More than 1,000 people attended the Mt. Hood Area Chamber of Commerce’s
“Bite of Mt. Hood” in April, according to the chamber president Coni Scott, but
it turns out the event did more than feed the hungry masses while bidding on
various auctions.

The chamber also fed back into the community the proceeds from the event,
giving $11,600 to 14 area organizations and groups, plus more than 1,600
food items for the Neighborhood Missions, at the chamber’s July 1 meeting.

“I have really strong feelings about us all working together as a community,”
said Scott, who noted the chamber’s board decided not to release the specific
amounts of each donation. “We’re not a town, we don’t have paid people. I
think it’s just marvelous that our community can pool our personal strengths
together to create the best.”

Scott said she solicited suggestions from board members on which groups to
help. Last year, money went to support tourism at the new information center
at the Zigzag Ranger Station.

Recipients of the funds did not know of the donations in advance, but the
reactions were joyful, as expected. Judith Norvall, Chairwoman for the Friends
of the Hoodland Library, said she was “amazed” at the money, noting it would
be used to increase the library’s DVD collection and for magazine
subscriptions.

“The staff at the library was absolutely thrilled,” Norvall said. “(We were)
wondering where money was going to come from to renew subscriptions.”

Cris Crislip, Executive Director of the Hoodland Emergency Action Response
Team, said his group has had to use paper as a stand-in for bandages during
training exercises recently, making his team “visualize or pretend to put a
dressing on.” The money they received will go toward new medical supplies
and new student manuals to help with basic certification classes.

“I was pretty overwhelmed because I had no idea we would receive funds,”
Crislip said. “I think it motivates us to want to be more professional, more
involved and more community minded.”

Other organizations receiving money were the Welches School, which will
expand technology resources; Mt. Hood Lions Club, used for Christmas
baskets and testing for glasses and hearing aids; Mt. Hood Kiwanis Camp,
which will make kitchen and phone upgrades; Girl Scout Troop #40268, which
will help pay train tickets to attend summer camp; the Oral Hull Foundation
for the Blind, which will support a confidence building workshop; the Mt. Hood
Learning Center, to help start up preschool and daycare; the National Alliance
on Mental Illness Clackamas Education and Support, which will offer training
for law enforcement and community education; the Hoodland Volunteer
Support Group, which will purchase bicycle helmets for young in the
community; Clackamas Women’s Services (Rural Outreach), to upgrade office
equipment and rural services; Mt. Hood Hospice, which will help assist families
with their pets during the dying process; Boy Scout Troop #173, which will
help 10 scouts go to summer camp; and the Hoodland Senior Center, which
will be used toward a budget shortfall of 750 meals within the nutrition
program.