99 GAL Friends gives $64,000
By Starla Pointer • Staff Writer •February 18, 2025
The women’s philanthropic organization 99 GAL Friends of Yamhill County has awarded $64,000 in its first two years.
The “giving circle” distributes money donated by members. The members themselves decide on projects to fund.
This year’s list included Yamhill County nonprofits that focus on art, music and culture; children, education and schools; the welfare of senior citizens; and women’s health.
Awards ranged from $300 to $5,000 for each of the 36 grants.
99 GAL Friends, which operates under the auspices of the Give a Little Foundation, started in 2023 with the goal of involving at least 99 women. It now has more than 100 members.
By banding together, the women can leverage their funds and decide where they would be best used. They keep their administrative expenses low in order to donate the maximum amount to local nonprofits.
Additional women can join. For more information, go to 99galfriends.org.
The women’s philanthropic organization 99 GAL Friends of Yamhill County has awarded $64,000 in its first two years.
The “giving circle” distributes money donated by members. The members themselves decide on projects to fund.
This year’s list included Yamhill County nonprofits that focus on art, music and culture; children, education and schools; the welfare of senior citizens; and women’s health.
Awards ranged from $300 to $5,000 for each of the 36 grants.
99 GAL Friends, which operates under the auspices of the Give a Little Foundation, started in 2023 with the goal of involving at least 99 women. It now has more than 100 members.
By banding together, the women can leverage their funds and decide where they would be best used. They keep their administrative expenses low in order to donate the maximum amount to local nonprofits.
Additional women can join. For more information, go to 99galfriends.org.
By Starla Pointer • Staff Writer November 24, 2023
Grateful diners share turkey and trimmings
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Thanksgiving came a little early at the McMinnville Senior Center, where
volunteers carved turkey and served up both pumpkin and apple pie on
Saturday, Nov. 18.
Friends of the Senior Center hosted the event, attended by both newcomers and seniors who often visit the facility for art classes, games of bingo and cards, and other activities. |
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Thanksgiving came a little early at the McMinnville Senior Center, where volunteers carved turkey and served up both pumpkin and apple pie on Saturday, Nov. 18.
Friends of the Senior Center hosted the event, attended by both newcomers and seniors who often visit the facility for art classes, games of bingo and cards, and other activities.
While it was a few days early, everyone expressed thanks for the meal, the senior center and, especially, the good company.
“We’re here a lot. We’ve met many friends here,” said Roald Berg, who joined his wife, Linda, at a Thanksgiving photo booth following the meal. They donned turkey hats while friends snapped their photos.
Roald, who earned a degree in chemistry from Linfield in 1958, said he was thankful for his alma mater and for his family, as well.
The holiday event, which seated 76, quickly sold out when it was announced weeks ago. A few people canceled at the last minute, but others arrived to take their places.
“We don’t like to turn anyone away,” said Karen Ostrand, president of Friends of the Senior Center, which hosted the dinner.
About a dozen people helped prepare and serve the meal. Most had one thing in common: they were asked to volunteer by Ostrand or one of the organization’s other officers.
Some joked about having the right skills for the event. “I’m the official turkey slicer in our household. Have been for many years,” said Terry Hainsworth as he dismantled a carcass.
Friends of the Senior Center hosted the event, attended by both newcomers and seniors who often visit the facility for art classes, games of bingo and cards, and other activities.
While it was a few days early, everyone expressed thanks for the meal, the senior center and, especially, the good company.
“We’re here a lot. We’ve met many friends here,” said Roald Berg, who joined his wife, Linda, at a Thanksgiving photo booth following the meal. They donned turkey hats while friends snapped their photos.
Roald, who earned a degree in chemistry from Linfield in 1958, said he was thankful for his alma mater and for his family, as well.
The holiday event, which seated 76, quickly sold out when it was announced weeks ago. A few people canceled at the last minute, but others arrived to take their places.
“We don’t like to turn anyone away,” said Karen Ostrand, president of Friends of the Senior Center, which hosted the dinner.
About a dozen people helped prepare and serve the meal. Most had one thing in common: they were asked to volunteer by Ostrand or one of the organization’s other officers.
Some joked about having the right skills for the event. “I’m the official turkey slicer in our household. Have been for many years,” said Terry Hainsworth as he dismantled a carcass.
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Working beside him, David Sword said he had experience, too. “Cutting the turkey always seems to fall to the guys,” he said, noting that his wife, Marsha Sword, had the more public role of serving tables.
Both men said they were thankful for having a chance to help out. In addition, Sword said, "I'm thankful for good health, knock wood." |
And Hainsworth said he is thankful for being a grandfather to 3-year-old William, whom he and his wife, Lisa, visit in San Jose, California, as often as possible.
