More than two dozen service organizations set up shop on Tuesday, Oct. 1, at the Hermiston Community Center for the second annual Service Fair hosted by the Hermiston Chamber of commerce.
Chamber Executive Director Val Hoxie said the event attracted new and returning organizations who spread the word about the resources they offer as well as volunteer opportunities. Hoxie said the fair highlights what makes Eastern Oregon and the Hermiston area special.
“Throughout my time living in various parts of Oregon, I’ve always appreciated the beauty of each place,” she said. “However, what truly stands out about Eastern Oregon is the generosity of its people — their commitment to volunteerism and a genuine desire to help others. I want to make it clear that (the service fair) was all about celebrating that spirit.”
A couple of changes were made for this year’s event. First, the name was changed from Volunteer Fair to Service Fair after hearing some feedback following the innaugural event.
“Volunteer fair might be a little misleading, though there are many people in the community that want to volunteer and find out where they can plug-in,” Hoxie said. “It is a place to find resources in your community, as well. Therefore the change into service. These are all nonprofits that provide service in the community we live in so we found the shift to be more inclusive.”
The hours were also changed from noon to 4 p.m., to 2 to 6 p.m., in hopes of making the event easier to attend for those who work during the day. Hoxie said, however, the event will likely change next year in order to catch the lunchtime crowd.
“We decided to try the new hours for the after-work folks,” Hoxie said. “But I think we discovered that we had a higher attendance last year when we were open during the lunch hour so next year we’re going to shift hours from 11 to 2.”
Hoxie said the event has given service organizations a chance to highlight the work they do and the services they provide. She said many in the community are not aware of what service groups exist or how to get involved.
“I listened to conversations from various service organizations and a common theme emerged,” Hoxie said. “They expressed gratitude for the chance to connect with fellow nonprofits in the community. They valued the opportunity to share both their challenges and their successes.”
Hoxie said she is looking forward to next year’s event.
“Somebody once told me it takes three years for an event to really take roots, so this fair is not going anywhere as long as I’m the director of the Hermiston Chamber of Commerce,” she said.
