In 2010, Mikayla Jones’ life changed forever.

“I was hurt physically,” Jones said. “After having that happen, it showed me that I want to help people.”

That incident has led Jones, 28, to make volunteering to help others an important part of her life.

After living in Salem for two years, her desire to help people evolved into a passion — focusing on the homeless — which she brought with her when returning home to Baker City.

She knew she couldn’t go back to the life she was living before helping people, because to her, there was always something that needed to be done.

On Aug. 14, Jones started a GoFundMe account with the goal of raising at least $1,500 to provide homeless people with things they need.

With the help from Community Connection of Baker County, she can do just that.

“Four and a half years ago she showed up here and had some donations that she’d been putting together,” said Joe Hayes, Community Connection manager.

Jones made 30 gift bags that she donated to the homeless. The bags included deodorant, a toothbrush and other sanitary items. She also brought a monetary donation for Community Connection’s ministerial fund.

A ministerial fund, in this case, refers to a fund that’s earmarked for homeless people, without any government restrictions or stipulations.

Hayes considers Jones an extra volunteer in addition to the 112 people who assist at Community Connection.

In December 2023, for instance, Jones started a GoFundMe account that raised $315 to boost Community Connection’s winter fundraising.

This time around, she has a goal of raising almost five times that amount.

“Personally, whatever I receive (from) people, I’m grateful for it,” Jones said. “Even if it’s as little as five bucks.”

Jones says living in Salem opened her eyes to the plight of homeless people, in particular their mental and physical struggles.

Although the issue is not as obvious in Baker City as in Salem, the state capital, Jones said she’s noticed an increase in the local homeless population.

Jones said she believes people who are homeless want to feel that they matter. Being ignored, she said, is equivalent to being told they don’t exist.

“Being noticed and seen helps them feel like they’re still a part of this world and not forgotten,” Jones said. “They want to feel like they’re not alone. They want to be connected with us.”

More information about Jones’ GoFundMe can be found on her Facebook page.

Community Connection

This year the nonprofit, which operates the Senior Center at 2810 Cedar St. in Baker City, is overseeing a $2.1 million budget to administer a variety of services to the community. A large percentage of the households they’ve served include senior citizens or people with disabilities.

From May 2023 through April 2024, Community Connection provided 41,153 meals at the senior center.

Hayes says the center also gives about 24,000 rides each year, with 350 to 400 of those rides being medical transports.

From January through June of this year, Community Connection has helped 589 households deal with heating, cooling and energy costs.

From Jan. to June of this year, they’ve helped 589 households manage their winter heating, summer cooling and increased energy costs. With A large percentage of the households they’ve served being disabled individuals or senior citizens.

More information about the Community Connection can be found on their Facebook page or website.