Across the kitchen, Linda Behrens stopped stirring potatoes for a moment to say she is thankful for her life, which has been good.
“I’m very blessed to be able to do this for others,” she said of helping at the dinner. “It makes seniors so happy.”
Everything cooked, volunteers set up a line of warming pans. Servers gathered plates from tables and heaped them with turkey breast, dressing, green bean casserole, yams, mashed potatoes and gravy, returning to the dining room to a chorus of oohs and aahs.
“They serve a good meal,” said Glen Rice, who, with wife Corinne, has been to the senior center Thanksgiving several times before.
The couple came with her sister and brother-in-law, Sharon and Richard Newberg. The Rices said they were thankful for the company and for their other family members – six children, 13 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren.
The Rices also said they were thankful to be part of Lafayette Community Church. They also attended a Thanksgiving celebration there.
The Newbergs, who will celebrate their fifth anniversary in January, said they were thankful to have found wonderful second partners in life.
“I’m thankful for Sharon. I met her at Bi-Mart – she looked like my sister – and found out we were both into bees,” he said happily.
His wife added, “God works wonders.”
Sitting with the Newbergs and the Rices, Mary and Don Bowie said they are thankful for new friends and old. Don, an Air Force veteran, added that he’s grateful to be alive.
His wife said she is thankful for being an American. “This country is so free. It’s wonderful,” Mary Bowie said.
At another table, Mary Lou Beach and LaVerne Rickard, both of whom have been officers in the Friends group, confirmed that.
“We come every year,” Rickard said. “It’s nice not to work (to prepare the Thanksgiving meal themselves).”
Both residents of Brookdale independent living, they arrived via a Dial-a-Ride bus from the Yamhill County Transit Area service. It was well worth the trip, they said.
Across the kitchen, Linda Behrens stopped stirring potatoes for a moment to say she is thankful for her life, which has been good.
“I’m very blessed to be able to do this for others,” she said of helping at the dinner. “It makes seniors so happy.”
Everything cooked, volunteers set up a line of warming pans. Servers gathered plates from tables and heaped them with turkey breast, dressing, green bean casserole, yams, mashed potatoes and gravy, returning to the dining room to a chorus of oohs and aahs.
“They serve a good meal,” said Glen Rice, who, with wife Corinne, has been to the senior center Thanksgiving several times before.
The couple came with her sister and brother-in-law, Sharon and Richard Newberg. The Rices said they were thankful for the company and for their other family members – six children, 13 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren.
The Rices also said they were thankful to be part of Lafayette Community Church. They also attended a Thanksgiving celebration there.
The Newbergs, who will celebrate their fifth anniversary in January, said they were thankful to have found wonderful second partners in life.
“I’m thankful for Sharon. I met her at Bi-Mart – she looked like my sister – and found out we were both into bees,” he said happily.
His wife added, “God works wonders.”
Sitting with the Newbergs and the Rices, Mary and Don Bowie said they are thankful for new friends and old. Don, an Air Force veteran, added that he’s grateful to be alive.
His wife said she is thankful for being an American. “This country is so free. It’s wonderful,” Mary Bowie said.
At another table, Mary Lou Beach and LaVerne Rickard, both of whom have been officers in the Friends group, confirmed that.
“We come every year,” Rickard said. “It’s nice not to work (to prepare the Thanksgiving meal themselves).”
Both residents of Brookdale independent living, they arrived via a Dial-a-Ride bus from the Yamhill County Transit Area service. It was well worth the trip, they said.
Volunteer Kareen LaValley covers a slice of pie with whipped cream for diners Louise Harper, right, and Chuck Ludwig at the Saturday, Nov. 18, event hosted by Friends of the Senior Center.
“The senior center was the first place I came when I moved to McMinnville in 2005,” said Beach, who will turn 87 in January. “I’ve accumulated a lot of friends here.
“And I’m thankful the Lord has given me these extra years,” she added.
Rickard agreed, adding that she’s also thankful for the friends she’s made at Brookdale since moving there two years ago. She’s a bingo caller there and plays card games with her neighbors.
As the early Thanksgiving meal got underway, Friends of the Senior Center received an early Christmas gift: A grant of $2,000 that will support future senior center activities, such as the Dec. 15 holiday open house and a Mother’s Day tea.
The grant is the first distributed by 99 GAL Friends, a new organization in which women decide how their charitable contributions should be used.
Ann Syrette of 99 GAL Friends presented the grant, saying it represented “all the hard work done by the Friends and Karen,” its president.
Ostrand, in turn, said she is thankful that the community supports the senior center and Friends. The support helps so many seniors, she said.
“And I’m thankful the Lord has given me these extra years,” she added.
