Once again, the Rotary Club of Forest Grove provided an avenue local needy families to make their holiday season just a little brighter.

Our annual Hope For The Holidays service event took place on Tues., Dec. 18, at the Cornelius Walmart. Over 20 Rotarians, Interactors from Forest Grove High School and friends and family of Rotarians met with 21 families to assist in their shopping efforts. Each family received $500 in the form of a Walmart gift card and purchased everything from Christmas gifts for children to bedding to food for a holiday dinner.

In addition to opening the store for the event, Walmart provided two checkout lanes specifically for Hope for the Holidays as well as gift wrap, boxes and bows with gift wrapping provided by members of the FGHS Interact Club.

The effort was funded by over $8,000 of donations from club members. The club also received grants from Rotary District 5100 and from Allstate along with an in-kind donation from Walmart.

In addition to our financial partners, we are grateful to our partners from the Forest Grove School District and West Tuality Habitat for Humanity who helped identify families to participate in the program.