For a good cause
Corporation, residents and business people step up to help with effort to spruce up proposed women’s shelter
By Larry Meyer
Argus Observer
Friday, October 26, 2007 12:10 PM PDT
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| Mara Slinker, advertising manager for Kinney Bros. & Keele True Value Hardware Co., in Ontario, stands in the paint department at the store. Kinney Bros. & Keele True Value Hardware Co., will provide the paint and supplies to be used in painting the Harvest House emergency shelter in Nyssa Saturday. |
NYSSA - Community volunteers, a local business and a corporation are coming together to help turn a church building into an emergency shelter for women and children, giving the facility a much needed face-lift during “Make a Difference Day” Saturday.
“Make a Difference Day” is designed to be a national day of doing good in partnership with the Points of Light Foundation.
With perfect timing, the need for assistance to move the project forward and the need to have a project for “Make A Difference Day” combined to accelerate a project to provide a fresh coat of paint for the shelter. The proposed shelter site used to be the Nyssa Assembly of God Church.
Judy Hymas, AmeriCorp VISTA/worker, helped line up volunteers for the project as part of her service to assist non-profit organizations to help meet the needs of low income communities.
Hymas was referred to the Harvest House effort by Kelly Poe, director of the Malheur County Commission on Children and Families.
“It is the only project in the area,” Hymas said. “We have 12 people who are confirmed. More painters are needed.”
Meanwhile, while Hymas worked on her end of the project, Kinney Bros & Keele True Value Hardware Co., advertising manager Mara Slinker learned of the venture from a fellow member of a leadership program who told her about Harvest House Director Rene Cummings and the Harvest House shelter.
Slinker then offered to provide the paint and painting supplies, and in talking to officials at True Value Corporate, got the company involved to help with the costs.
“True Value is really excited about it,” Slinker said. “They wanted it to be a community event.”
Cummings said the shelter may hold 15 to 20 people, or up to 120 while more permanent housing is obtained. The facility will be staffed by three full-time and two part-time people. The Nyssa City Council approved the proposed shelter at its August meeting. For more information contact Hymas at (541) 889-4317.
