Kindness Lasts a Lifetime
Vina Moses
By Shannon Pocan
I remember when I was in first grade, my mom had just left my abusive father and we [my mother, sister and I] were living in a tiny one bedroom mobile home in Bend, OR. My mom was working two jobs at the time trying her hardest to keep the lights on and to make sure we had food to eat each day and night; there definitely wasn’t any money left over for the holidays. On Christmas Eve that year I remember our amazing school guidance counselor stopping by our house with two giant black trash bags, one for me and one for my sister. I still remember the excitement and happiness I felt when I opened that big bag to find a giant stuffed teddy bear! I would carry that big thing with me for years, moving from place to place, and to this day I carry the warm memory of being loved and cared for by the people that meant so much to me. They allowed me the opportunity to be a child and to not feel the weight of the poverty we were facing during that time.
How to Participate
Pull a tag from one of our Giving Trees at a local business or digitally “pull” a tag from our Digital Giving Tree.
Purchase an item you think a child would love!
Drop your item back to the business you pulled a tag from or drop off or mail directly to Vina Moses Center.
Each year, with your support, we have the opportunity to bring joy, magic and love to the homes and hearts of so many families in our community. Small acts like pulling a tag from one of our local Giving Trees, participating in our Digital Giving Tree, or donating new toys, blankets, books, stuffed animals and beyond impact real people’s lives and have a rippling effect throughout time.
Our 2022 Giving Tree Store, a seasonal pop-up that brings gifts, food, and holiday magic to families in Benton County.
