PeaceHealth caregivers distribute Thanksgiving food baskets to hundreds of families

Ben Lonergan, Register-Guard
·1 min read

A steady stream of cars trickled through the parking lot at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center at Riverbend Tuesday as volunteers distributed nearly 800 Thanksgiving baskets to families facing financial, medical or other challenges.

“We have gone back many decades where we started building five baskets – way back in the day," said Tina Noland, a coordinator of the basket project. “Now today we’re giving out 800 baskets.”

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Noland, who works as a supply chain manager for PeaceHealth Oregon, has been volunteering with the program for the past 14 years.

Kelsey Pratt, left, Molly Katsanes and Ahniel Douglass load a Thanksgiving basket into a vehicle at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center Tuesday at Riverbend in Springfield. The baskets, of which nearly 800 were distributed by PeaceHealth caregivers and volunteers, contained fixings for a Thanksgiving meal such as turkey, pumpkin pie and fresh produce.

The hospital partners with a variety of local organizations for donations and volunteers, including Eugene Emeralds, Lochmead Dairy and Oregon Community Credit Union.

As people funneled through the distribution line, volunteers loaded their cars with fresh produce, pumpkin pie, turkey, stuffing and gravy mixes, and a five-pound bag of potatoes.

“The families are so grateful, and many caregivers donate and volunteer year after year because it feels good to work together to help our community," Noland said in a news release.

This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: PeaceHealth hospital caregivers distribute Thanksgiving food baskets