Hometown Community Benefit: another great success
By:
Philip A. Janquart
Funds raised for community nonprofits serving those in need for the holidays
The 34th annual Hometown Community Benefit was held Sept. 9 and 10, the event kicking off on Saturday with the Taste of the Treasure Valley Charity Auction and Dinner at the Big Red Barn located at the Malheur County Fairgrounds in Ontario.
The two-day event ended on Sunday, with the Hometown Community Benefit Golf Tournament, which was held at Scotch Pines Golf Course in Payette.
Hometown Dealership owner and event founder, Steve Dominguez had anticipated more than 300 guests for the dinner and auction, and 36 teams had already signed up for the golf tournament almost a month before the fundraiser, which aims to raise money for those less fortunate heading into the holiday season.
Dominguez, as the vice president of the Ontario-based nonprofit charitable organization Help Them to Hope, has seen first-hand the need of so many families across the west Treasure Valley.
“There are so many families in our tri-county area that need help,” he said. “When I started with Help Them to Hope 26 years ago, I had no idea of the need, especially around the holidays.”
Dominguez said last year the organization serviced over 700 families in Indian Valley, Midvale, Weiser, Fruitland, Payette, New Plymouth, Wilder, Adrian, and Brogan, surpassing the previous year’s count of approximately 650 families.
Every year, the organization distributes food items and bikes the week before Christmas. This year, distribution will take place on Sunday, Dec. 17 at the old Hanigan Chevrolet building in Payette.
Those who wish to participate in the program can do so by filling out an application, which can be found at local food banks, the Ontario Department of Human Services, at 186 E. Lane St. Suite 2 in Ontario, and WICAP (Western Idaho Community Action Partnership), located at 314 S. Main St. in Payette.
Applications are also available on the Help Them to Hope website at https://helpthemtohopecharity.org/.
Other organizations the auction and golf tournament benefits include Next Chapter Food Pantry, Ontario Food Bank, Elks Food Basket Programs, and more, as well as local families in need.
The event additionally helps fund the annual Ho-Ho Express, an event founded by Weiser’s Joe Malay over 30 years ago.
The Ho-Ho express provides $50 Walmart gift cards to select students every year, about 250 of them, taking them via bus to spend the money on anything they want, including Christmas presents for family members.
Joe said that volunteers are still needed. For more information about the Ho-Ho Express, call Joe at (208) 794-7166.
Category:
Signal American
18 E. Idaho St.
Weiser, ID 83672
PH: (208) 549-1717
FAX: (208) 549-1718
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