KOBI Spirit of Community Moment: Sherm’s & ACCESS Give Back to the Community

KOBI: Now only on five, and for decades there's been a remarkable relationship between Oregon Community Foundation, ACCESS and Sherm’s Thunderbird and Food 4 Less. That connection has dramatically changed the lives of thousands living in our communities. Here's another Spirit of Community Moment.

KOBI: Sherm and Wanda Olsrud opened up their first grocery store in 1967, and just a year later they were giving back to communities all over Southern Oregon. Sherm and Wanda's son, Steve, runs the supermarket his parents started nearly 60 years ago.

Steve Olsrud: To date Sherm’s through OCF has delivered 400 grants to individual organizations in the Southern Oregon area.

KOBI: That includes decades of support for 4-H, youth sports, academic scholarships and ACCESS, a community action agency and regional food bank. Kelly Battaglia is Chief Advancement Officer at ACCESS.

Kelly Battaglia: Sherm’s and the Olsurd family has donated over $2.5 million to support the ACCESS mission.

KOBI: And that's in addition to the over 1 million pounds of food Sherm’s has donated.

Marcee Champion: They wrap their arms around our community, and we see that through our food programs.

KOBI: ACCESS’s Director of Food Programs is Marcee Champion.

MC: Every year we get a truckload donation from Sherm’s. It's an exciting time, you know the truck backs up, and just pallet after pallet of food get driven off of that truck.

KB: The relationship has been one of the most profound relationships that ACCESS has had in its history. ACCESS has partnered with Oregon Community Foundation for 20 years. They are amazing supporters and partners of ours. They also work with us, putting us in contact with donors that have a connection with our mission.

SO: OCF and Sherm’s have always been there when there's difficult times in the community. Whether it's a fire or storms, we've always tried to be there to help. OCF has been great at picking projects that really need some attention.

KOBI: Sherm’s, ACCESS and Oregon Community Foundation are funding the future. As Sherm Olsurd said himself…

Sherm Olsurd: Kids are our future.

Kids: Thank you, Sherm’s!

KOBI: If you’d like to help make Southern Oregon a better place to live, visit Oregon Community Foundation at oregoncf.org.

This from KOBI TV's "Oregon Community Foundation: Spirit of Community" series.