wishbook

Crossroads Carnegie Art CenterAmerican Red CrossCASASalvation ArmyBest FriendsRead Every Day and Learn (REAL)Bandstand Project

2 — Friday, December 20, 2013 Community Wishbook

‘Tis the season to giveAlthough we live in a

wonderful place, we are not immune from the

effects of hunger, abuse, poverty and illiteracy in Baker County.

At this time of year the Baker City Herald gets many requests

for free advertising from non-profi ts to solicit donations that will help organizations to answer those needs.

This Christmas season, rather than just provide donated ad-vertising, we decided to take a

different approach.What you hold now is the

result of a collaboration with United Way of Eastern Oregon and the sponsorship of Legacy Ford.

Inside these pages you will

fi nd the “wishes” of the many lo-cal organizations that are work-ing to feed the hungry, house those who have no home, shelter those who are in danger, and educate and entertain our children.

At a time when we celebrate with gifts for our family and friends, it’s our hope that you will also consider a gift to the local non-profi t organization of your choice.

– Kari Borgen, publisher

PAGE 3Salvation ArmyAmerican Red CrossCompassion CenterCommunity Connection

PAGE 4Food banksOpen Door programCASAYMCARachel CenterMarla’s Mall

PAGE 5Crossroads Art CenterBaker Heritage MuseumOre. Trail Interpretive Center

PAGE 6Library and literacyBandstand project

PAGE 7Community ConcertsBackpack ProgramFEEDAnimal organizations

About the Community Wishbook Although we live in a wonderful place, we are not immune from the effects of hunger, abuse, poverty and illiteracy in Union County. At this time of year The Observer gets many requests for free advertising from non-profits to solicit donations that will help organizations to answer those needs. This Christmas season, rather than just provide donated advertising, we decided to take a different approach. What you hold now is the result of a collaboration with United Way of Eastern Oregon and the sponsorship of Legacy Ford. Inside these pages you will find the “wishes” of the many local organizations who are working to feed the hungry, house those who have no home, shelter those who are in danger and educate and entertain our children. At a time when we celebrate with gifts for our family and friends, it’s our hope that you will also consider a gift to the local non-profit organization of your choice. Kari Borgen, publisher The Observer

Christmas is forever, not for just one day, for loving, sharing, giving, are not to put away

like bells and lights and tinsel, in some box upon a shelf. The good you do for others is good you do yourself.

--Norman Wesley Brooks

Please accept my donation of $______________________________ .

To: United Way of Eastern Oregon Funded agencies: American Red Cross, Blue Mtn. Council Boy Scouts of America, Union County CASA, Elgin Food Bank, Kid’s Club, Mayday, Mount Emily Safe Center, Neighbor to Neighbor Ministries, North Powder Food Bank, Shelter From the Storm, Union Community Food Bank, Union County Search and Rescue.

To: _________________________________________________________ (find the name and address on pages 3 through 7)

Please send my receipt for donation to: Name_________________________________________ Mailing address: ________________________________ _________________________________

Please mail your donation directly to the donor at the mailing address included on pages 3 through 7 of the 2013 Community Wishbook.

‘Christmas is forever, not for just one day, for loving, sharing, giving, are not to put away

like bells and lights and tinsel, in some box upon a shelf.The good you do for others is good you do yourself.

— Norman Wesley Brooks

Baker City Herald

Mail to: UWEO, PO Box 862 La Grande, OR 97850 or donate online at: www.UWEO.org

Food • Clothing • Distaster assistance

Kathy Orr / Baker City Herald fi le photo

All the fi xings for a hearty Christmas dinner and more are delivered annually to low-income families and individuals in Baker County. Holli Diamond-Montgomery, near left, Salvation Army employee, and two of the volunteers from the Baker City Christian Church, Jesse Whitford, cen-ter, and Jim Fuller helped prepare the December 2012 boxes. Baker City fi refi ghters traditionally deliver food boxes before Christmas.

Salvation Army■ 2505 Broadway St., Baker

City 97814■ 541-523-5853

Offers a variety of services to the public, including dispersal

of food, clothing and furniture through the social service program. They offer services for emergencies, back-to-school supplies, Christmas food baskets and youth programs.

