We have been working with our vendor Pamala Joy for several years now. Pamala runs two non-profit organizations: The Angels of Service and The Ashland Food Angels, which she started 30 years ago.
The Ashland Food Angels is a fully volunteer grassroots cooperative venture which collects usable food from bakeries, The Ashland Co-Op, The Market Of Choice, Shop’n Kart and several local organic farmers in order to donate it to the food bank The Peace House, which sponsors weekly community meals and several other organizations. A registered 501(c)(3) non-profit, The Food Angels operates every day of the year except Christmas, focusing primarily on perishable foods such as produce, breads, dairy and deli items. With pick ups two or three times daily, The Food Angles collect and give away over a quarter million pounds of food annually, most of which goes to the food bank, which gets daily drop offs. Currently there are 17 Food Angles volunteers ranging from mid-30’s to late 70’s, including many retirees. Over many years, Ashland High School students have helped out garnering social credits towards graduation. Over the 30 years of its history, The Food Angels have helped many other groups with food donations, including The Northwest Seasonal Workers, the Jackson County Fuel Committee, Native American groups, schools and student groups, children’s projects and programs that help feed our local unhoused population. It is estimated that The Food Angles efforts have kept 12 to 15 million pounds of food out of the landfills, redirected to those who greatly need it.
The Angels of Service has helped with a variety of needs in the community. Services in the past have included helping people find housing, work, childcare, caregivers, clothing, bedding and household necessities. Pamala and her workers have also helped people move and helped with post-yard-sale clean ups. They then distribute them to a variety of locations and organizations such as the Maslow Project, the Medford Drop, seasonal workers, the warming and cooling shelters, Head Start and other children’s groups. For many years yard sales were held to raise money for the continuation of this work, until we invited Pamala to work with us here at The Ashland Artisan Emporium. Sponsored by The Emporium, The Angels Of Service and The Food Angels receive a portion of the proceeds from items that are donated to the store. Financial donations go to helping keep their vehicles on the road and to pay for their small facility. Donations of salable items can be dropped off at The Ashland Artisan Emporium which will benefit both the Ashland Food Angels and the Angels Of Service. The Ashland Food Angels and The Angels Of Service is run entirely on grants and donations.
If you would like to find out more information about these non-profits, you can visit their website at ashlandfoodangels.org or to make a donation, call (541) 482-5330.
