UNION – At the Eastern Oregon District

Leadership Camp in September, local chapters decided to make a

difference in their communities by becoming more involved with

community service.

They felt that Christmas is a wonderful time for everyone, but

especially for children. They decided that new or relatively new toys

could help ease a child’s pain and hopefully distract them from the

reality of having to spend Christmas in a hospital.

So the Eastern Oregon District Officers came up

with a plan to collect toys and deliver them to Shriners Hospital for

Children in Portland. This year’s district officer team consists of

President Megan Tanaka of Union, Vice President Hannah Del Curto of

Cove, Secretary Demetria Tsiatsos of La Grande, Treasurer Shelby Davis

of Imbler, Reporter Megan Yost of Joseph and Sentinel Amanda Spang of

Enterprise.

On Nov. 1, after returning from the National FFA Convention,

they set out to collect toys at their houses, businesses, schools and

churches. FFA Chapters invited to participate in the district were

Joseph, Enterprise, Elgin, Imbler,

La Grande, Cove, Union, North Powder, Baker City and Halfway.

Union was very successful in getting toys for this program and

securing several businesses to sponsor toys for the hospital. The

generous support of these local businesses not only helped to raise the

spirits of the crippled children, but also helped make FFA members feel

good about helping out.

Hank and Val Stockhoff, Union, volunteered to drive the toys to the hospital in Portland.