On Monday, June 10, members of the Grant-Harney County CASA joined SELCO Credit Union staff in assembling “Care Kits” for children being removed from their homes.

The project was initiated by an elementary student in Baker City, Anna, who was removed from her home, and didn’t want other children to have to put their belongings in a trash bag to carry as she did.

Shyannah Carr, a senior at Grant Union High School in John Day, became involved with the effort as her senior project.

Grant-Harney County CASA worked with Carr on the project, and SELCO came on board as a sponsor, donating $3,000 to the project.

On June 10, the bags were put together, each containing comfort items such as stuffed animals, coloring books, journals, and books. The bags also contained gift cards for Grocery Outlet in Burns  for Harney County children, and Chester’s in John Day for Grant County children.

The assembled bags were then distributed to the Department of Human Services (DHS) branches. The DHS Child Protective Services workers will be able  to take along an age-appropriate duffel bag with them for each child being removed from a home. There were 100 bags assembled, expected to provide children with a “Care Kit” for at least the next year.