Wave of generosity washes a-SHARE
Healthy food donations help nonprofit feed kids throughout the school year
Kids are always hungry…even on weekends.
SHARE knows that. So the nonprofit mission in Clark County works with area schools to send home food for those hungry kids and their families using its Backpack program.
During the school year, SHARE distributes 1,850 packs to 90 schools in Vancouver, Washington. In turn, the schools tuck those non-perishable meals and treats into bags for students who receive reduced-cost or free lunches.
According to SHARE, the program helps families “over the hump” on weekends when funds or food supplies tend to run low.
To keep its own pantries stocked, SHARE relies on the generosity of residents and area companies.
Last summer, hundreds of caregivers at the PeaceHealth System Services Center in Vancouver, donated more than 1.6 tons of canned goods and other foodstuffs for this special program. Several leaders from PeaceHealth also recently enjoyed rolling up their sleeves to help stuff packs for the schools.
SHARE is grateful for the support. “We cannot begin to thank the caregivers at PeaceHealth for the bags of food for the Backpack Program,” noted Kim Hash and Dellan Redjou in their Facebook post.
Giving to the community is a tradition that PeaceHealth likes to carry on all year long. Last fall, staff donated 714 pairs of socks and 241 pairs of underwear to SHARE. Through the Christmas holidays, caregivers collected food, provided holiday gifts and raised funds for a host of local charities. And in February, staff collected 772 cans of soup and other goodies for the Clark County Food Bank.
