CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Five high school-aged members of Girl Scouts of Oregon and Southwest Washington Troop 51444 of Hermiston brightened the lives of local foster children with their delivery of 63 boxes of Girl Scout cookies earlier this month.
The troop’s Girl Scout cookie customers donated 47 boxes to the charity and the troop contributed the rest. The donation is part of the Girl Scouts’ Gift of Caring program in which customers buy cookies and donate them to a troop’s chosen cause. The girls of Troop 51444 chose to give this year’s donated cookies to local foster children. Three large bags of stuffed animals provided by a customer were also delivered.
The cookies were hand delivered to Irma DeAnda, a foster home certifier and licenser with the Department of Human Service’s Child Welfare Program. DeAnda’s job includes finding foster homes for kids, and providing training for foster parents.
DeAnda gave the girls a tour of her department and provided information about how the foster care program works. She explained that the program teaches the children’s birth parents the skills they need in order to try to reunite them with their children and provide a better future for both the child and the parent.
“(DeAnda) has been doing it for 20 years and still has the same passion for her job since the day she started,” said Laura Zepeda, a member of the troop.
The program serves 80 to 120 children from infants to teens in Umatilla County at any given time. DeAnda said more foster homes are needed. Classes will be held this fall and will be listed in Blue Mountain Community College’s fall catalog.
“The Child Welfare Program could also use child-size socks, underwear and diapers,” added Zepeda.
To make a donation to Umatilla County’s foster care program or to get more information about it, contact the Department of Human Services at (541) 567-2253.
For more information about Girl Scouts, or to join or volunteer, contact Addie Bower, membership and community development specialist, at (541) 389-8146.
