Walt Hall, left, and Dave Turner from the Grant County Food Bank begin gathering the food collected at the Eagle office.

Walt and Agnes Hall began serving at the Grant County Food Bank in John Day in 1997, when it was a small cement building with a leaky roof.

Since that time, the couple have handed out tens of thousands of food boxes, alongside many other volunteers, for residents needing an extra hand.

After twisting his knee a couple years ago, Walt had to scale back after 18 years of volunteering.

Agnes, who’s served for 20 years and was food bank board chairwoman since the spring of 2015, stepped down as of Jan. 2.

“There is a time for everything, and this is our time to pull back,” Agnes said, adding they will still help out at the food bank from time to time.

It was Wilbur and Carole Ashby who first introduced the couple to serving at the food bank in the 90s.

“They were both board members,” Walt said. “The food bank manager at that time was Jerry Beil.”

Back then, the food bank was about 30 feet by 15 feet, located behind what is now the Outpost Restaurant.

“It was a mess getting people in and out,” Walt said.

The food bank is now located at 530 E. Main St. and has enough space to operate smoothly, and has a sturdy roof.

Agnes said the number of people served has increased over the years, but recently the numbers have held steady, with between 100-150 households — between 280 to 300 individuals — served each month.

“We might have hit 400 (individuals), but that was a rare situation,” Walt said.

A household might include a single person or sometimes five or six — up to eight, Agnes said.

Many times people line up early at the food bank the morning of the fourth Wednesday of the month, before volunteers arrive, in order to receive the best selection.

Items given out usually include meat, peanut butter, tuna, juices, canned and frozen fruit and vegetables, pasta, rice and more.

“It depends on what we get,” Walt said. “We don’t always know.”

Although December was a good month for donations, Agnes said food prices have gone up, and the cost of the food they buy from the Oregon Food Bank and mileage reimbursement (to pick up the food in La Grande) have also increased. To make up the difference, they’ve had to dip into reserves, she said.

“Everything is done through volunteers and donations,” Agnes said, adding that extra volunteers are always needed.

Walt said when he retired from his job as a hospital security officer in Salem, he and Agnes moved to John Day with the idea of spending their time volunteering. Agnes said serving at the food bank has been rewarding.

“It’s very satisfying to know that you’re helping people,” she said. “If it wasn’t for the generosity of the people of Grant County, we would not be able to do what we do.”

“It’s been a fun thing,” Walt added. “We both enjoy what we did, and we’re not really quitting, just backing off.”

The Halls also assist during the John Day Senior Center luncheons once a month, along with other members of the Catholic Church.

A new food bank chairperson is expected to be elected in February.

Some of the current volunteers include secretary Ann Huffman, treasurer Sandra Sutton, transportation coordinator Cliff Marsh and food committee members Tom Sutton, George Sintay, Marsh and Jim Maple.

Maple said it was Walt who introduced him to serving at the food bank, about 15 years ago.

“There wouldn’t be a food bank without them,” Maple said. “Walter was the head of the food bank when he introduced me to (it).”

“Agnes has been most faithful, and without both of them, the food bank would not be what it is,” he said.

People who would like to sign up for assistance can apply at the food bank on distribution day.

Those wishing to volunteer, and people who need an emergency food box, can call the food bank at 541-575-0299.