WENATCHEE, Wash. – Stemilt employees and growers stepped up in a big way to brighten the holidays for 133 children in foster care throughout central Washington. Stemilt’s Community Investment committee organized the effort that granted each child in the care two organizations – Washington State’s Division of Child & Family Services in Wenatchee and Community Resource Group of Wenatchee/Yakima – each of their three Christmas gift wishes.
According to Courtney Mathison, chair of the Community Investment committee, this was the second year that the Stemilt team provided Christmas gifts for foster children in its community.
“It’s incredible to see the response of the entire Stemilt team, and we are thankful for their generosity in fulfilling the wish lists of every child in foster care in our community this year,” said Mathison.
Owens Barrios, program manager for Community Resource Group, was “speechless” after seeing a room full of gifts ready to be shared with the foster children in central Washington.
“It’s amazing. This is the first time I can recall that a single company was willing to take on the wish lists of all of the kids in foster care in central Washington. We are truly blessed to have people with giving hearts in our community. Our kids in foster care are blessed because of the Stemilt team’s kind spirit and this will certainly be a memorable holiday for each and every one of them,” Barrios said.
Jennifer Godfrey, Area Administrator for Division of Child and Family Services in Wenatchee, echoed Barrios’ remarks. “When I think of how these gifts will lift the spirits of our children this holiday season – especially the many teens that have been in our care for so long – it brings me to tears. They deserve this and we are so grateful for the Stemilt team’s support and generosity in making a difference,” Godfrey said.
In related news, Stemilt recently provided a truckload of Piñata® apples for King 5 TV’s annual Home Team Harvest event that benefits Northwest Harvest and the many local food banks they provide food to. The event raised enough to provide 4 million meals. The apples were part of an ongoing hunger relief partnership between Stemilt and Rotary First Harvest.
Caption for Picture: Members of Stemilt’s Community Investment Committee pictured with the gifts heading to 133 foster kids in Central Washington. From left to right are: Tate Mathison, Diane Parker, Kathryn Bolyard, Darcey Brown, Lisa Mitchell, Mike Parrish, Brianna Shales, Courtney Mathison, and Zach Williams.
About Stemilt
Stemilt Growers is a leading tree fruit growing, packing and shipping company based in Wenatchee, Washington. Owned and operated by the Mathison family, Stemilt is the leading shipper of sweet cherries and one of the nation’s largest suppliers of organic tree fruits. Stemilt has also demonstrated a commitment to sustainable agriculture and social responsibility since 1989, when founder Tom Mathison launched the company’s Responsible Choice program. For more information about Stemilt, visit www.stemilt.com and follow Stemilt on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and You Tube.
Source: Stemilt Growers
