shoes, too) for newborn through high school ages.

What is it like to be a Gleaner?

For National Volunteer Week during this past spring, we asked several of our Gleaners to share their perspectives in this video.

We found their heartwarming stories and strong motivation inspiring, and we hope you do, too.

Thank You, Volunteers!

Also, for National Volunteer Week back in April, our Executive Director, Sharon Thornberry, shared this message, explaining how volunteers are at the heart of what we do here at PCS in this video.

Volunteers, we cannot thank you enough!

On the Radio

The Community Bridge segment of the Family Radio Network Family Radio recently did a lovely interview with Sharon. This segment is shared with permission from Family Radio.

For more on Family Radio, refer to their website here.

Philomath Farmers’ Market

The Philomath Farmers’ Market is in full swing, and PCS is frequently represented among the tents. Stop by and say hello while helping support local producers!

The market runs Sundays through October 20, 2024 in the parking lot of the Philomath Community Library from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM.

PCS Online

And remember, 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.