Holiday Giving

I've just finished - I think!- getting off all of our thank you's to the groups and individuals who so generously donated to HOME over the holidays.  Since some of the people do not wish their name to be published, I will only list here the groups who helped out.  This will still not be a complete list as often someone would drop off items and then leave without our getting their names.  So, in alphabetical order, here is a list of the wonderful folks who helped make the holidays brighter and happier for more than 50 at-risk and homeless teens here at HOME.  Some donated money, others donated items from our Wish List...they all helped immensely.

BIG THANK YOU TO:
Awana Club
Blanchette School
Capitol Forum
Chemeketa Business & Industry
City of Salem Community Development Dept.
Comfort Suites
Exit Real World
Holy Cross Lutheran Church
First Christian Church
First Church of the Nazarene
First United Methodist Church
Marion County Juvenile Dept.
The Lunch Bunch
Madrona Hills Knitting Group
Mid-Valley Quilt Guild
Oregon State Penitentiary/7 Step Program
Salem Bridge Club
Salem Emblem Club
South Salem High School Freshman Advisors
Southside Speakeasy
The Springs
Walker Middle School Counseling Dept.
West Salem Dream Center
Willamette University

We're sure to have left out folks and, in anticipation, apologise now for any omissions.

Here are a few pictures of those who helped:

Shawna and Sophia from HOME on the right welcome our neighbors from Chemeketa's Center for Business & Industry bearing the last load of many wonderful gifts.

Festively dressed, Cassie Heffley and co-worker from the Center for Business & Industry, return to work with their empty cart.

Carly Garrison, left, presents Peggy Kahan, HOME's Program Director (me) with special gifts for individual youth selected for the Giving Tree which Carly, an intern with the school district, coordinated.  We'd always avoided a Giving Tree because 

we felt it would be too difficult to just pick a few teens to benefit.  However, Carly was willing to volunteer and get gifts and our staff felt it was an idea worth pursuing.  And so it happened and Carly succeeded in her solicitations beyond all expectations.  Exit Real World was an awesome contributor, as you can see, along with Jambo Juice and individuals who donated to this effort. 

Members of First Christian Church prepared a delicious ham dinner for about 50 youth plus staff and volunteers.