UMATILLA – It was a warm, sunny evening in Engineer Park along the Columbia River, just perfect for an outdoor barbecue.

Children ran over green grass and played on the swings. Women laid out picnic food and iced down drinks. Men lit the grills.

But the mood of this Friday evening outdoor picnic was a little somber. The community was gathered to help a young woman, Becky Gale, who suffers from pancreatic cancer.

“It’s really, really super nice to help people out,” said Libby Bovent, an organizer of the event. “I believe that charity is where it’s at. I believe the closest you can get to Christ is through charity.”

Bovent and several hundred people from Hermiston and Umatilla gathered to help raise money for Gale, 28, her husband, Brian, and two small children, Demar, 4, and Ruthie, 2. About six months ago, the Gales moved to Umatilla from Benton City, Wash., for work.

Then Brian lost his job and Becky needed surgery. Now the family needs money.

“They are just a young little family that needs a lot of help,” said Sheri Brown, a friend of the Gales’ and one of the people who is organizing the fund-raiser.

To help the young family, friends such as Brown, Bovent and Gaye Hodge organized the benefit party for the Gales.

Bovent printed 500 tickets for the barbecue held at the large park near McNary Dam and people donated gifts and baked goods to raffle off at the event.

Bovent said about 150 people donated time, money and gifts and she was hoping to raise more than $2,500 to help the family.

People donated perfect-looking homemade pies and cookies of every flavor, bags and bags of chips, hot dogs, hamburgers, gift baskets, a television, a grill and flagpole and more.

Kari Pack donated a basketball backboard to give as a door prize. Ford Bonney donated his time as an auctioneer.

All of the proceeds went to the Gales. Donations also can be made in the name of Becky Gale at the Hermiston branch of Banner Bank.

Bovent said Friday that she believes that Brian Gale will soon have a job offer and the family can begin to get back on its feet.

For more information on the Gales or to give a donation, call Brown at 922-4113, Hodge at 922-9251 or Bovent at 567-5858.

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Reporter Carie L. Call can be reached at 1-800-522-0255 (ext. 1-304 after hours) or e-mail: ccall@eastoregonian.com.