Each Thanksgiving and Christmas, Chester’s Food Pantry supplements its food packages with a little something special.
Although the Kiwanis Club of Echo discontinued its charter Sept. 30, former members spent Nov. 20 together — delivering whole turkeys to approximately 40 families in the Echo area. The act is something the volunteers have done all 14 years of the pantry’s existence.
While holidays are regarded as seasons of joy, the winter months also bring about hardships. Chester’s Food Pantry works to ensure food scarcity does not hinder the holidays, Mike Barzee said. He’s been involved with the effort for seven years and has served as chair and operation manager since 2020.
The pantry delivers one perishable and one pantry box the last Wednesday of each month. Although Echo and Stanfield families are the primary recipients, the project also has assisted Hermiston and Boardman residents.
“We won’t turn anyone away,” Barzee said.
The boxes contain a wide variety of goods, including typical food staples as well as frozen vegetables, fruit and meat. On occasion, they even have specialty items like oat milk.
Community Action Program of East Central Oregon supplies the majority of food, while Eagle Ranch usually donates the turkeys for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Echo Community Church, Kiwanians and local individuals also contribute with eggs, milk and bread.
The services and impact of the project, Barzee said, has steadily grown over the years.
“When I got involved seven years ago, we were doing about 25 boxes a month,” he said. “Now we’re up to 36-40.”
To keep up the deliveries, Barzee said about 10 volunteers work anywhere from 55-70 hours each month. Additional time is involved during the holiday seasons with incorporating the turkey and making all the package deliveries in one day.
It was established in 2009 as Echo Food Pantry when Chester Prior approached the Kiwanis Club of Echo with his desire to eliminate hunger in Echo. With guidance from Dave Hughes, who directed Eastern Oregon Mission’s Agape House in Hermiston for 17 years, the club organized the monthly effort. When Prior died in 2015, it was renamed Chester’s Food Pantry in honor of the man who built this goodwill foundation.
The Echo Kiwanis had managed the pantry, but since disbanding in the fall the Hermiston Kiwanis Club assumed temporary oversight. The ultimate goal, Barzee said, is for Echo Community Church to operate the pantry.
