HERMISTON, ORE.-Good Shepherd Health Care System’s (GSHCS) 12 Days of Giving recently wrapped up after collecting donations for Agape House’s Elementary School Backpack Program.
“12 Days of Giving is a longtime program, and Good Shepherd employees look forward to donating every year,” said Nazario Rivera, a Case Manager with GSHCS.
GSHCS employees joined the Hermiston community in donating different food and other essential items, such as diapers, daily from December 1st through the 12th.
Over 1,000 items, from Ramen noodles, peanut butter, oatmeal and more, were donated during the 12 Days of Giving and delivered to Agape House on December 16.
“With SNAP being down for a while, we pivoted our focus to the backpack program this year to help meet the needs of the community over the 12 Days of Giving,” said Rivera.
Donations will go to Agape House’s Elementary Backpack Program, which has been serving students in the Hermiston, Echo, Stanfield, Umatilla and Irrigon districts for the past 11 years, allowing about 275 elementary students to take a backpack of food home over the weekend to ensure they have enough to eat outside of school hours.
“A donation like this is tremendous,” said Don Hayworth, a volunteer with Agape House. “It will allow us to help feed a lot of kids.”
Families of school-age children can sign up for the program, and backpacks are available from school counselors. Schools contact Agape House each week for the number of backpacks that need to be filled and pick them up to distribute to students.
About 10-12 items of food are put in every backpack given to students each week, and the program serves students throughout the school year, starting in September, according to Hayworth.
“It’s a good way to come together as co-workers and as a community to give back during the Holidays,” said Rivera.