Northeast Oregon Compassion Center

■ 1250 Hughes Lane, Baker City■ 541-523-9845

Since 2000 the Compassion Center has been serving people in our community and surround-ing areas who have a need – physical, emotional, relational or spiritual – regardless of their race, religion, or ability to pay. Our services include: food and clothing, Christian caregiving, anger management, parenting classes, support groups, Cel-

ebrate Recovery, prison ministry, Learning to Change classes and many others.

The Compassion Center is a Faith Based 501(c)(3) non-profi t that funds it’s mission primarily through donations and grants.

HOW YOU CAN HELP• $50 can buy one cord of

wood or 50 dozen eggs• Right now the biggest need is

helping provide heating sources in the form of fi rewood and propane bottles.

Community Connection of Baker County■ 2810 Cedar St., Baker City■ 541-523-6195■ www.ccno.org

The mission of Community Connection of Northeast Oregon is to advocate for and assist se-nior citizens, children, low-income persons and persons with dis-abilities in attaining basic human needs and in becoming more self-suffi cient.

In Baker County, Commu-nity Connection is where senior

citizens can get a nutritious meal during weekdays, and also par-ticipate in social activities, such as exercise and games.

HOW YOU CAN HELP• $100 donation will provide an

entire month of Meals on Wheels to a senior citizen. This group is one of the highest risk groups we serve, and the Meals on Wheels volunteers are sometimes their only connection with the outside world.

• $80 donation will help a fam-ily in a homeless situation with two nights of lodging until other arrangements can be made

• $175 donation will sponsor an entree at our senior center meal site

• $50 donation will provide a month of utility assistance for persons due to loss of a job, illness or other reasons. Our programs help prevent utility shut-off for people who are hav-ing diffi culties.

American Red Cross■ 1806 Cove Ave., La Grande

97850■ 541-962-0952■ A United Way Agency

The American Red Cross saves lives and rebuilds lives by

assisting victims of house fi res and other disasters; teaching life-saving fi rst aid, water safety and CPR skills; and helping people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies.

Community Wishbook Friday, December 20, 2013 — 3

Coats for Kids ■ 3165 10th St., Baker City ■ 541-523-8418 ■ c/o donated funds

Donations of new coats and money to purchase coats help

keep local kids warm. Used coats are donated to Marla’s Mall.

Donations can be made to “Coats for Kids.”


Food • Children’s ServicesBread of Life food bank

■ 3453 H St., Baker City 97814■ Open the second and last

Tuesday from 9 a.m. - noon■ 541-523-5425 (Baker City

Christian Church)

The Bread of Life food bank was started by Baker City Chris-tian Church and also receives support from First Presbyterian Church. It is run by volunteers,

and people can come get a food box once a month. They help 150-170 families each month.

• Food donations — most needed items include peanut butter, canned meat, canned fruit, soup, cereal, toilet paper and soap.

• Monetary donations can be mailed to the Baker City Chris-tian Church, 675 Hwy 7

Catholic Church food bank

Open Door

■ 2235 First St., Baker City■ 541-523-4521

Open Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to noon. Food is handed out in prepared boxes with a variety of food.

• Monetary donations help buy nonperishable food at a discount, as well as meat and

bread.• Food donations — tuna,

pasta, Hamburger Helper, chili with beans, pork and beans, canned fruit, canned veggies, soups, spaghetti sauce, cereal, peanut butter.

• Donations can be taken to the parish offi ce during offi ce hours.

■ Baker Middle School■ 1995 Fourth St., Baker City■ 541-523-5201

The Open Door program provides a warm space and nutritious breakfast for students at Baker Middle School every day that school is in session. The number served is 40 to 50, and youth pastors from First Presby-

terian Church and the Church of the Nazarene provide a social environment while the teenagers hang out before school.

Monetary donations help the most, which enable volunteers to purchase food at the local grocery store to prepare the meals, which are planned ahead of time.

Baker County CASA■ 1995 Third St. Suite 900,

Baker City■ 541-403-0405

Baker County CASA and Union County CASA (Court-Appointed Special Advocates) are nonprofi t organizations who

recruit, train and support local citizens to advocate for children in the court system who have been neglected and/or abused. We are in great need of volun-teers in both counties and we have a training on Jan. 10-11.

