Visit the Gladstone Park Community Services Center on a Wednesday and you're likely to see nearly 33 families receiving food boxes. These families meet the guidelines of the local food bank and the federal government and range from six to 11 members per family. Families can also receive clothing with as many as 500 pieces given away each month.
The center receives donations from the government, the local food bank, church members, the First Baptist Church, the Christian Church, and the Friends Church, all in Gladstone, Ore. Even the Gladstone Library helps by collecting cans of food in lieu of late fees.
"The effort is made possible because of nearly 30 faithful volunteers," says Carolyn Sabo, assistant director. Every other Tuesday volunteers unload food, and then organize it and prepare for Wednesday's visitors.
"We [all of the ladies who work here] like to feel we are needed," says Irene Aldred, who has worked there for five years and puts the food boxes together. "It's great to help people who are down on their luck."
Dee Hanson says, "I have been here for eight years and enjoy it very much. I make the food boxes along with the others."
Nearly 30 volunteers keep the Gladstone Community Service Center running smoothly.
