Dayton Chronicle - Your Hometown News Source

WALLA WALLA–Walla Walla Community Hospice (WWCH) is most often the recipient of charitable giving, but through a campaign called “One for the Least of These”, WWCH gets to play the role of co-benefactor. The funds are administered through Origins Pharmacy Solutions and the program allows for a portion of WWCH’s pharmacy expenditures to be donated by Origins to a charity that serves the homeless or supports children. The staff at WWCH chose the Friends of Children of Walla Walla as the recipient of this year’s donation.

WWCH administration knew that Friends’ ability to fundraise would be greatly affected by the social distancing guidelines set by the state. Brad McMasters, who does community outreach for WWCH shared, “We felt so badly that they had to abruptly cancel their annual breakfast fundraiser. We know how important that revenue is to programming.”

In response to the donation, Friends Executive Director, Jim Byrnes offered a “heartfelt thanks” added that the donation “will go a long way in helping us bring awareness to Resilience and how it buffers the negative effects of Adverse Child Experiences for all our kiddos in Walla Walla and College Place.”

The Friends program was formed in 1999 by a group of community leaders concerned for young persons in the Walla Walla valley. The organization built its services upon the concept that a safe, consistent relationship with a caring adult outside the home can help a young person negotiate the developmental challenges that all youth face. The program matches adult volunteers with a child. Since the first Friends “match” was made in 1999, nearly 2500 children have been served in the program. Currently, Friends is offering telementoring to address the need for social distancing.

For more information about Friends of Children of Walla Walla, visit their website at wallawallafriends.org or visit their Facebook page (@WallaWallaMentoring).