• $25 helps provide train-ing manual/supplies for one volunteer

• $50 helps provide resources for yearly continuing education for one volunteer

• $100 helps support a volunteer for one month who advocates for a child

YMCA■ 3715 17th St., Baker City■ 541-523-9622■ www.bakerymca.org

With a mission to put Chris-tian principles into practice through programs that build a healthy spirit, mind and body for all, our impact is felt when an individual makes a healthy choice, when a men-tor inspires a child and when a community comes together for the common good.

• Donations of $35 to $50 support sports scholarships for children

Halfway Lions Club food bank ■ 235 Lion St., Halfway ■ P.O. Box 693, Halfway ■ Dick Crow, 541-742-6192

This food bank is open once a month, usu-ally the third Monday, from noon to 1 p.m.

That same day, early, Lions Club members drive to La Grande to pick up the food. Each

month the food bank helps 45 to 50 families from Halfway, Richland and down to Oxbow and Brownlee areas.

It is funded by donations and fundraisers.• Monetary donations can help purchase the

food or help the Lions pay for fuel expenses. Each trip to La Grande, the Lions pays $160 to $170 for food and $55 for fuel.

■ North Baker School■ 2527 Seventh St., Baker

City■ 541-524-2309■ Hours: 9-11:30 a.m. Monday

through Thursday and afternoons by appointment until 4:30 p.m.

We provide a work experi-ence opportunity for high

school students while provid-ing free clothing and other items to those in need. Dona-tions are gratefully accepted anytime and items can be left by the door. Cash dona-tions are used for purchas-ing hygiene items and other items (such as coats) that are needed.

Marla’s Mall

■ 2192 Court Ave., Baker City■ 541-523-5357

The Rachel Center offers help to pregnant women, families, grandparents and caregivers — anyone who needs extra assistance caring

for young children. The center has children’s clothing in all sizes and helps provide dia-pers and formula.

The center is faith-based and relies on donations and volunteers to operate.

Rachel Center

MayDay ■ 1834 Main St., Baker City ■ 541-523-9472MayDay provides prevention

and support services related to domestic violence, sexual assault and elder abuse. Services include

a 24-hour crisis line, classes for victims, prevention programs and more.

Needs: food, clothing, per-sonal hygiene items, toilet paper, school supplies.


Art • History • Museums

Crossroads Carnegie Art Center■ 2020 Auburn Ave.■ 541-523-5369■ www.crossroads-art.org

Crossroads has received a chal-lenge from the Herbert Templeton Foundation, which will award a $6,000 grant if Crossroads can raise $2,000 from the community.

However, the money must

come from new donors, or people who have not donated to Cross-roads in the last two years.

This grant will fund the new Art/Write afterschool program that will be offered at Baker Middle School and South Baker Intermediate School.

Those who make a $50 dona-tion toward the challenge — in

honor of Crossroads’ 50th year — will receive an honorary one-year membership to Crossroads.

Current members or regular donors who make a $50 dona-tion will help support the Hand-to-Heart scholarship fund, which ensures that art is accessible to everyone, no matter their fi nan-cial situation.

S. John Collins/ Baker City Herald

Paul Hoelscher works with students in the afterschool program called ArtSpeak at Crossroads Carnegie Art Center. The center will soon offer another program for kids called Art/Write.

Baker Heritage Museum■ 2480 Grove St., Baker City■ 541-523-9308■ www.

bakerheritagemuseum.com

The mission of the Baker Heritage Museum is to con-serve artifacts of historical Baker County, to educate the public about the devel-opment of the area, and to preserve local archives and to make them available for research.

It is also one of Baker County’s premier tourist destinations. Your support is

critical to its operation.

• A gift of $50 could pro-vide sponsorship for a child to attend Kid’s Camp

• $100 would support con-sumable supplies like copy paper or postage

• $200 would repair or even acquire a new local wildlife specimen for the wildlife habitat

• The big item on the museum’s list is a museum quality Nilfi sk vacuum for the preservation of artifacts, estimated cost $1,900.

National Historic Ore. Trail Interpretive Center

■ 22267 Oregon Hwy 86, Baker City

■ PO Box 987■ 541-523-1843■ 541-523-1832■ www.blm.gov/or/

oregontrail/■ www.trailtenders.org

Trail Tenders Inc. pro-vides volunteer support for programs and special events at the Center, manages the Oregon Trail Shop, and also raises funds for facility enhancements, exhibits, educational and interpretive programs.

