mapleton food share

If you were to drive through mapleton on a Sunday afternoon, you would probably think that it was a cute little river-side town nestled away in a quiet mountain valley amidst the forest. If you drove down one of its side streets, you might notice an angler reeling in a salmon on their dock. You would probably receive a welcoming smile and friendly wave from someone passing you on the road, and there would almost certainly be something in bloom. If you stopped by the market, you would probably hear laughter coming from inside Frank's or see old friends shaking hands and catching up in front of Randy's. And it's a guarantee that you would see someone in mud-covered jeans and worn out work boots. In a way, you would probably feel like you'd stepped through a time portal and right onto the set of Andy Griffith or Leave it to Beaver. And in a way, you would have. mapleton, in a world wrought with change and fast moving progress, boasts a slower, quieter, and happier pace of living where friends and family are truly valued treasures.
If you were to pass through town around noon on the second Thursday or fourth Saturday though, you might notice something else. It's probably hard to imagine that in such a friendly, outgoing, neighbor-helping-neighbor community that hunger is a real issue. But if you happened by on one of these days, you might catch a glimpse of what a big issue it really is. Here at the mapleton Food Share, we see frightfully often. We arrive early, setting up tables and pulling out refrigerator goods, sprucing up the produce and sweeping the floors. As the parking lot outside the Brown Community Outreach Building begins to fill and the volunteers finish their last minute stocking and preparations, the blinds are pulled and doors opened. What happens next though you'd never guess...

If you've ever been to a typical food bank before, you're probably familiar with the process. Someone hands you a form, and a pen, and you get in line. Eventually, someone else curtly hands you a box full of stuff, some of which resembles food, and sends you on your way. "Next!" they yell. But at the mapleton Food Share things are different. Each customer, based on the size of their family, is guided through the store by a volunteer and given the chance to choose the things that they would actually use and eat. As opposed to a box of random 'food,' the patrons of the mapleton Food Share are presented with what looks like a small, local grocery store. Aisle of canned goods line the walls, and a produce refrigeration stand, that is typically overflowing, sits along the back wall. Baked goods and desserts. Amidst the buzz of volunteers and patrons, you can hear the quiet hum of no less than 8 industrial sized refrigerators and freezers, housing things like eggs, milk, cheese, and frozen meats and vegetables of all kinds. Next door, at the Resource Center, someone might be trying on a donated pair of shoes, or selecting a needed item of cookware. Perhaps their child is in need of a winter jacket, or their coffee maker recently went on the fritz. And there is sure to be the sound of laughter.

It's hard to imagine that 10 short years ago, all of this was just a dream. It was in January of 2012 when the idea of running a non-profit food bank right here in the mapleton area was originally conceived. While there were food banks operating out of the neighboring communities of Florence and Eugene, the residents of mapleton and the surrounding rural communities, many of whom have limited means of transportation, had nowhere to turn. Teaming up with a few concerned members of the community, we laid out plans, and secured a location in the basement of the mapleton Grange. In March of 2012 we opened our doors for the first time. Our mission was simple: To help supplement the food needs of our community in a way that provides healthy meals to patrons and their families, and a comfortable, non-threatening shopping experience. The Oregon Food Bank provided the funding to become a legal non-profit agency, and in a little less than a year, we were an official non-profit food bank. It wasn't long after that we outgrew the space at the Grange and moved to our present location in the Brown Community Outreach Building, where we currently operate. We added a Resource Center, to provide many common household items and clothing to our patrons.

As an all-volunteer-organization, in our rural area, we are largely on our own. The Oregon Food Bank continues their support through food donations via Food for Lane County, but funding for the mapleton food share comes exclusively by way of grants from foundations and private donations. We run a number of fundraisers each year to help defer some of our costs like renting our space and ensuring electric power to our refrigerators and freezers. We also sometimes have to purchase items that are rarely donated, like canned tuna and other meat, and other basic pantry staples and household cleaning items.
In truth, however, the lifeblood of our organization is our volunteers. Without them, none of this would be possible. On truck un-load days, a veritable army of volunteers descend, organizing, stocking, and preparing the store for the next day. And at some points on shopping days, there are more volunteers than patrons! There are even a handful of entirely behind-the-scenes volunteers that help organize canned goods, repackage bulk foods into useable sizes, address bookkeeping and tax issues, and maintain the building, property, and equipment. Many of our volunteers even started as patrons, and now donate their time, energy, and skills, that they might give back in the only way they can. Coming from many different walks of life, each individual brings something to the team that is unique to them, their talents and persuasions, and their skillsets and histories. It seems like every time we develop a new need or program, there is someone just at the right time with the right set of skills that can fill that role. And what's really amazing is that they step up and do it! In a sense, it's the definition of community, people helping people, help people.
So next time you're passing through mapleton on that second Thursday or fourth Saturday, we encourage you to pop on by.If you're feeling brave, poke your head in and say hi. I'd bet you'll get a warm smile, and maybe even a fresh cup of coffee for the road. Careful though, you might get caught up in the buzz and find yourself helping an old woman out to her car with her groceries! We hope to see you soon!!