Guest Commentary

By Bob Cox

POMEROY––We have lost too many good people lately in Garfield County to sickness and illness – people who devoted their lives to Garfield County.

Working on Main Street for 20 years, I saw the hard-working people that kept Pomeroy alive and well. All were volunteers who helped make Pomeroy a better town to live in and who honored those who gave back to our community. Whether it was the Chamber or Pomeroy Partners or SWEDA, they all worked for the good of our special place to live. The Pataha Flour Mill, the Eastern Washington Ag Museum, the Blue Mountain Artisan Guild, the Spinners Hall, and our museum are tributes to the industrious people of Garfield County who had a dream to make Pomeroy a better place to live and work.

The Shepherd Foundation, managed by Gary and Chris Houser and their family has provided so many grants to our community that it is hard to imagine where we would be without them. The Shepherd Foundation is truly the saving grace to many businesses and non-profits around Pomeroy.

That is why I am so passionate about the Garfield County Forever Fund, an endowment fund that will provide grants for our local needs and future opportunities of the community as those needs change over time. Everyone who wants to take part can help with this endowment campaign by donating money or a bequest to the fund. The remarkable thing about donating by the end of 2024 is the matching money offered by anonymous donors who will match 50% of a donation today or will add $20,000 to a 5% bequest left to the Garfield Forever Fund or a $100,000 gift in your will.

We have already reached about none third of our goal of 20 bequests by year end. We have a little over five months to fulfill our goal of 20 bequests.

Our bequest intention form is just that. It does not intend to create any legal obligation to the GCFF. It is simply a statement of your present intentions to give in the future. We even have a tool if you do not have a will and want to put one together for free.

I hope you consider our cause when you consider your charitable giving this year. You can contact anyone on our leadership team or contact [email protected].

I wish you a great summer, and a safe and trouble-free harvest.