THE GORGE — If you’ve visited the Hood River Library or Gorge Grown Food Network’s Mercado del Valle in Odell, you’ll recognize Yelitza Vargas-Boots.
Originally from Fresno, California, Vargas-Boots started at the Hood River County Library 12 years ago, ending her career as its bilingual outreach librarian on Feb. 4.
In that time, she helped get its bookmobile running (literally; she drove it), providing initial outreach by delivering free books and crafts from the trunk of her car during the pandemic. She also served as vice chair of the state library board of Oregon in addition to her other duties.
But on Feb. 5, she set out on a new path. In a farewell email to community members before her departure from the library, she wrote, “I have always worked so hard to serve our Spanish-speaking communities as I have never separated myself from my community. I am part of the underserved communities I serve. My family, including my mother who immigrated to this country, were part of the farm-working communities we see today.
“My work has always been dedicated to my great-grandmother, Heriberta Padilla, who taught me to be a caring, compassionate person and whose legacy inspires me daily,” she continued. “I firmly believe that libraries are spaces for all, regardless of legal status, religion, gender, economic standing, or race.”
It’s no surprise, then, that the position of bilingual outreach manager for One Community Health (OCH), with its mission “to advance health and social justice for all members of our community” (www.onecommunityhealth.org), appealed to her, though, it was difficult to leave the library.
“I feel so empowered in this new position with OCH,” she said. “The fierce leaders in place today support me and believe in my passion and creativity. I’m excited and feel seen — with open arms, they receive me. I have a huge amount of support [from] people who just want to serve and help our community with no strings attached.”
Vargas-Boots trusts her intuition, and a series of conversations regarding the current federal administration and the helplessness and fear many feel ultimately led her to OCH, a “federally qualified community and migrant health center,” according to its website.
“Something is calling me,” she told Columbia Gorge News. “I’m a big picture person — I can see the bigger purpose, and I want to serve our community … It’s being able to serve on a larger platform and provide services to more than one population. There are pockets of individuals who are invisible — it’s hard to access the basic necessities sometimes.”
Vargas-Boots sees her work as a circle — with all generations supporting each other and especially those who might otherwise fall through the cracks. Because she sees education (school districts and libraries), equitable food access (Gorge Grown, food pantries and the Gorge Farmer Collective), and overall wellbeing (OCH and The Next Door) as connected, it’s impossible to talk about one without talking about the others.
She continues her second job as market coordinator for Mercado del Valle and remains a fierce advocate for public libraries.
“I am not able to do this alone,” she said. “I thank all of my colleagues who work alongside me at nonprofits as well,” particularly dedicated Latino leaders who put in countless hours but are often unseen.
“I value and see you, and thank you,” she said.
The goal, she said, is to strengthen partnerships within the greater Gorge to further OCH’s mission.
Bringing it all together: education
Vargas-Boots was introduced to libraries in elementary school. Having a vivid imagination, she loved reading but only learned of the library in downtown Fresno in high school — after the school librarian pointed her in the right direction.
“I understand the third grader whose first language is Spanish,” she said. “I see myself.”
The library opened new opportunities for her and her family. The first time her mother visited the library, she printed out a map and announced she was moving to Oregon; Vargas-Boots was 17.
“I was born and raised in a farmworker community in Fresno, so I identify as a low-income family,” she said. “I like to say I wasn’t born in Mexico, but it felt like it — it was bare bones. Spanish was my first language, so I struggled in school.”
She moved to the Gorge after marrying her husband, Brandon Boots, who was raised in Hood River and Guam. The two now reside in Cascade Locks with their children, Gabriel and Tåsi Boots.
“I saw opportunities in the library — I love libraries so much,” Vargas-Boots said. “I’ve really immersed myself in what a library means to the community, and the services libraries offer now, which are different than what they used to be. The library has moved away from librarians saying, ‘Shush.’”
Food access
While working at the library, she took on the coordinator position for Mercado del Valle, held in downtown Odell. “I don’t mind the extra hours or time,” Vargas-Boots said.
Gorge Grown has markets throughout the Gorge, but at the heart of its mission is equitable, culturally diverse food access. As market coordinator, she brought in the library’s bookmobile. This year, she plans to include OCH’s mobile health unit as well. The Next Door is a longtime market staple and advocates for the market through its Raíces program, she added.
“I love that with One Community Health, I can tie it all together in a wellness version,” she said.
Like OCH and The Next Door, Gorge Grown is a nonprofit, and Mercado del Valle is funded through grants. Gorge Grown also partners with the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP); as such, its SNAP match program helps both farmers and recipients: buy $20 in market tokens and get an additional $20.
“It’s difficult for nonprofits, with grants being slashed,” she said. “… If [the SNAP] grant gets cut, there won’t be a SNAP match program anymore, and then the farmers won’t get that extra money.”
Wellbeing
“I’ve always had good personal experiences with One Community Health,” she said, crediting those who started the nonprofit health center under the name La Clínica decades earlier. “It’s an amazing community they built. Folks did a lot for us to be here.”
Though pandemic funding has ended, the needs have not. OCH’s mobile health unit has dedicated stops throughout the Gorge; 20% of its service is in orchards for farm workers who may otherwise go without.
And with fresh food distribution already established by a partnership with Gorge Farmer Collective, she’s looking to expand to Wishram in Klickitat County — a move made easier because OCH is already there, primarily serving the Native population.
“I want to keep finding ways to provide access to basic human necessities,” she said.
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Vargas-Boots is looking to create partnerships with other organizations to further the work of bringing education, food access and overall wellbeing together. Those interested in partnering with OCH — or volunteering and/or providing funding for Mercado del Valle — should contact her at 509-310-9589.
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