Published 8:43 am Tuesday, June 13, 2017
Nine overflowing shopping carts of groceries.
Eight Oregon Farm Bureau volunteers.
One long cashier’s receipt.
$1,500 raised by the Oregon Farm Bureau Women’s Advisory Council and donated by County Farm Bureaus.
Together these numbers add up to a pantry full of groceries at the Ronald McDonald House Charity in Bend, a home-away-from-home for the families of critically ill children being treated at a nearby hospital.
“When families come to stay with us, they’re dealing with a stressful, often tragic situation,” said Teresa Braun, director of guest services at the Bend Ronald McDonald House. “Having a fully stocked pantry relieves a piece of that stress. They don’t have to worry about finding meals.”
“Most of us know someone who has used this facility. It’s important for Farm Bureau to support the Ronald McDonald House and the services it provides to members of our local community,” said Mickey Killingsworth, chair of the OFB Women’s Advisory Council in a press release.
In 2016, there were 1,466 visits at Oregon’s three Ronald McDonald House Charities for a total of 13,610 nights where families stayed and utilized its services. The houses are particularly valuable to families from rural counties who must travel longer distances for hospital treatment.
The donation of groceries on June 12 is an annual tradition organized by the OFB Women’s Advisory Council that spans the entire 20-year history of the house in Bend, and almost 30 years at the two houses based in Portland; the Portland donation of groceries took place on March 20.
In 2017, all three locations received $1,500 worth of food from Farm Bureau.
“The fact that this comes from people who grow our food is especially meaningful, particularly in this day and age where so many of us aren’t connected to agriculture,” said Braun.
“As farmers and ranchers, we raise food and fiber for society every day. When we make this donation of groceries, we get to see that food going to support families in a very direct way,” said Mollie Eder, member of Crook-Wheeler County Farm Bureau. “I look forward to it every year.”
The Women’s Advisory Council thanks the many County Farm Bureaus that contributed funds to this event, as well as Erickson’s Thriftway in Madras, which gave a 10 percent discount on all items purchased.
The Farm Bureau volunteers who participated: Mickey Killingsworth, chair of the OFB Women’s Advisory Council; Mollie Eder of Crook-Wheeler County Farm Bureau; Kristie Glaser, vice chair of the OFB Women’s Advisory Council; Brandon Glaser of Linn County Farm Bureau; Sue Vanek, president of Jefferson County Farm Bureau; Nancy Klatt of Jefferson County Farm Bureau; Cindy Tichenor of Jefferson County Farm Bureau; Roberta Valladao of Deschutes County Farm Bureau; and OFB’s Anne Marie Moss.
