Sean C. Morgan
Following a brief closure, a new board has reopened the Sweet Home Gleaners store and operations.
Sweet Home Gleaners helps families who need it by providing food and emergency clothing. Members glean food from area farms, providing strawberries, blueberries, potatoes, hazelnuts, apples, pears and more. Food also is purchased through the Linn-Benton Food Bank and by area grocery stores. The South Santiam Fish Hatchery provides fish.
“The main purpose is the food to low-income families, to help themselves,” said Coordinator Lisa Pye.
“We’re helping the farmers,” said Co-Coordinator Tasha Dodge. “They’re not having to trash all that food, like going green or something. The farmers get a tax write-off for that.”
The store reopened on Nov. 30 after being closed for a couple of weeks, Pye said. Food distribution started up again on Dec. 7.
Events that led to the closure were reported and are under investigation, Dodge said. The closure was the result of misappropriation of funds and incomplete paperwork necessary for the nonprofit to function.
After the closure, a new board and management took over, Dodge said. Melcher Logging stepped up and donated cash to help pay part of a past-due electric bill.
Overall, the organization is in the hole some $15,000, Dodge said. Some equipment was damaged before or during the closure. The Gleaners have an immediate need for a functioning freezer and refrigerator, and they are seeking anyone with the knowledge and time to repair them.
“We’re doing our best to keep it open,” said Store Manager Debbie Guthrie.
The new management and board has implemented a number of changes to prevent a repeat of what happened, Dodge said. “We have nothing to hide.”
The nonprofit’s books are open for anyone interested, she said. Bylaws and policies have been changed. For example, checks now require double signatures. Reports and minutes are all posted now. Board members may be subject to background checks, and the treasurer must go through a background check. All board members must be eligible for bonding.
The Sweet Home Gleaners serve about 200 individual members from about 60 families, Guthrie said.
“To buy our food, we depend on the store.”
Since opening, the store has been popular, especially with a sale all month in December in which every item cost a quarter.
The Gleaners raised $4,000 during the month, Guthrie said.
The store is now accepting donations of anything except large furniture and trash. It also has a wants and needs list available.
The group is making big changes throughout its building, located at 3031 Main St., cleaning and
rearranging.
“Our goal is to make it more accessible to those who are handicapped,” Pye said. “We’re trying to change the store, trying to make it cleaner, trying to make it accessible.”
The store will also start charging more flat rates for items, $2 for most clothing and $3 for coats, she said.
Store hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays. The first and third Sundays, typically busy days based on two-week paycheck cycles, it’s open from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturdays, members of the military and seniors receive a 10-percent discount. Monday, shoppers may stuff a cart with clothing for $5. Thursdays, they may stuff a bag for $2.
In addition to rearranging the store with wheelchair-accessible aisles and organizing, the group is planning on setting up a community room with an Internet connection to help members look for work. Parents can bring their children with them. The Gleaners also offer wood during the summer.
The organization is providing an opportunity for students to complete their community service requirements, and it also provides community services hours for those who are sentenced to compensatory service, Dodge said. Those who are convicted of violent crimes or sex crimes may not serve their community service at the Gleaners, though. The site also qualifies as part of the JOBS program.
To become a member of the Gleaners requires eight hours of volunteer time per month, Dodge said. To qualify, a single person may make up to $1,872 per month. Household income for a family of four must be less than $3,842 per month.
Those who cannot work eight hours per month may be adopted by other members who work the necessary hours.
Among the immediate needs for the organization, in addition to fridge and freezer repairs, are fluorescent light tubes, cleaning supplies, garbage bags, paper towels and a usable vacuum.
Coming up, the Gleaners are planning a Valentine Dessert Auction for Feb. 13. The fund-raising event will help raise awareness for the Gleaners’ cause, and proceeds will go toward repairing the freezer. Leftover funds will pay for food for food boxes. The auction starts at 5:30 p.m. at the store.
For more information about how to help, how to join, donations or how to volunteer, call (541) 367-3190.