Since 1979, PeaceHealth Sacred Heart caregivers have sponsored efforts to help struggling families enjoy a Thanksgiving meal. This year volunteers say, the need is greater than ever.
This season, 1,150 families were nominated to be a part of The Thanksgiving Basket Project. Each family received the ingredients to cook a full-fledged turkey dinner with all the fixin’s, including dessert.
Hospital surgery supervisor Tina Noland is a long-time volunteer with the Project. She said it’s about lifting spirits.
“We got hit with COVID and there’s so many people out of work right now. And then on top of COVID we got hit with our wildfires,” Noland said. “And we just have so many people that- even if they can afford their own Thanksgiving meal- it was just one less thing they have to worry about this year.”
Noland said RiverBend employees and private donors raised $35,000 to purchase the food. A drive-through was set up at the hospital so recipients could safely collect their holiday meal makings.
