Stockings To Bring Joy, Hope To East County Foster Care Children

Over 50 volunteers spend their day providing Christmas packages for those in need.

Christmas will come early to six hundred Oregon Department of Human Services foster care children and teens in East County. Restore Hope, a local nonprofit that works to keep youth safe from sexual abuse, this month presented DHS regional caseworkers with filled green and red stockings for distribution by the Gresham office.

Many local organizations and companies lent support and provided stuffing items for the stockings, which contain 10 gifts based on gender and age group. The City of Gresham and Windermere Foundation donated grant money to help fund the effort. Columbia Sportswear, Dollar Tree, Gilmore Gracious Living, Mt. Hood Quilt Guild, and Willamette Dental donated substantially to the cause. Several local churches came together to assist in the huge project, including First Baptist, East Hill, Mountainview Christian, and River Hills.

Executive Director Pam Congdon and her daughter Mindy Pearson with Christmas stockings

Stuffing items sorted by gender and age group

“Many children in foster care settings arrive with nothing except the clothes they are wearing.

This project is designed to bring joy and hope to at-risk youth and let them know they are deeply cared about by local residents,” said Restore Hope President Eric Jones. “Receiving a fun-filled stocking at Christmas can lead children to a better outlook on life, including living in the Gresham community,” he added.

Restore Hope was founded in 2010 by Executive Director Pam Congdon.