HR Christmas Project:
A chance to be Santa, for a day

1,001 children hope for gifts and food to arrive

JULIE RAEFIELD-GOBBO
News staff writer

It’s hard to believe, but true. Just over 1,000 Hood River County youth are waiting and hoping to receive a small gift and a little food from caring community members in order to experience some Christmas cheer in their homes this season.

The Hood River Christmas Project, now in its 15th year, has 1,001 children identified within the 512 families and individuals who registered to receive food baskets and toys during the holidays.

“We are up by about 25 family requests from last year’s registrations,” said Bruce Holmson, HRCP coordinator. “We always need a lot of community support to make this happen.”

“We are still taking cash donations,” said Kym Zanmiller, HRCP volunteer coordinator, “as well as non-perishable foods and new, un-wrapped toys. And there are still volunteer opportunities as well.” 

“Boy Scout Troupe 282 has been in charge of the toy and food barrel collections around town,” said Jeff McCaw, scout master and HRCP board member. “The toy donations are a little slow this year.” 

Toys and food items may still be dropped off at McCaw’s business, Print-It, located at 1820 W. Cascade Ave. in Hood River.

Baskets will be distributed to registered families from 1 to 6 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 17 (with last names A-M), and on Saturday, Dec. 18, from 1 to 6 p.m. (for last names of N-Z), at the Hood River County Fairgrounds community building.

All registrants will receive a food basket (quantity based on family size) and those with children will also receive toys or gift certificates. Many seniors will have baskets delivered to them.

For donations coming in after the distribution times, items will be held in storage for next year’s baskets. “It will all be used,” said McCaw.

 “This is truly a community effort,” Holmson said. “I have been working on this project for 15 years and it is so rewarding to see the joy on children’s faces when they see those gifts and food in their parent’s hands.”

In addition to the dedicated HRCP board members multiple individuals, groups and businesses contribute to brighten the season for the county’s less fortunate.

“Troupe 282 became involved as a way to pay back the sponsorship of their troupe by the Hood River Lions Club (who started the project and continue to donate funds to make it successful),” said McCaw. “It also teaches our scouts about service and about community needs. It’s a great project for everyone.”

 “We are very lucky to have received a grant from the Hood River Lions Foundation to cover $2,000 in purchases of healthy choice food items and $5,000 toward the toy purchases,” Holmson said. 

Additional youth are actively involved in making the project a success. This year, the Hood River Valley High School National Honor Society members and girls basketball team are volunteering to help. Horizon Christian School girls basketball team will be packing food boxes and toys. The Hood River Leos Club also sponsored HRCP families from start to finish and Wy’east Middle School is sending a crew of youth to work on sorting as well.

Likewise, 20 local businesses helped the project by locating donation barrels, or providing sorting sites and donations. Insitu is also providing a team of employee volunteers. The Hood River Lions Club also sends a team to help. 

“We’d all like to send a big thank you to all the people who have worked on the project so far and those who are still planning to!” said Zanmiller.