From May through July of this year, the Agape House in Hermiston provided food and other necessities to an average of 853 local families and 3,103 individuals each month.
“The number of people coming in for help has grown by leaps and bounds,” said Mark Gomolski, executive director of Eastern Oregon Mission, which oversees the Agape House as well as Martha’s House, a shelter that provides temporary housing for homeless families.
That increase in service has coincided with a decrease in financial support in recent months. The Agape House’s Backpack Program, for instance, was hit with some bad news when Amazon reduced its donation of $90,000 to $50,000. The program provides weekend meals for 250 area students during the school year and costs Agape House $9,000 a month. The Agape House has been scrambling to make up the $40,000 shortfall.
“I guess people have the idea that the Agape House is doing OK,” said volunteer Sherry Aubray. “But without donations, we don’t do OK.”
Just the other day, according to Gomolski, 60 families and 15 homeless people came in for help. But with fewer financial contributions coming in, the Agape House has had to cut back on the amount of food it gives out.
Those receiving free food include the elderly, children, the working poor, single-parent families, the homeless and the newly unemployed. Its food program provides emergency food boxes to feed families for three to four days. Families can come in once a month for a box of food. Homeless people can come in twice a month, said Gomolski.
The Agape House, located at 500 Harper Road, also has a Farm Workers Outreach Program.
“We realized the farm workers weren’t able to come here to get food because they are working all day,” Gomolski said. “So, we go to them with food.”
The Agape House also provides shower facilities for the homeless. Those facilities were recently upgraded.
Donations to the Agape House come from a variety of sources. Businesses, churches and service clubs provide donations every month. And the Agape House was able to buy a new large refrigerator thanks to a $10,000 contribution from American Legion Post 37 after a member heard Gomolski speak on KOHU. Gomolski said he is grateful for KOHU having him on each month to talk about the needs of the Agape House.
The Agape House also earns some revenue from its Mini Treasures store which sells new clothes, household items and other goods. It is open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. each Wednesday.
“The prices are very good,” said Gomolski. “And the money stays right here to help support the programs and pay the bills. We have to deal with rising utility costs and insurance just like everybody else. It all costs money.”
The Agape House also rents out its Altrusa Room for graduation parties and other events. Home Depot has also stepped in to help provide paint when the Agape House needed a new paint job.
Gomolski said the Agape House also seeks grant money for its programs.
“We are vigorously writing grant applications,” said Gomolski. “And if anyone knows about additional grant opportunities, we’d love to know about them.”
Along with financial help, the Agape House is also in need of more volunteers. It averages about 30 volunteers who put in a combined 140-160 hours each month.
Volunteers are needed to pack food boxes and backpacks, drive a forklift and truck, as well as paint. Martha’s House has about 10 rooms that need painting.
Other ways to help the Agape House include donating clothes, furniture and other household items, as well as cans and bottles for recycling. And, of course, donations of food are always welcome, along with financial contributions.
“They are all blessings,” said Aubray.
“We put everything to use – nothing gets wasted,” said Gomolski.
The Agape House is open Tuesday-Thursday from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3 p.m., and on Fridays from 9 a.m. to noon.
For more information, visit the Agape House website.
So grateful I have been part of the outreach program to farm workers
Going on 3 years .
Thank you agape house for the reward today,is a honor to be trusted.Today more H2 workers came in to work,about 200 .there has been 200 or more with out work since june and still waiting.some work under 10 hours in one week,and they have no money or food.