The National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center at Flagstaff Hill brings to life aspects of the Oregon

Trail experience through liv-ing history demonstrations, interpretive programs, exhi-bitions, and special events.BLACKSMITH SHOP

Blacksmithing demonstra-tions have been so popular that the Trail Tenders have decided to build a perma-nent interpretive site — a blacksmithing shop near the outdoor mill house mining interpretive site. They have volunteer blacksmiths lined up, equipment, and are now working to raise $30,000 to build a historic style struc-ture.

Other donation ideas can be found on the Trail Tenders’ website.


Library • Literacy • CommunityBaker County Library District

■ 2400 Resort St., Baker City■ 541-523-6419■ bakerlib.org

A fast, easy way to do-nate needed items to the Baker County Library District is through our Amazon Wish Lists. The Baker County Public Library is not always able to buy enough copies of books or videos to satisfy demand or have enough materials for our children’s programs. Now you can help fi ll gaps in our collec-tion, enhance our Story Time & craft programs, or shorten the waiting lists for yourself and others by using Amazon Wish Lists.

Go to www.amazon.com/

wishlist and search for Baker County Library. We have several different wishlists to choose from, including: adult and young adult books, movies, children’s books and movies, children’s craft supply lists, li-brary supplies, Story Time props and Story Time puppets.

When choosing an item to donate, please click on either add to cart or pre-order. Make sure you don’t click on “XX Used & New” as items from non-Amazon sellers may not be shipped to the Library. Also, make sure you select the Baker County Library address for ship-ping. It automatically defaults to your address lists on fi le, with BCLD being the choice directly

to the right of your default ad-dress.

Click on the desired item and order just as you would place an order for yourself. To be the fi rst one to borrow your gift item, just use the gift message to enter your name, library card number and the words FIRST LOAN. The item is mailed directly to the Main Library in Baker City and you will receive an acknowledgement for tax purposes when it has been processed.

To learn about dedicating a book in someone’s honor or memory — or making a cash donation — please visit the Sup-port page on our website www.bakerlib.org/support.

REAL■ 2400 Resort St., Baker City■ 541-523-6419■ Jim Tomlinson, Literacy

coordinator, 541-519-4740

REAL (Read Everyday And Learn) is a program of the Baker County Community Literacy Coalition (BCCLC), which has the mission to promote literacy in Baker County. For the current school year, the Literacy Program serves more than 900 children from preschool to grade 6.

Forty volunteers — adults and high schoolers — read with chil-dren one-on-one, in groups and in afterschool homework clubs.

REAL gives away books three

times a year, totaling about 2,500 books kids can take home. These are funded by grants and donations.

Last summer, volunteers also read with children before the free summer lunch program offered by Baker School District.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?• Volunteer to read for 30 to

60 minutes, once per week, at one of the elementary schools.

• Donations: $12 will pay for one student’s books for the year (three giveaways, and the books cost $4 each). A class sponsorship for a one-time book giveaway is $100.

Build a Bandstand

■ 2545 College St., Baker City ■ Checks can be made to Soroptimist Internationl of Baker County, the Bandstand’s nonprofi t partner — note “Bandstand” in the memo line — and mailed to the above address

Mission: To enrich the vi-brancy of our community and enhance the experience of visi-tors to Baker City, we will build

a multi-use, permanent band-stand/performance pavilion in Geiser Pollman Park. This facility will accommodate cultural, mu-sical, educational, recreational and civic functions and events throughout the year.

The goal is to have the pavil-ion built during the summer of 2014.

WAYS TO HELPYou can purchase an en-

graved brick or plaque that will be incorporated into the bandstand construction.

• $60 — 4-inch-by-8-inch brick• $300 — 8-inch-by-8-inch

brick• $1,000 — 12-inch-by-12-inch

pillar base tile• $10,000 — 14-inch-by-20-

inch pillar plaque• $20,000 - $40,000 - $60,000

— 18-inch portal medallion

S. John Collins/ Baker City Herald

The Book Giveaway at Brooklyn Primary offers Jason Gross, right, the opportunity to stock up on good reading material.

Music • Kids • Pets New Hope for Eastern Oregon Animals

■ P.O. Box 146, Baker City ■ 541-403-2710 ■ www.newhopeforanimals.org

Mission: Improving life for all animals through kindness, understanding, and respect.

