Every Child Central Oregon kicks off community-wide toy drive this week
REDMOND, Ore., Nov. 7, 2022 — What do toys, foster care and refreshing local cider all have in common? Quite a bit, at least at Avid Cider Co.’s November Pint Night.
Taking place this Thursday, Nov. 10 between 5:30 and 8 p.m., this charitable event will be two-fold: People will gather to celebrate Every Child Central Oregon’s official kickoff of its holiday, region-wide toy and gift drive. And, they’ll also have the opportunity to drink cider for a great cause, supporting ECCO, which galvanizes community around families and youth experiencing foster care, providing both tangible and intangible support.
“Avid is passionate about giving back to our community, and helping children in foster care is of utmost importance,” says Jenna Wasny, Avid’s taproom manager. “Knowing there are children who need extra support drives us to help, and we are eager to help this organization and the children through this event.”
A portion of Avid Cider Co. cider sales from November Pint Night will directly support ECCO’s mission and those it helps. Through the initiative, Avid Cider Co. donates a percentage of pint sales.
“We’re really grateful to Avid Cider Co. for opening their doors, hearts and taps to Every Child Central Oregon,” says Melissa Williams, ECCO’s executive director. “With the holidays just around the corner, it’s a great way for people to come together and engage around giving to those in need. The cider is fabulous and celebrating there with our crisp, cool fall weather is just a positive, purposeful way to raise awareness about our mission and encourage people to give abundantly to these children and teens in our community. We want their holidays and lives to be merrier and full of hope.”
New to this year’s toy and gift drive campaign, ECCO is offering people the opportunity to donate unwrapped gifts using Amazon wish lists instead of ECCO’s My NeighbOR platform, which regularly posts ongoing needs for families and youth experiencing foster care.
“For this particular event, Amazon wish lists are just an easier way for youth and teens to indicate what they want or need and then let the community go online and purchase those needs for them,” says Brieanna Rogers, ECCO’s Community Investment Coordinator. “With so much available for purchase on Amazon, it also makes it easier for kids to find and indicate more of what they’re wishing for or really need this holiday season, eliminating the giving guesswork.”
The Amazon wish list link is: https://bit.ly/eccogiftdrive.
The gift drive runs from Nov. 1 thru Dec. 8, allowing time for gifts to be wrapped and delivered to the correct recipients. With the help of caring community members, Central Oregon youth and teens will experience a season full of joy and giving. In addition, dozens of amazing Central Oregon community partners and businesses are serving as drop-off locations, where the public can leave their unwrapped gifts in the provided bins.
This year’s drop-off locations:
Bend:
Bend Nazarene Church, Tuesday-Thursdays 10am-1pm
Total Real Estate Group, Monday-Friday 8am-5pm
Premiere Property Group, Monday-Friday 8am-5pm
Summit High School, Monday-Friday 8am-4pm
First Interstate Bank (3rd and Revere), Monday-Friday 9am-5pm
Elite Medi Spa, Monday-Friday 9am-5pm
Southside Pub, 7 days a week 11am-11pm
Hixon Mortgage, Monday-Friday 9am-5pm
First Interstate Bank (Century Drive), Monday-Friday 9am-5pm
Strategic Realty, Monday-Friday by appt. only
West Coast Provisions in Bend, 8am-8pm, daily
Jessica Anderson Insurance Agency, State Farm Mon-fri 9am-5pm
Redmond:
Mariposa Real Estate, Monday-Friday 9am-4pm
Latino Association of Redmond, Monday-Thursday 10am-5pm
First Interstate Bank, Monday-Friday 9am-5pm
Prineville:
Prineville Nazarene Church, Tuesday-Wednesday 10am-2pm
Sisters: First Interstate Bank, Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm
Madras:
LINC Madras, Monday-Wednesday 10am-2pm
First Interstate Bank, Monday-Friday 9am-5pm
Signet Realty, Monday-Friday, 9am-4pm
