Food bank sticking with current policy

To the Editor:

When Grant County emerged from the pandemic, the board of directors of the Grant County Food Bank decided to continue the order form format we went to during the pandemic. The board made this decision based on the challenges the food bank faces with our current facility and the increased number of families we are serving monthly. The board continues to monitor our efficiency at each monthly distribution day. At our most recent meeting in May, the board consensus was to continue the current order form format.

The board would like to remind our families who come to the food bank on distribution day, the food bank does not officially open until 9 a.m. Food bank hours are from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. While there is activity at the food bank beginning at 6 a.m., this is the time when volunteers are bringing food back from the senior center, where it has been stored overnight, and setting up our outdoor distribution area. From 7 to 9, we fill orders for our outlying areas of Long Creek, Dayville, Seneca and Prairie City. Each community has volunteers who distribute the food boxes in their community. When the outlying area boxes are finished, we begin working on the first order for families coming to the food bank; this usually happens just before 9.

The Grant County Food Bank is committed to our mission to provide food to Grant County citizens in need of food. At this time, given our current circumstances, the board believes our current order form format is the most efficient way to meet the needs of our Grant County families.

Kris Beal, Secretary,

Board of Directors

Grant County Food Bank

Myers’ recall claims questionable at best

To the Editor:

I read with interest Casey Myers’ letter (“Errant Councilors Must Be Recalled,” May 22, 2024). I am left wondering how come he is only recalling three of the six councilors. They should all be equally responsible for the situation the city is in. He is also making a lot of accusations that he needs to prove beyond a shadow of doubt. Otherwise, in my option, he is trying to get people removed for personal reasons.

Mr. Myers accuses the councilors of losing or giving back grant money. Grant money is not free money to use any way you like. Most grants are very specific on how they are to be used. If you don’t have a project that fits those criteria, the grant money can’t be used. All grants have expiration dates. I am sure that the councilors only returned grants that the city could not use.

Mr. Myers made an accusation about the councilors running off city staff. I am not sure who is boss of the city staff but when a boss hires an employee, they want things done certain ways, they have certain jobs they expect that employee to do, etc. The employee has the option to do as the boss has requested or leave. If they leave that is not the boss’s problem.

A comment on city finances. Mr. Meyers states that the current leadership has created a financial crisis. Did they create the crisis or did they inherit the crisis? I understood from Mr. Gaslin’s article in the May 1 issue of the Blue Mountain Eagle that the city’s financial issues have come from several sources and not from the current city council’s mismanagement. For more information, reread Mr. Gaslin’s article in the May 1 issue of the Blue Mountain Eagle.

Mr. Myers’ intent to file a recall effort on three of the city councilors will add another unnecessary expense to the city’s financial issues. Recall elections are not free. They are paid by the city where they take place.

Sandra Sutton

John Day