By GARY CARL/for The Herald — Every Tuesday & Friday at the Methodist Church (48137 E. 1st Street) from 4 to 6 pm there is a free food distribution. And by “free food” I mean fresh fruits and vegetables, eggs, meat, cheese, and bread. On a recent visit, I discovered hundreds of pounds of food being distributed to almost anyone who asked. Seniors, veterans, disabled, low income, unhoused or even those who might be suffering a temporary setback, no one was turned away.
Plans for expansion
Currently, the distributions occur every Tuesday and Friday or 8 times each month, but plans are to increase distributions to 16 times each month though details are yet incomplete. The Methodist Church provides the space but the program itself is run by WeRsharp; a non-profit organization run by Noriene (Tink) Blankenship. Tink said there are other services besides the food distribution; for example, a free clothing closet and a hot meal prepared and served at the church once each week.
Where does it all come from?
The food comes from the Eugene Mission, who in turn receives food donations from a variety of retail establishments: Trader Joe’s, Costco, Whole Foods, Market of Choice, and Metropol Bakery to name a few (there are undoubtedly others).
Where is it going?
Somewhere between 40 to 65 families are currently participating in each distribution and about 130 families per week. Recipients are asked to line up, there is no paperwork to fill out or income verification, and then they are asked to enter the distribution room. Each person receives a prepared “food box” and is directed to tables laden with produce where they may help themselves.
The program, though launched by Blankenship, relies exclusively on volunteers without whom she says the program would not be possible. In addition, there is a symbiosis with the “Oakridge Community Farmer’s Market” which also runs out of the Methodist Church on Friday afternoons.
So maybe there is a free lunch after all…. At least here in Oakridge!
George Custer lives in Oakridge with his wife Sayre. George is a former smokejumper from his hometown of Cave Junction, a former captain in the U.S. Marine Corps. and ran a construction company in Southern California. George assumed the volunteer duties as the Editor of the Highway 58 Herald in 2022. He loves riding his Harley-Davidson motorcycle, building all things wood, and playing drums on the weekends in his office.
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