The Hermiston Warming Station is in desperate need of volunteers and is holding trainings for new volunteers Saturday from 2-5 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to noon at the station, 1075 South Highway 395. Trainings for returning volunteers are Nov. 7 and Nov. 10 from 6-7:30 p.m.

Volunteers can set their own schedule throughout the season by signing up for shifts online whenever they are able. They must pass a background check.

The warming station will provide a warm sleeping place for homeless individuals and families from Nov. 19 to Feb. 28.

For more information, contact Teesie Hill at 541-289-2150.

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Area veterans are invited to submit photos of themselves in uniform for a slide show during a breakfast sponsored by the Hermiston Chamber of Commerce. Photos must be submitted by Monday via kelly@hermistonchamber.com or at the chamber office, 1055 S. Highway 395, Suite 111.

Honoring our Veterans, which is free to veterans, current military personnel and their families, is Friday, Nov. 9 at 8 a.m. the Hermiston Community Center. To RSVP, contact 541-567-6151 or info@hermistonchamber.com.

See the Nov. 7 Hermiston Herald for information about area events commemorating Veterans Day.

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A food drive at Hermiston Stadium 8 Cinema offers kids free popcorn and soda while watching “Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation.” Admission is by donation of a non-perishable food item, which will be distributed through local food banks.

The free flick is Saturday with the doors opening at 8:15 a.m. The movie will start in each theater as it fills, with the last start time at 9 a.m. Parents may attend with their children. For more information, visit www.moviesinhermiston.com.

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Yazzmin Chavez, a 2016 graduate of Stanfield High School, recently joined the huddle during a highly-cheered event.

As part of a Washington State University athletics marketing internship, Chavez attended the ESPN College GameDay set-up. Going into the Oct. 20 football game, both the Cougars and Oregon Ducks were 5-1 — WSU came out on top, beating Oregon 34-20. Marking the first time the pre-game show was held in Pullman, it drew nearly 2 million TV viewers.

The daughter of Carlos and Nelly Chavez, Yazzmin is pursuing a degree in business marketing and digital technology and culture. In her current internship, Chavez assists with advertising, branding and the creating and execution of promotions at events, as well as coordinating public relations with the community.

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The Blue Mountain Community Foundation recently announced it awarded a combined total of $16,900 in scholarships to students from throughout the region. In addition, it disbursed just more than $19,000 to area nonprofit organizations.

Eric Santana Lopez, Hannah Walker and Laura Wells, all 2018 Hermiston High School graduates, were among the scholarship recipients. The local nonprofits receiving grants include:

Domestic Violence Services, $3,500 for service outreach in Umatilla County; Inland Northwest Musicians, $1,000 for the Young People’s Concert by Willow Creek Symphony; Pioneer Humane Society, $2,000 for a spay and neuter outreach program; and Umatilla County Historical Society, $3,000 for an upcoming exhibit, Umatilla Gold – The History of Wheat in Umatilla County.

For more than 30 years, the foundation has worked to support communities in the Walla Walla Valley, including Umatilla County. It distributed more than $3.5 million in grants and scholarships in 2018.

For more information, contact executive director Kari Isaacson at 509-529-4371, kari@bluemountainfoundation.org or visit www.bluemountainfoundation.org.

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More than $5,100 is raising the hopes of a collaborative effort in helping meet the needs of the area homeless population.

A House of Hope N.E. Oregon fundraiser was held Oct. 13 at the Hermiston Assembly of God Church. Organizers of the spaghetti dinner and auction expressed appreciation for the generous support from local businesses and individuals who helped make the event a success.

Several Hermiston-area churches are involved with the ministry. In addition, Community Action Program of East Central Oregon (CAPECO) provides support with the project. For more information, call Linda Durant at 541-449-5038 or search Facebook for “House of Hope.”

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