Vision: Animals & People liv-ing in Harmony

Goals: Implement a program to rescue and rehabilitate dogs in Eastern Oregon by providing the means to correct behavioral defi ciences, enabling them to become adoptable. Provide opportunities for inmates to

gain job skills in dog training. increase awareness of animal well-being by encouraging and fostering a caring and safe envi-ronment. Promote spaying and neutering of companion and feral animals.

POWDER PALS PROGRAM Powder Pals is a cooperative

program between New Hope and the Oregon Department of Corrections Powder River Cor-rectional Facility in Baker City in which inmates train dogs to correct behavioral defi ciencies,

including dogs that have been neglected and abused.

This gives an otherwise diffi cult-to-place dog, often facing euthanasia, a chance for a future and placement into a loving home.

Donations can help:• $10 provides treats for a

Powder Pals dog for a month• $35 feeds a Powder Pals dog

for a month• $45 provides a dog with a

microchip ID• $200 pays emergency medi-

cal for a dog

■ Baker Community Concerts ■ P.O. Box 1114, Baker City ■ 541-523-4600 ■ [email protected] ■ bakercommunityconcerts.com

The Baker Community Con-certs has been providing the area with quality live entertain-ment for 59 years.

Each of our artists is carefully chosen to provide the highest quality entertainment available to the community of Baker City. The artists have appeared at Carnegie Hall, on Broadway, at major sporting events and have won prestigious awards

worldwide. We seek to provide a great entertainment value while supporting the arts in our community. Many of our chosen artists provide student outreach performances and master classes as well.

Each season features fi ve concerts.

SUPPORTSeason memberships:• $60 adults• $25 students• $150 family

Single ticket prices per concert:• $25 adult• $15 student

Baker Community Concerts Association

■ P.O. Box 183, Baker City■ 541-519-7387, 541-519-4350■ www.bestfriendsofbaker.org

Best Friends, which fosters pets until an adoptive home can be found, says their most urgent need right now is foster homes for cats that have been dumped in the cold.

Best Friends also provides dog or cat food to help low-income people keep their pets.

Donations help by:• $10 will buy one 5-pound

bag of food• $25 will pay for fi rst shots• $100 will spay or neuter a cat• $150 will spay or neuter a

dog

Best Friends of Baker Inc.

Backpack Program■ 1995 Fourth St., Baker City■ 541-523-5201 (First

Presbyterian Church)

The Backpack Program is a way to ensure local students

have access to nutritious food throughout the weekend.

Backpacks are fi lled with food and distributed to students at schools within the Baker School District.

FEED■ Donations should be sent to

the Episcopal Church, PO Box 1146, Baker City, OR 97814

FEED is composed of interest-ed individuals in Baker County who meet monthly to discuss ways to mitigate hunger in Baker County with an emphasis on children.

FEED started at the First Presbyterian Church a few years ago with the development of the Open Door program and

Backpack Program.St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church

provides food to needy people via bountiful baskets and bread donations to the middle school and other churches. In the past the Episcopal Church has also provided food to the Salvation Army, Head Start, and Depart-ment of Human Services. Volun-teers locate surplus bread in the community and take it to the church every week. The bread is then donated to various groups.

■ P.O. Box 402, Baker CityOur mission is to reduce

the number of unwanted and homeless cats and dogs in Baker County and North Powder and improve the quality of life for these animals, the community and wildlife.

MAF focuses on providing fi nancial assistance for spay-ing/neutering of companion dogs and cats in Baker County and North Powder and feral cats in Baker County (except within Baker City limits) and in North Powder and on increasing community awareness of the benefi ts of spaying/neu-tering. Fund contributes $35 toward surgery for a male cat, $50 for a female cat, and $55 for a dog. There is currently a waiting list.

Mollie Atwater


Pine-Eagle United Youth Fund■ P.O. Box 653, Halfway, OR

97834The Pine Eagle United Youth

Fund is to provides worthwhile fundraising opportunities to local youth groups by develop-ing, funding and administering community projects.

In exchange for working on community projects youth groups are given grants by the Youth Fund which they can then use for their own purposes. Proj-ect grants may range from $40 for a small project to $1,000 for a large continuing project.


LEGACY FORD LINCOLN

2906 Island Ave., La Grande541-963-2161

LEGACY CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE RAM10705 Island Ave., Island City

541-962-7099

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