The Madras Community Food Pantry has hit its fundraising goal for the year, with organizers confirming that the annual Great Madras Community Dine-Out raised a full $9,000 to cover the pantry's operational costs.
Les Weidner, secretary of the Madras Community Food Pantry board of directors and the event's organizer, said the goal was reached with a late contribution from a pantry volunteer who stepped in to close the gap — and that additional late donations are still expected to come in, meaning the final total will exceed $9,000.
"I had wonderful positive feedback from so many people about the value of the event and how much everyone enjoyed it," Weidner said. "It truly is a community-wide event, and I think we'll keep doing it as long as we can."
A County-Wide Effort
The Dine-Out model engages local restaurants across the county, with businesses deciding for themselves how much of their sales to donate back to the pantry. Participating locations this year included restaurants in Madras, Culver, Metolius, and Terrebonne.
Weidner noted a recurring observation: the smallest restaurant in town has given the largest donation each of the past three years. That restaurant, La Posada, located at 84 S.W. Fourth St. in Madras, offers Mexican cuisine daily from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Chevrolet GMC of Madras also contributed to the event as a sponsor.
About the Food Pantry
The Madras Community Food Pantry serves Jefferson County residents facing food insecurity, providing groceries and staples at no cost. The annual Dine-Out is a key part of the pantry's fundraising calendar, helping offset operational expenses not covered by food donations or grants.
The pantry's success this year is a reminder of what community-wide coordination can accomplish — from the smallest neighborhood restaurant to individual volunteers who show up when it counts.