Sean C. Morgan
Fair Share Gleaners have been busy over the past year not only helping their members with food but helping other organizations in Sweet Home at their new location off Old Holley Road.
They moved about a year ago because they needed more space.
“The building down there (Long Street) was just too small,” said Tracy Rowe, coordinator. The organization has 139 member families, including more than 500 individuals. “The building down there was far too small. We didn’t have room for storage or anything.”
At the new site, the former location of Jack Wright and Son Autobody, they have room to host events, Rowe said.
Gleaners organizations provide food to members, who must volunteer at least eight hours per month to receive the benefit. Among volunteer opportunities, farmers allow members to glean fields once harvests are complete, harvesting produce that has been left behind.
Over the past year, Fair Share picked 15,000 pounds of produce this way.
Rowe’s passion is for the elderly, she said. “I want to make sure they get good, quality, nutritious food.”
House-bound senior members are called adoptees, and volunteers deliver their food allotments twice a week, said Kathy Purdue, fund-raising coordinator.
Fair Share also helps out with the Food Pak program in local schools, said Kay Richardson, co-coordinator. Fair Share delivers, and Food Pak volunteers drop by to pick up items they need for the backpacks, which are sent home with needy children to ensure they will have food to eat over the weekends.
School District 55 has some 244 children who are defined as homeless, said Tamisha Schneider, a staff member. They need clothing, toiletries, shoes, the basics. Fair Share is donating items to the Food Pak program to help a Food Pak volunteer create a “store” for these students.
Fair Share has provided toothbrushes, clothing and coats this winter, Rowe said.
Fund-raising events, from bake sales to cake walks and Piepalooza raised funds to help pay for these charitable efforts.
Among the beneficiaries of Fair Share’s work are Sweet Home Emergency Ministries, the Seventh-Day Adventist food bank, the Assembly of God food bank, the Manna meals at the United Methodist Church, Teen Challenge, Kids Food Pak, the HOPE Center, Camp Attitude and the Sweet Home Fire and Ambulance District, with ice cream for the crews.
Fair Share’s primary function provides $60 to $120 worth of food each week, Schneider said. It’s available twice a week. Members visit Fair Share and fill their boxes like a grocery store.
With the amount of food Fair Share is able to provide its members, the organization encourages them not to tap food banks like Sweet Home Emergency Ministries, which provides food boxes to those in need.
“If they’re a member, they shouldn’t have to ask (for more),” Purdue said.
“People don’t realize the good quality nutrition they’re getting until they see it,” Rowe said.
“Tracy and I try to order things that are nutritious,” Richardson said, and they try to get a variety of foods.
To sign on with Fair Share, persons must fill out an application and agree to volunteer at least eight hours per month, Schneider said. It’s important that they realize it is not a handout.
Eligibility is income-based. A single person may make up to $1,915 per month and be eligible. The threshold for a family of four is $3,925 per month.
Volunteers may work in the building or go out on food and wood gleans, or they can work at Linn-Benton Food Share.
The Gleaners are supported by numerous farms, Linn-Benton Food Share, Trader Joe’s, WinCo, Dennison’s, Food for Linn County, Thriftway, Safeway, Mega Foods, Tell and Sell, Orowheat, Pepsi, V&D Nursery, Jim’s Produce and Oregon Freeze Dry.
“Without our donors, we would be in trouble,” Richardson said.
For more information about the Gleaners or to volunteer, call Rowe (541) 570-2460.