Partner Spotlight: Seventh Day Adventist Pantry

The Seventh Day Adventist Pantry has served the Hood River community for decades. As a longstanding resource for this community, we celebrate how far it has come, from once being a clothing closet with shelf-stable food items donated by neighbors, to a full pantry, receiving donations from large grocers. We talked to Director Darla Milam.

1090 22nd Street
Hood River, OR 97031
Pantry Hours: Tues 9:30-11:30 a.m.

How long has the SDA pantry been in operation?

The pantry was moved to 22nd Street around 1957 and started with free clothing and just a little food that people donated. Retired women and men used to sit in the back and mend clothes and make quilts until recently. Now we have the clothing thrift store. Monies from it are used to help projects in the community. The food pantry now has food donated by the Columbia Gorge Food Bank, Walmart and Safeway, which has expanded the food availability and variety.

How long have you been involved?

I moved here in 1992 and started helping out here and there. My mom worked there and I would go with her sometimes. Then when COVID hit, many of the older retired people were not able to come so I became the director in 2020.

What does it mean to you to serve your community in this way?

I’m not sure how to explain what a joy it is to go each week and greet the people as they come in, to know many of them by name and help them to be able to feed their families. I work with a wonderful staff. One of the ladies there has been a part of the food bank for over 40 years serving this community as a director for many of those years. What a legacy to live up to.

What is the most challenging part?

Probably the most frustrating thing for me is not being able to speak the languages of some of our clients.The most challenging would be running out of certain foods when we still have a line of people waiting, especially meat. But no one goes away without food.

What changes (if any) have you noticed from when you began until now?

The amount of people who come for food each month has almost tripled since 2020 when I became the director. Also, some foods we used to get regularly are not available anymore.

SUPPORT COLUMBIA GORGE FOOD BANK’S EFFORTS TO END HUNGER

Everyone has the power to lead the fight against hunger and its root causes. Columbia Gorge Food Bank’s work is possible because of the dedication of our volunteers and supporters. Your donations help break down barriers that keep many of us from meeting our basic needs and harnesses community strength to end hunger … Because no one should be hungry!

All donations to the Columbia Gorge Food Bank are 100% dedicated to our local work.

Donate at the link here!