Each month, Northeast Oregon Now will highlight a nonprofit in the greater Hermiston area with its Nonprofit Spotlight. Know of a nonprofit doing good in the community? Feel free to let us know at neonow@outlook.com for future installments of Nonprofit Spotlight.
HERMISTON, Ore.-The Eastern Oregon Mission is a nonprofit helping those in need in the Hermiston area with food, shelter, clothing and other resources.
Started in 1987, the mission is now in its third building as it works to “envision a community where every individual has access to basic needs and life skills to be a productive member of society,” according to the nonprofit’s vision statement.
The parent company of both Agape House and Martha’s House, the EOM has been at its current location that includes storage, kitchen, and both refrigerator and freezer space for donated items at 509 W. Harper Road for the past 17 years.
According to Executive Director Mark Gomolski, the mission expanded to include help for the homeless population in the area about 10 years ago, and also runs a weekend food program for elementary students.
Agape House
Agape House works to provide food for the homeless and families in need and serves about 200 homeless individuals and 1,100 families each month, according to Gomolski.
Food is donated to Agape House from businesses and the community before being distributed by the Mission. The EOM also partners with churches to provide community dinners on three different days throughout the month.
“Agape is open to all to help,” said Gomolski. “We’re community based, and I love the sincerity of support we get in the form of goods and services to take care of the community.”
Agape House is open Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, and those experiencing homelessness can come twice a month for a supply of food.
Showers are also available at the facility and the mission helps provide essential items, such as toiletries, to those who need them.
Families in need can sign up and come once-a-month for a week’s supply of food.
Martha’s House
Martha’s House is a transitional shelter that provides individuals or families experiencing temporary homelessness with a safe, secure place to stay.
The facility has 18 studio apartments with private restrooms and a bedroom, and a manager on site. Individuals or families in need can stay for up to six months as they get back on their feet.
Martha’s House also has a computer room to help residents with job searches or appointments with doctors or lawyers. The facility also has a mentoring program to help students with schoolwork, and parents with resume building or other life skills.
“This is a chance for homeless individuals and broken families to restart their lives and rejoin the community,” said Gomolsi.
Martha’s House is located at 305 SE 4th Street in Hermiston.
Backpack Elementary School Weekend Food Program
The EOM has been running its backpack weekend food program for the past 11 years to ensure kids have enough to eat when they aren’t at school.
Now subsidized by Amazon, the backpack meal program grew out of the idea that while many students are eligible for free breakfast and lunch at school, “What about the weekend?”
Students in the Echo, Stanfield, Umatilla and Hermiston School Districts can now get a backpack full of food to take home over the weekend.
“Thanks to businesses that help us provide, we can ensure no child goes hungry over the weekend,” said Gomolski.
Families sign up for the program and the backpacks are available from counselors at school.
The EOM has four employees and a team of dedicated volunteers that ranges between 35 and 70 people, and does not accept federal funding to run its programs, according to Gomolski.
Instead, the EOM relies on grants and community support in the form of volunteers and donations of money, food or items for the mission’s yard sale, held the third Saturday of each month to help create funds.
How to support the Eastern Oregon Mission
More information on the Eastern Oregon Mission and its programs is available online.
Anyone interested in volunteering or donating can contact the mission at 541-567-8774 or by email at Business@EasternOregonMission.org.
