Our first stop was, wait for it…. the city public library. Apparently our next stop of Elko, Nevada is not just a lay-over like we thought but a sight visit of some kind. We research many cool programs in the area between Elko and Salt Lake City but everybody is either closed on Sundays or cannot accommodate us at this time. The three of us decided to put this off for the present (our fearless advisor is less than pleased at the moment) because we have to go set up at the fair grounds for the Dr. Daly Days Health Fair.
We arrive at the fair grounds to find out that we will be hauling tables (oh joy!). In true Lakeview fashion, a job that they said would take us four hours only takes us one. Alex brought up a good point though when he noted that it probably would have taken them four hours if we were not there because they are all old.
After set-up duty, Alex and I head to the First Presbyterian Church to help out with the Food Pantry while MacAdam books it back to the library (and the coveted internet) to solve our Elko problem. At the Food Pantry, we are greeted warmly by a group of volunteers that are all easily over 80. They all want to know my name, where I am from, whether this is my first time in Lakeview, who I know in town, why I am here and why I look like an orange safety cone (we are all wearing our Powered by Orange shirts – OSU’s new marketing campaign). I tell everybody (some more than once because they forgot) that my name is Kimberly, I am from Tigard, Oregon, yes and I love it here, I am staying with Jim and Dorothy Ogle along with their grandson MacAdam and friend Alex, I am doing a summer project on hunger awareness in the United States and of course, that I am from OSU.
Everybody is in the best of moods as they tell me all about their eight grandchildren who also go to OSU, who they know in Tigard, how old they are, the local gossip, and how the Food Pantry works. My job today is to pass out dried noodles, rice, and pasta sauce. Alex, our media specialist, gets the lovely tasks of taking pictures and video, handing out tuna and beef stew, and hauling boxes of heavy cans out to people’s cars. Everybody informs me that this is a very slow day as we only had 6 families come-in between 2:00pm and 3:30pm when usually they have at least 25. I ask them what makes for a slow week and the general response was “That well, people must just not be hungry this week.” I am a little skeptical of this answer until I learn that families must use a punch card system and that they only get 12 punches a year. So in perfect theory, everyone can get one box a month for an entire year although there is no stipulation on the cards when you use your punches.
Now I am a little concerned. “What if you need more than 12 food boxes throughout the year?” I ask Bernie, the head honcho of the First Presbyterian Food Pantry. She replies with the fact that you have to take it up with the officials over at the Klamath-Lake Food Share in Klamath Falls (90 miles away). Apparently not just anyone can go to the Food Pantry. You have to qualify based on income, number of family members, ect.
Bernie – The leading lady of the First Presbyterian Food Pantry. She has been working with the pantry for 8 years (she is currently the Treasurer) but is retiring soon because she can no longer see very well. According to Papa Jim, she is in her 90’s and has run the Food Pantry better than anyone in the past.
Overall the Food Pantry situation in Lakeview seems to be well operated. There are two Food Pantries – the First Presbyterian Church on Fridays and the Faith Center on Tuesdays. The Lake County Food Share is also located here. It is suppose to serve all of Lake County but as Bernie pointed out to me in a very concerned manner the Lake County Food Share really only serves Lakeview because it is easier for the other towns in the county to go to Klamth Falls. She fears that there is resentment in the other Lake County towns and feels that the Food Share should try harder to reach all the towns or that all of Lake County should operate under Klamath County. (Lake County has an extremely low population and spread out.)
How food relief is organized in terms of the First Presbyterian Food Pantry.
While this may seem like a good idea in theory (after all logistically it makes sense), in practice it would be difficult to put into action. First, the state of Oregon has a system that all countries follow (the first hurdle). Second, there are old prejudices. I think Bernie is right when she says that the Lakeview would not be okay with being under Klamath’s “authority”. It comes down to a pride which if I remember correctly is a deadly sin.
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