Kadlec employees donate filled backpacks to kids at mission

Mission client Juan Pulido, left, helps Kadlec employee Steve Baker unload 76 donated backpacks filled with basic toiletries, snacks and toys Tuesday at the Tri-City Union Gospel Mission in Pasco.

Employees in the emergency room and X-ray departments at Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Richland collected the gifts for kids at the Women & Children’s Shelter at the mission.

Chariss Warner, director of the shelter, said the backpacks are given kids when they first arrive and are especially useful to give to children when they aren’t able to stay at the shelter.

Warner said there are 11 children staying with their mothers at the facility.

This story was originally published December 22, 2015 at 4:40 PM with the headline "Kadlec employees donate filled backpacks to kids at mission."