Donations given to backpack program, food pantry
OSMOND — Chris and Brianna Schmit, representing the Brandon Gerdes Memorial Foundation, recently presented donations to the “Brandon’s Bushel of Blessings” Backpack Program and the Osmond Food Pantry.
The funds were raised from the Fourth Annual Brandon Gerdes Memorial Trap Shoot held on Saturday, Sept. 26.
“Brandon’s Bushel of Blessings” is a backpack program providing needed nutrition to food disadvantaged children on weekends when school lunches are not available.
The $8,000 donation will assist with providing non-perishable and easy-to-prepare foods for the kids in the Osmond and Pierce communities so they have the nu trients they need when they are away from school and they can show up on Monday morning healthy and ready to learn. Brandon’s parents, Corey and Lisa Gerdes, started the program last year.
The Osmond Food Pantry received a $2,000 donation to support their efforts in assisting with the needs of members of their community.
Along with the food pantry, they assist with rent, medical needs and transportation to medical appointments. Osmond coped with the flooding of 2019 and now the effects of the pandemic in 2020.
“We hope these funds provide some relief to those most impacted by these events,” the Gerdeses said.
To date, the Brandon Gerdes Memorial Foundation has donated more than $70,000 to area groups and programs that it feels Brandon would like to assist. Other recipients of this year’s trap shoot proceeds include the “Angels Among Us” program in Bloomfield; the Christmas Giving Tree in Pierce, sponsored by the Community Emergency Response Team and Rivet Roasters Coffee Shop, along with the ministerial accounts in Pierce, Plainview, and Bloomfield to assist families affected by COVID.
“This would not be possible without the ongoing support of area communities, including Osmond. Thank You!” the Gerdeses added.
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