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60-year-old's 60-mile walk strikes blow against hunger By KELLY STEWART RUCH -- Donna Epstein owns three pairs of sneakers, and she hopes they'll last through her birthday weekend. The Applegate Valley resident is planning to kick up her heels on her 60th birthday -- but not by going out on the town. Instead, she's going to trek through the Applegate area. Epstein will walk 60 miles Friday and Saturday to celebrate her birthday and raise money to help hungry families in the Applegate, Ruch and Jacksonville. "I am going to be 60, and I wanted to do something different," Epstein said. Her birthday is Friday. As manager of the Applegate Food Pantry, Epstein serves about 30 families per month with emergency food boxes packed with canned vegetables and fruit, pasta, bread, soups and toiletries. Food is donated by ACCESS and other local organizations. For 16 months, Epstein and her husband, Matt, have run the food pantry out of Ruch Elementary School on Monday afternoons. About 460 people were served at the pantry in the past year. Many low-income people live in the Applegate Valley, said Craig Hamm, owner of the Ruch Country Store. Hamm donates to the pantry each week and even bought a pig at the Jackson County Fair for the project. "There's really a need out here," he said. "(Epstein) has really filled the void." ACCESS is accepting donations to support Epstein's walk for hunger. "The essence of the walk is to help those in need in the Applegate Valley," Epstein said. She will start walking at 10 p.m. Friday and end around 6 p.m. Saturday. She plans to average 3.5 mph to walk 60 miles in 20 hours, with short breaks for snacks and changing clothing. "I've always been a physical person," said Epstein, who walks 35 to 60 miles every week near her home in the Little Applegate area. She also swims at a neighbor's pool. "You build yourself up for stamina and endurance by walking, eating and healthy living," she said. Epstein scouted out her route one portion at a time by walking and driving around the area. "It's a very scenic route," she said. "I know every rock, tree and barking dog." Ben Benjamin, manager of ACCESS Food Share, will accompany Epstein on her route. The 60-mile loop starts at the Applegate Country Store, winds up to the top of Upper Applegate Road, down to Beaver Creek and ends at Cantrall-Buckley Park. Community members have volunteered to walk different legs of the route. "We're going to spend a good eight hours in the dark -- and there's no moon," Epstein said. Matt will check on his wife every two or three hours in his truck, which Epstein jokingly calls the "sag wagon." He will tote water and food, and bring extra clothing and shoes. Epstein will rotate three pairs of shoes to complete the trip. "Hopefully the three will last," she said. To donate to the Applegate/ACCESS food pantry, make checks payable to Applegate/ACCESS, c/o Applegate Community Forum, P.O. Box 1439, Jacksonville, OR 97530. All donations are tax-deductible. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA