Willamette Valley Fruit Company is sending a message of “Finding Hope in 2010” with a 13-acre corn maze which is the focal point of its Berry Prairie Harvest Festival that runs Sept. 23 through Oct. 31. The company plans to donate a portion of admission fees to Marion-Polk Food Share and Hope Station, both Salem nonprofits. Food donations also will be collected.

In designing the maze, the company incorporated three mazes of varying difficulty. Marion-Polk Food Share’s logo forms the mini-maze, which is just right for young children. The words “Finding Hope” in the more difficult maze adventure represent Hope Station, which assists working poor.

Organizers have set a goal of 10,000 admissions from which they will donate $5,000 to be shared equally by the nonprofits.

The harvest festival at 2994 82nd Ave. NE, Salem, takes place Tuesdays through Saturdays, with group rates, party packages, special tours and activities such as hay rides, pumpkin launching, barrel train rides, hay mountain sliding, pedal tractors and more available. For details, go to http://wvfco.com/harvest or call (503) 362-8857.