Rickard agreed, adding that she’s also thankful for the friends she’s made at Brookdale since moving there two years ago. She’s a bingo caller there and plays card games with her neighbors.
As the early Thanksgiving meal got underway, Friends of the Senior Center received an early Christmas gift: A grant of $2,000 that will support future senior center activities, such as the Dec. 15 holiday open house and a Mother’s Day tea.
The grant is the first distributed by 99 GAL Friends, a new organization in which women decide how their charitable contributions should be used.
Ann Syrette of 99 GAL Friends presented the grant, saying it represented “all the hard work done by the Friends and Karen,” its president.
Ostrand, in turn, said she is thankful that the community supports the senior center and Friends. The support helps so many seniors, she said.
Meals on Wheels gets grant, needs volunteers
By Starla Pointer • Staff Writer • December 27, 2023
The McMinnville Meals on Wheels site is seeing a growing demand for its delivery service, which provides food to homebound seniors.
It’s also seeing growing support from the community, although organizers are always looking for more volunteer drivers, according to Linda Behrens, who retired from her position as director of the program and now is a volunteer herself.
Michelle Guillory is the new director.
It’s also seeing growing support from the community, although organizers are always looking for more volunteer drivers, according to Linda Behrens, who retired from her position as director of the program and now is a volunteer herself.
Michelle Guillory is the new director.
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Meals on Wheels this month was able to provide additional food and other items to its clients in McMinnville, Lafayette and Dayton thanks to a donation from 99 GAL Friends. The organization, started earlier this year, gave $2,000 to augment Christmas packages.
The grant was the second distributed by 99 GAL Friends, according to Ginny Upton, a member of the nonprofit in which women donate money, then decide how it will be used to help the community. |
Jack Pattishal loads gift bags into his vehicle in preparation for driving his Meals on Wheels delivery route. Pattishall spent 20 years in the Navy and another 20 with the post office in the Boston area before moving to McMinnville to be closer to family.
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Volunteers from 99 GAL Friends helped package up the extra items for Christmas delivery. Behrens said the grant enabled Meals on Wheels to add extra nutritious snacks, such as vegan cheddar chickpeas, packs of chicken or tuna salad with crackers and fruit cups packed in water or light syrup.
Seniors “can’t get enough” of the conveniently packed peaches, pears and applesauce packages, Behrens said.
The Christmas bags also included notecards, facial tissue, lip balm, hand cream and other items, along with a holiday card, she said.
Volunteers added the bags to their regular deliveries last week. They take meals and other food to about 130 homebound people, 60 and older, in the three cities on Monday through Thursday.
Another 40 or so people in the Carlton and Yamhill areas receive frozen food.
Behrens said the numbers have increased over the past year. When she was director, there were about 110 clients in the three-city delivery area.
The McMinnville site, based at the McMinnville Cooperative Ministries church, had five delivery routes last year, but now six. Behrens said one volunteer is needed for each route per day, or 24 over the four-day delivery period, but additional volunteers are needed as substitutes or to take over routes when other drivers retire.
Sheridan and Newberg have separate Meals on Wheels sites, so the numbers top 300 in the whole county.
Meals on Wheels customers are often referred by Northwest Senior & Disability Services. Homebound seniors also can refer themselves to the program by calling 503-472-4214; volunteers can call the same number.
Seniors “can’t get enough” of the conveniently packed peaches, pears and applesauce packages, Behrens said.
The Christmas bags also included notecards, facial tissue, lip balm, hand cream and other items, along with a holiday card, she said.
Volunteers added the bags to their regular deliveries last week. They take meals and other food to about 130 homebound people, 60 and older, in the three cities on Monday through Thursday.
Another 40 or so people in the Carlton and Yamhill areas receive frozen food.
Behrens said the numbers have increased over the past year. When she was director, there were about 110 clients in the three-city delivery area.
The McMinnville site, based at the McMinnville Cooperative Ministries church, had five delivery routes last year, but now six. Behrens said one volunteer is needed for each route per day, or 24 over the four-day delivery period, but additional volunteers are needed as substitutes or to take over routes when other drivers retire.
Sheridan and Newberg have separate Meals on Wheels sites, so the numbers top 300 in the whole county.
Meals on Wheels customers are often referred by Northwest Senior & Disability Services. Homebound seniors also can refer themselves to the program by calling 503-472-4214; volunteers can call the same number.
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Meals on Wheels volunteer Terry Conlon loads bags of Christmas extras, such as high-protein snacks, fruit packed in water and other items purchased with a grant from 99 Gal Friends last weeks at the McMinnville Meals on Wheels site. Volunteer drivers delivered them before Christmas to homebound seniors in McMinnville, Lafayette and Dayton.
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Please enjoy a slideshow of the festivities, below.
Season of Giving
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