news&community
Photos by Tim Hirsch
GAIL OUSELE shows off one of the tasty pies being auctioned off at the fifth annual South County Pie Night fundraiser held March 16 at Kiawanda Communitiy Center in Pacific City.
The Sweet Taste of Support 5th annual South County Pie Night raises an estimated $13,500 for food-related charities By TIM HIRSCH of the Sun
T
food directly to shoppers every Sunday during the summer, providing a marketplace for farmers, food entrepreneurs, and eaters to come together. The Neskowin Farmers Market, which opens May 18, provides a marketplace for farmers, fishers, food entrepreneurs, crafters, and eaters every Saturday during the summer at the Neskowin Beach Wayside. Last year, the Neskowin Farmer’s Market, which offers matching SNAP benefits with no limit, served an
empting pies, hearts for those in need and a rousing set of rock ‘n roll made for a tasty recipe when the fifth annual South County Pie Night served up an evening of entertainment and thousands raised for four local charities on March 16. The annual fundraiser, which benefits four local food-related charities — the South Tillamook County Food Pantry, the Pacific City Farmers’ Market, the Neskowin Farmers’ Market and Food Roots, brought in the most ever — an estimated $13,500 — eclipsing the approximately $12,000 raised in 2017 and 2018. Founded in 2006 in Tillamook, Food Roots (foodrootsnw.org) seeks to grow a more robust food system on the North Oregon Coast by engaging the community, supporting farmers and entrepreneurs, and improving access to local food. The organization works throughout Tillamook County and conducts specific DELICIOUS PIES waiting to be auctioned off at activities in South County, South County Pie Night drew the attention of including providing gardenthose contemplating which edible work of art to based lessons to Nestucca Valbid on. ley Elementary, Nestucca Valley Early Learning Center, and Neskowin average of 250 shoppers every Saturday. The monies raised at the event Valley School students. They also have came from admission to the evening of conducted free six-week Seed to Supper fun, which featured an all-you-can-eat gardening workshops for low-income adults in South County for the third year pie feast and music by Donna Jose, as well as a pie auction that saw pies be in a row, as well as helped to support and fund the SNAP and Double Up Food auctioned off by Dennis Love. Winning bids for the pies crafted by area baking Bucks programs at the Neskowin and aficionados and local eateries ranged Pacific City Farmers Markets. from $125 to $375. The South County Food Pantry “It’s fabulous,” organizer Laine provides emergency food services and Koch said about the amount raised this other hunger-fighting outreach proyear. “It went very well. We so appreciate grams to residents of South Tillamook the support of the South County comCounty. The program served 851 housemunity for this event. All four organiholds (2,097 individuals) in 2018. zations feel extremely grateful. It just “The food pantry is an awesome makes a huge difference in a very small thing for our community,” Diane budget.” Higdon, manager of the pantry told Koch also credited the event’s many event attendees. “Our goal is to have a volunteers as well as the Kiawanda welcoming friendly place where we can Community Center, where the event meet the needs of the community.” was held, for making an extra effort to The Pacific City Farmers Market, help in the event’s success. which opens June 16, brings farm-fresh Page 8 • Pacific City SUN • March 29, 2019
