A fresh take on food donations

Every weekend, members of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church are spreading the goodness of fresh produce around Baker City.

The church buys nine Bountiful Baskets, which volunteers collect each Saturday at the drop-off site at Brooklyn School.

The Bountiful Basket program, based out of Arizona, delivers fresh fruit and vegetables each week to those who ordered a share earlier in the week. Each basket costs $15.

The church gives the produce to families, such as those who have a deployed soldier, said Rev. Aletha Bonebrake.

She said they also collect bread at Safeway every weekend to distribute with the baskets.

“Sometimes we get a little, sometimes a lot,” she said.

They share the bread with the St. Francis food bank, as well as the backpack program coordinated by First Presbyterian Church.

And speaking of giving ... this is the season for sharing, and food banks around Baker City always appreciate donations.

“We can definitely use more,” said Suzy Broughton, at the Northeast Oregon Compassion Center. “The need seems to be greater, and there are always people who fall through the cracks.”

Nonperishable food is always welcome, as are monetary donations, which help purchase milk, bread, eggs and produce.

The Compassion Center is ineligible to receive commodity food because it is faith-based.

The center is located at 1250 Hughes Lane, in a wing of the Church of the Nazarene. The phone number is 541-523-9845.

The other food banks in town also can always use donations:

• Salvation Army, 2505 Broadway St., is in the middle of the holiday season with Angel Trees, red kettles, and Christmas food boxes.

With monetary donations, the Salvation Army can buy greater quantities of commodities to help fill the food bank.

For information, call 541-523-5853.

• St. Francis food bank is located in the cathedral’s parish office, 2235 First St. The phone number is 541-523-4521.

The food bank is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10 a.m. to noon. It receives monetary donations each month from parishioners and several other churches, and also benefits from local food drives.

• Bread of Life is located at 3453 H St., and is open the second and last Tuesday of each month from 9 a.m. to noon.

Food donations can be dropped off at that location, or at Baker City Christian Church, 675 Highway 7. Checks can also be sent the church, but please specify that it is a donation for Bread of Life.

• The Learn to Grow backpack program sends enough food home with students to cover the weekend.

Liz Romtvedt said they are currently serving 55 at Baker High School (including five at kindergarten), 12 at Baker Middle School each week and 97 at Brooklyn School once a month.

“We definitely need food and money donations still,” Romtvedt said.

Donations can be made to Mrs. Virtue at BHS, in the guidance office at BMS, and at First Presbyterian, especially between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. on Thursdays.

Checks can be mailed to the church, 1995 Fourth St., with “LG2G” in the memo line.

Romtvedt said the program has received a grant from the Lions Club, and she is pursuing several more. Also, one person has committed to donate $500 per month.

“Which has been incredibly helpful,” she said.

The backpack program will benefit from the high school’s food drive, and receives bread from the Episcopal Church and donations and volunteers from the Baker City Christian Church.