On May 14, 2022, children from across Washington and Eastern Oregon helped SERVE Wenatchee with their annual food drive.
SERVE Wenatchee is a social service organization that provides low-income individuals and families with food, furniture and household items. Every May, the charity participates in the nationwide Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive put on by the National Association of Letter Carriers.
The kids, all members of Pathfinder clubs, volunteered as a part of the Upper Columbia Conference Pathfinder Outreach Fair, a weekend gathering in Wenatchee Confluence State Park complete with camping, worshipping, and community service.
On Saturday afternoon, 130 Pathfinders and volunteer staff arrived at the SERVE Wenatchee warehouse to sort food donations and bedding previously donated by community members. “It was barely-controlled chaos!” said Richie Brower, UCC Pathfinder director. “The kids were having fun and the noise and energy levels were off the charts.”
By 5:15 p.m., only two and a half hours after starting, the Pathfinders had sorted all the food for the day. In total, the volunteers organized 11,578 pounds. The last time SERVE partnered with the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive, it took four months for the small group of local volunteers to sort all the donations. The Pathfinders were able to tackle the job in a matter of hours, with focused time and a lot of hands.
Although the Outreach Fair included fun activities such as biking, hiking and camping, many Pathfinders reported that food sorting was their favorite activity of the weekend. “The kids really enjoyed getting out and helping the community,” said Brower. “We all felt blessed to be there, and we are grateful to SERVE Wenatchee for allowing us to partner with them on this exciting project.” The food donated by the community will supply many of the needs at SERVE Wenatchee in the coming year.
To learn more about Pathfinders and to find a club near you, visit uccsda.org/clubministries.
