Here's What's Happening AT SHEM...

Community Christmas Box Program

A community wide supported Christmas Meal Box Program is sponsored by local churches and civic organizations. Each year, there are typically approximately 250 to 280 Christmas Meal boxes distributed. Applications are available at SHEM (1115 Long Street).. All applications must be received with 2 working telephone numbers where you can be reached at SHEM by the posted date on application form.

Salvation Army Bell Ringing  

SHEM and organized Community Teams of Volunteer bell ringers will be out in force this year at Bi-Mart.

SHEM partners with Salvation Army and Bi-Mart starting the Tuesday before Thanksgiving in November and continues until shortly before Christmas. All of the funds raised through the bell-ringing project are used to purchase backpacks for children in our community.

Back To School Celebration 

SHEM volunteers coordinated the back to school event for Sweet Home School District students this year at the Community Health Fair Day at the Sweet Home High School grounds, distributing several hundred backpacks filled with school supplies, before dispersing the remainder to local schools.

 Press Releases

Hawthorne Elementary School 2025

Students and staff at Hawthorne Elementary School held a very successful cereal drive for SHEM (and the KidsPack Program). Over 1700 boxes were collected and arranged as an elongated domino run and culminated in the release of the first box of cereal, which tipped the next until all 1700 plus boxes were felled. SHEM Volunteers acknowledged thankfulness by creating a "Giant Box of Hornet O's Cereal" in lieu of a thank you card. The cereal box was accompanied by a video produced of Gracie, SHEM pantry mascot/service dog, who showed off her amazing skills in releasing a long string of cereal boxes, exuberantly jumping into the air and then finishing with bowing to her audience.