By ESTHER K. SMITH
News staff writer
March 5, 2008

Employees of Diamond Fruit Growers’ Odell packing house raised nearly $6,200 for United Way of the Gorge in a month-long grass-roots fund-raiser recently. Some of them were rewarded last week with a lunch, where United Way representatives thanked them for all their work.

Dave Scarborough, campaign board chairman, said that their effort is a perfect example of one of the most effective ways to raise money.

“One of the mainstays of United Way is to go to companies and get one person who will lead the charge; and then it just sort of takes off,” he said. “These guys really put together a grass-roots effort — they put their time and their money into it.”

In a spirit of friendly rivalry employees of different shifts inspired each other by soliciting donations and making items to sell or raffle to other employees: tacos, tamales, cakes — even wooden benches.

The employees also joked about issuing a challenge to their counterparts at Duckwall and Stadelman’s. Their enthusiasm was appreciated, Scarborough said.

“It really makes a difference,” he said. “We’re just coming into allocations now — reviewing all the applications to decide where to allot the money — and it’s amazing to see both ends of it: You guys working hard and bringing the money in, and then sitting there listening to the stories of people who need it.”

This year the board has 53 applications — all very deserving, Scarborough says — to consider. Last year’s allocations were grouped into four categories: Basic Human Needs, Protection and Well-being, Quality of Life and Youth and Families.