Carl Fender has donated a number of pieces to the North County Community Food Bank
BATTLE GROUND — Summer is quickly approaching and with it will come rising temperatures and longer days.
Area artist Carl Fender is keenly aware of the difficult times many local individuals and families face as they battle keeping enough food available for growing children and nutrition for themselves. When most individuals are only focusing on summer fun, family vacations, and weekend barbecues, many others are trying to prepare for the approaching heat.
As school comes to an end, and having children home for the summer, families begin an even more difficult fight to keep enough food available for their children. Fender understands these struggles because he and his family experienced similar hardships first hand through the recent downturn in the local economy.
Fender also understands the difficulty facing area food banks when the summer months arrive, with food inventory shortages and in many instances a rising demand on services resulting in limited food supplies being available until the local fresh produce is ready for harvest and plentiful. This knowledge helped to propel Fender to once again give back to the North County Community Food Bank (NCCFB), where he relied upon their kindness and available services when he too faced these struggles.
Fender has carved a number of pieces for the NCCFB and many other groups over the years, demonstrating his love of community and helping others in whatever way he can. This current piece which Fender just delivered is a deep sea carving that is already drawing numerous compliments and appreciation, as it sits on display in the NCCFB in Battle Ground. The plan is to use the carving to help raise funds for the food bank. The organization plans a raffle ticket sale, with the lucky winner chosen this fall. Tickets are $10 each or $40 for 5 tickets.
Fender’s business, Carl’s Creations, allows him to interact with area collectors on private commissions as well as carving pieces of interest that he feels will challenge him.
The NCCFB provides emergency food supplies to those in need, living in North Clark County. In addition to food supplies, the organization offers a variety of summer camps for low income youth.
Celebrity Chef’s and Kids in the Kitchen is a 6-week course partnering with the Tod and Maxine McClaskey Culinary Institute chefs to teach youth ages 10-18 how to prepare healthy, nutritious meals.
Partnering with the Battle Ground Parks and Recreation Department and the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, the NCCFB also offers summer programs for youth which focus on learning more about science and math. In addition, the NCCFB teaches low income families and individuals how to grow, prepare and preserve their own fresh produce in collaboration with Beacon Farm Seeds of Hope Community Garden.
Carl Fender can be reached at carlscreations@q.com for private commissions or to discuss his work further.
For more information, contact Elizabeth Cerveny, executive director, North County Community Food Bank — Executive.director@nccfoodbank.org (email) or by phone at (360) 687-5007. The NCCFB is located at 17 NE 3rd Ave., Battle Ground.
