In a recent article in the East Oregonian, Kathy Aney discusses the new CommuniCare club at Pendleton High School in Pendleton, Oregon. 2017 is the first year Pendleton High School has participated in the program.

According to Jill Gregg, advisor for the students’ program, “It’s been very eye-opening for the students.” Three of the students involved, along with Gregg, recently conducted interviews and visited a handful of local nonprofits with missions focused on homelessness or student scholarship opportunities. After reading proposals from eleven area nonprofits, Annalie Oertwich, Pendleton High School’s CommuniCare club publicist, stated, “What surprised me the most was seeing just how many homeless people are in our community. Driving around, you might see a person standing on the corner and think they’re the only one in town, but there are hundreds of them all over Pendleton.”

The students sold baked goods, pizza, and raffle tickets to raise $500 which was met by the Harold and Arlene Schnitzer CARE Foundation with an additional $7,500 for a total of $8,000. The students know deciding which proposals to help fund will not be easy.