Hood River Christmas Project Kicks Off 100th Year
Volunteers have moved and organized hundreds of pounds of food for assembly into food boxes. Photo Credit: Cole Goodwin
Hood River, Ore., December 11, 2023 – The Hood River Christmas Project will kicked off a week of volunteering and giving back today. Volunteers filled the community room at Hood River Fairgrounds from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. today, December 11, 2023 to participate in the program which is celebrating its 100th year of giving back to Hood River County.
Hood River Christmas Project has managed to maintain a well rounded and diverse group of volunteers over the years, with people from all walks of life coming together to support the project. Some volunteers have participated for thirty plus years, others are just getting started.
“This is my first year. I’ve always wanted to get involved. I love this. It all stays local in the community. You get to see the benefits…I like supporting the community I live in and serving the community and giving back to the community that gives a lot to me and my family,” said Breanna Finlayson.
Breanna Finlayson (left) and Lynn Pendleton (right) labeling bags for families. Photo Credit: Cole Goodwin
Lynn Pendleton, who has been with the project for many years helps to gather applications for assistance from the project.
“They call me and I help them sign up and register,” said Pendleton.
For her it’s all about people’s faces when they walk in the door and see a room full of volunteers, food boxes, and toys ready to make their holiday a little brighter.
“Last year somebody came and set up a table that had free books and the kids would shut down on the floor and read while their parents gathered their bags and stuff and it was incredible…It was different when we had it at the church during covid, We couldn’t have toys. So we have a woman who knits 500 during the year and when we were at the church we could give out hats until they ran out,” said Pendleton.
Pendleton highlighted the community effort, saying that many volunteers bring their whole families to participate in the program.
“It’s really cool because it kind of grows it,” said Pendleton.
Pendleton also shared that a number of the people they serve, also volunteer to support the project and support fellow families in need.
A volunteer wheels in a pallet of apples which will be sorted into food boxes for families in need. Photo Credit: Cole Goodwin
Jacquie Barone and Heather Walker organizing toys in the Community Room and Hood RIver Fairgrounds. Photo Credit: Cole Goodwin
Jacquie Barone has been with the project for thirty years, coordinates packing toys. She shared her pride in the organizations ability to hold on to and recruit new volunteers.
“We have so many volunteers; we filled up so quickly this year. I’m so glad,” said Barone “We need the young crew taking over.”
“It’s really important to teach our kids to be involved,” said Barone.
A collection of Squishmallows waits to be taken home by kids in need. Photo Credit: Cole Goodwin
Most of the toys Barone and volunteers were busy organizing, were purchased from Walmart in Hood River. Walmart employees were present at the volunteering event, supporting their community.
“Walmart has a program called Volunteerism Always Pays. So, all of our volunteer hours turn into money. If we volunteer 30 hours, Walmart will pay them (The Hood River Christmas Project) for 30 hours of work. So, they’ll get a check back once we submit all our hours,” said Melissa Dish, Hood River Walmart Store Manager.
The Hood River Walmart team volunteering with the Hood River Christmas Project on Monday, Dec. 11. Photo Credit: Cole Goodwin
Volunteers will be rotating out all week long at the Hood River Fairgrounds, packing food boxes, organizing toys, and getting ready to receive over 1,000 families who are recipients of the project this year.
For more information about the history and impact of Hood River Christmas Project check out our previous article: Hood River Christmas Project Celebrates 100 Years of Giving.
