Every Child Central Oregon and Hayden Homes hosted a dynamic donation event on Oct. 19 at Tetherow Resort. Hayden Homes team members worked together to build 23 bikes that were then donated to ECCO for youth impacted by foster care, ahead of the holiday season.
“We’re so excited,” said Melissa Williams, the executive director for Every Child Central Oregon. “Because we’re getting into the holiday season, and we get lots of requests for bikes, so these will be used to meet those needs, and then also any needs for youth currently in foster care that need a bike.”
There are about 200 foster homes in the Central Oregon region and an estimated 250 children are in foster care at any given time.
“A bike means everything,” said Williams. “When kids are coming into foster care, they’re coming with very, very little.”
Since 2021, Hayden Homes has extended not only generous financial support to children served by ECCO but has also committed, both as a team and as individuals, to donating their time. Last year, Hayden Homes generously fulfilled 80 holiday wish lists from foster care families and in 2021 they provided 90 gifts for children in foster care during the holiday season.
“Events like this one allow us to live out our Give As You Go™ philosophy at Hayden Homes and connect with nonprofits in a meaningful way,” said Katie McGowan, the corporate marketing manager for Hayden Homes. “It also empowers our team members, and hopefully the community, to be a part of something that makes a difference in the lives of those who need our support.”
A brief timeline of ECCO’s partnership with Hayden Homes is summarized below.
Every Child Central Oregon and Hayden Homes: Making a daily difference in the lives of Central Oregonians touched by foster care
- In 2021, Hayden Homes sponsored ECCO’s Winter Wonderland event, which served close to 100 kids and families in Central Oregon. In addition to providing logistical support for the event, about a dozen Hayden Homes team members volunteered for the event in Bend and Redmond. Team members dressed up as Santa and elves and others worked directly with kids in a classroom.
- In 2021, Hayden Homes provided 90 gifts for children in foster care during the holiday season.
- In 2022, as a result of Winter Wonderland’s success, ECCO launched Foster Parents Night Out in Redmond, in partnership with Hayden Homes staff and several volunteers. In its second year, FPNO is a six-month event series that provides four hours of once-a-month themed respite care to resource foster families and all of the children in their households. It is the first program of its kind east of the Cascades and aims to serve up to 40 kids each month. First Story, a nonprofit founded by Hayden Homes, has generously provided $17,500 in grants to ECCO since 2021 and this year’s $5,000 grant will directly support the FPNO program.
- In 2022, Hayden Homes fulfilled 80 holiday wish lists from foster care families.
- In 2022, Hayden Homes team members assembled around 250 skateboards and donated them to ECCO to be distributed to kids throughout Central Oregon.
- Hayden Homes team members in Central Oregon have coordinated two Flash Box Assembly events for ECCO. For each event, team members donated supplies and assembled and delivered flash boxes to dozens of foster families in Redmond. Flash boxes assist resource parents in the transition to fostering and they’re filled with fun activities for the whole family to enjoy.
- During the COVID pandemic, Hayden Homes donated three laptops to ECCO families in need.
