The Gorge Chapter donated $2800 to local food banks.

$500 was designated for The Green Light project.

The Columbia Gorge Chapter of Thrivent has surveyed the need in the Columbia Gorge area for food assistance by members of our population. The need for May was 1814 families for a total of 4336 individuals.We have set aside $2000 - $500 for each of the four counties - Wasco, Hood River, Skamania, and Klickitat. We would like to challenge the Lutheran Churches in those four counties to match those funds by taking up a freewill offering to help with this important need in our communities.We would like the offering to be taken before September 15th. Excess funds donated will also be allocated to the Food Banks. Please help with this effort with a contribution to ORLC earmarked for the Thrivent Food Bank Project.
Columbia Gorge Chapter of Thrivent
Bette Lou Yenne, Assistant Financial Secretary

Our chapter officers meet the first Wednesday of the month at Charburger in Hood River at 6:30 p.m. We are currently looking for new people to add to our board of officers serving the great Columbia Gorge. Please contact one of the current officers if you or someone you know is interested.

Last year, we raised nearly $20,000 for projects in the area and provided many hours of volunteer service to aide in Hands On projects. In addition thousands of hours have been provided toward fund raising. Some of the projects that were performed were:
Willie Funk fundraiser- health expenses

Johnathan Krenz- help defray schooling costs for seminary student
Monte Henderson- health expenses

Stevenson cookie fair- for local food bank

Parking lot sale to benefit Good Shepard Auxillary

The Dalles High School- furnish paint and supplies in upgrading of rooms

Sis2sis- funding for spelling bee

Boy Scouts- furnish a lecturn for Camp Baldwin

Children of Faith Preschool- playground upgrade

Portland Beavers- assist Lutheran Community Services

Christmas food baskets- provide $880 worth of food baskets to many families in the region.

As you can see many goals have been achieved through all your efforts and hard work. Future projects for this year include:

fixing up the visitation room for the Klickitat Division of Family Services in Goldendale.

We have planned a fund raiser for a 4 year old child that recently underwent heart surgery.

Our Join Hands Day will make improvements at The Dalles and Wahtonka High school with students, staff, administrators, local/ county police officials and parents.

Funds were already raised for The Pregnancy Crisis Center in Hood River.

We also hope to assist the Lutheran church in Goldendale who recently suffered a tragic fire of their building.