Philomath Community Services Inc

TO BRING NEIGHBORS TOGETHER - AS VOLUNTEERS AND DONORS - TO ENSURE EVERYONE IN WESTERN BENTON COUNTY IS FED, WARM, AND VALUED BY PROVIDING A VARIETY OF SOCIAL SERVICES TO MEET THEIR NEEDS.

PHILOMATH COMMUNITY GLEANERS THE PHILOMATH COMMUNITY GLEANERS HELP TO FEED THE HUNGRY BY HARVESTING LOCAL FOOD THAT WOULD OTHERWISE GO TO WASTE AND DISTRIBUTING IT BACK TO GLEANER MEMBERS, WHO ARE OFTEN THE MOST VULNERABLE CITIZENS IN OUR SERVICE AREA. AMONG OUR GLEANERS ARE SENIORS ON FIXED INCOME, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, AND FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN. GLEANER VOLUNTEERS SHARE THE FOOD AND FIREWOOD THEY HARVEST WITH "ADOPTEES," PEOPLE WHO ARE UNABLE TO PHYSICALLY CONTRIBUTE THE REQUIRED TIME AND EFFORT OF GLEANING. BESIDES THE INCOME ELIGIBILITY, GLEANERS HAVE A WORK REQUIREMENT TO MAINTAIN THEIR MEMBERSHIP. WOOD SHARING IS ALSO A COMPONENT OF THE GLEANERS PROGRAM. DONATED FIREWOOD IS CUT, COLLECTED, AND SHARED AMONG GROUP MEMBERS AND OTHERS WHO NEED WOOD AS A FUEL SOURCE. GLEANERS OPERATE IN AFFILIATION WITH LINN BENTON FOOD SHARE.

PHILOMATH FOOD BANK: THE PHILOMATH FOOD BANK DISTRIBUTES FRESH AND SHELF-STABLE FOOD TO THE PHILOMATH AND WESTERN BENTON COUNTY COMMUNITIES. A TYPICAL DISTRIBUTION INCLUDES FRESH FRUIT AND VEGETABLES, MILK, EGGS, MEAT, CHEESE, FROZEN VEGETABLES, AND CANNED FOOD IN ADDITION TO FLOUR, OIL. CEREAL ETC. CLIENTS SHOP IN A GROCERY STORE STYLE SETTING, ENABLING THEM TO GET THE FOOD THEY WANT, NEED, AND WILL USE MONTHLY. TO HELP CLIENTS EAT HEALTHIER, WE REGULARLY INCLUDE RECIPES FEATURING FOOD BANK ITEMS. FOR SOME RECIPES WE OFFER IN-STORE SAMPLES AND HAVE KITS WITH MOST OF THE RECIPE INGREDIENTS TO TAKE HOME. THE FOOD BANK ALSO PROVIDES PERSONAL ITEMS THAT SNAP (SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM) DOES NOT COVER: SOAP, SHAMPOO, DEODORANT, TOOTHBRUSHES, TOOTHPASTE, TAMPONS, AND EMERGENCY BLANKETS. THE FOOD BANK PARTNERS WITH LINN-BENTON FOOD SHARE AND USDA TO SERVE OUR CLIENTS AND DISTRIBUTE INFORMATION ON SNAP, HOUSING, AND OTHER PROGRAMS. WE ALSO DISTRIBUTE AND COLLECT APPLICATIONS FOR PROGRAMS LIKE THE THANKSGIVING DINNER AND HOLIDAY CHEER.

JUNE'S KIDS KLOSET JUNE'S KIDS KLOSET (JKK) OFFERS FREE, CLEAN, GENTLY USED, AND SOME NEW CLOTHING FOR ALL SEASONS, AS WELL AS QUILTS AND BLANKETS TO FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN IN BENTON COUNTY, OREGON. JKK OFFERS CLOTHING AND SHOES TO CHILDREN FROM NEWBORN THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL, PROVIDING COATS, SHOES, PANTS, SHIRTS, DRESSES, UNDERWEAR, AND SOCKS. NEWBORN LAYETTES INCLUDE DIAPERS, WIPES, BOTTLES, FORMULA, PAJAMAS, AND BABY CLOTHES. MOST OF THE CLOTHING IS RECEIVED FROM GENEROUS DONATIONS FROM THE COMMUNITY, SUPPLEMENTED BY NEW PURCHASES OF ITEMS LIKE PAJAMAS, SOCKS AND UNDERWEAR. ALSO OFFERED ARE SOME SCHOOL SUPPLIES FOR CHILDREN SUCH AS PAPER, NOTEBOOKS, BACKPACKS, PENCILS, CRAYONS, AND GLUE. TO HELP ENCOURAGE READING, JUNE'S KIDS KLOSET OFFERS BOOKS TO FAMILIES. IN 2021, JKK PROVIDED CLOTHING TO CHILDREN, DISTRIBUTED CLOTHING TO FAMILIES, AND VOLUNTEERS WORKED MANY HOURS TO SERVE CLIENTS AND PROCESS CLOTHING DONATIONS.

LUPE'S COMMUNITY GARDEN PRODUCE WAS GROWN AND DONATED TO THE PHILOMATH FOOD BANK THROUGH THE EFFORTS OF VOLUNTEER HOURS. ADDITIONAL PRODUCE WAS DONATED TO VOLUNTEER FAMILIES. HOLIDAY CHEER PROGRAM USING COMMUNITY GOODWILL AND CONTRIBUTIONS, THE HOLIDAY CHEER PROGRAM OFFERS AID TO LOCAL FAMILIES WHO NEED ASSISTANCE AND CHEER DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON. A HOLIDAY MEAL AND HYGIENE BASKET ARE GIVEN TO QUALIFYING FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN. GIFTS FOR CHILDREN FROM NEWBORN TO AGE 18 YEARS ARE PROVIDED AS WELL, MAINLY THROUGH SPONSORSHIPS. HOLIDAY CHEER WAS ORCHESTRATED ENTIRELY BY THE WORK OF VOLUUNTEERS HOURS FROM APRIL THROUGH DECEMBEER, 2021. FOOD WAS PURCHASED THROUGH LINN BENTON FOOD SHARE, OR DONATED. 100% OF HYGIENE BASKETS WERE DONATED BY SPONSORS. SPONSORS DONATED NEARLY 100% OF THE GIFTS THAT HOLIDAY CHEER PROVIDED TO FAMILIES IN PHILOMATH IN DECEMBER, 2021.