LA GRANDE — If you’re thinking that a 2025 calendar might be the perfect fit for someone on your holiday shopping list, but want something with local flavor, Community Kindness of Eastern Oregon might have just the thing.

A “Men of Union County” Calendar, presented by Community Kindness, is set to premiere Oct. 4. The calendar features 12 men from Union County posing — some shirtless — in a project inspired in part by the 2003 British film “Calendar Girls.”

That hit comedy is based on a true story about a group of middle-aged Yorkshire women who produced a nude calendar to raise money for charity. Liz Meyer, who co-owns Community Kindness with her husband, Grant, hails from Yorkshire — and so when she started brainstorming ideas for an annual fundraiser for Community Kindness, the movie came to mind.

The nonprofit Community Kindness has been a part of the La Grande community for five years now. But this will be its first big fundraiser.

“We wanted to do something different and have an edge on it, as in stepping outside the box a little bit from what I would call normal,” Meyer said.

The calendar features 25 photos — two pictures of each man of the month and a cover image. The item is intended as a keepsake for the community, Meyer said.

In a Facebook post, Meyer teased that the calendar will be a “visual feast of 25 meticulously chosen images of 12 men of Union County.” Some pictures are more “cheeky” than others, she said, noting that some of the men posed shirtless.

“I want it to be respectful. I want it to be fun and in this community, I respect the community I’ve been in for 24 years,” Meyer said. “I want to make it better, I want people to have things that they might not have had if we had not been here.”

The nonprofit opened its doors five years ago with no money and four boxes of donations. The organization has grown exponentially since then.

With the help of her son Jordan, Meyer approached a local photographer, Maddie Ford, who owns Blackbird Photography and Fitzgerald’s Flowers in La Grande. Ford clicked instantly with the concept, Meyer said, and offered to photograph the models for free. 

Finding the models

To find the models, Meyer reached out to the community via Facebook. She said she was nervous about the initial posting because she had no idea how the project would be received.

She made the Facebook post that she was looking for models at the beginning of the year in the afternoon. By 4 p.m. the next day, her inbox was filled.

“I wanted to open it up to people like the men of Union County to love their bodies, to love who they are, whether big, small, fit or not, love who you are and that’s what I’m learning to do, too,” Meyer said.

Each man selected for the calendar engaged in an individual photoshoot over the course of five months. The shoots started in March and concluded in August.

Twelve different locations were selected, including Meyer’s backyard. She wanted to showcase Union County along with her local models.

“One was a sunset. One up on the mountain. One was at somebody’s house. We’ve been all over the place. One was at Mountain Valley Therapy,” she said. “So we’ve used places that are our community.”

Meyer said one of the men is 74 years old and volunteers at Community Kindness.

“I actually cried when we did that photoshoot, because me and Maddie wanted to portray the best or the fun side of these people,” Meyer said.

Photographer Ford said she was drawn to the project and the idea of local men being featured in the calendar to promote “individuality, creativity, and body positivity.”

“Being photographed can already be a vulnerable thing and everyone who joined in was brave to be a part of it, and did a great job,” Ford said.

Seeing models come out of their shells and have fun with the project was a highlight of the project for Meyer.

“I have admiration and respect for every one of these 12 men who’ve done this for us,” she said.

Meyer declined to identify any of the men in the calendar, saying their identities would be revealed at an Oct. 4 fundraiser at Community Kindness, 1315 Adams Ave. in La Grande. The event begins at 6 p.m. 

The event will include snacks, mimosas and a presentation to tell stories about each model’s experience, Meyer said. Attendees interested can be pictured with the models. 

Preorders are being taken for the calendar, which is priced at $22.99. Purchases can be made online at CKthriftstore.com or in-person at Community Kindness based on Adams Avenue in La Grande. The item can be home shipped or collected in-store from Oct. 4 on.

Proceeds will go toward scholarships for local youth in the community and to hatching a youth training program.

“Having the financial help to do that is going to be phenomenal,” Meyer said.

The calendar’s printing has also been kept local, said Meyer, who selected Cattleman Press in Baker for the task.

If the calendar proves a success, there’s talk of next year’s installment involving a women of Union County calendar. It’s all part of Meyer’s philosophy toward La Grande: 

“Embrace your community and be thankful that you live here.”