JOIN US for Packing Day 2024 on October 26th!
On Packing Day, you can have a hands-on global mission experience without having to leave Washington State. Connect with those from your own church and other Covenanters, not to mention a fantastic BBQ lunch, cider pressing and activities for kids. Please note that while children are welcome (and encouraged), NO childcare will be provided! Parent-supervised activities are available for kids of all ages to enjoy.
We hope you can make it as your participation in this event helps us get all our apples bagged and individuals are able to transport their apples back to their church to fulfill apple orders.
Please fill out this Photo Release form and bring it with you to packing day or email a copy to us at fruit@sharing-the-harvest.com.
Sharing the Harvest Packing Day is
Saturday, October 26th, 2024
See the full schedule for order and pickup of apples.
Packing Day Schedule
| Time | Task |
|---|---|
| 10:30AM | Volunteer Registration: Let us know that you and your church are here and collect your packet of information. |
| 11:00AM | Lunch (Fellowship Hall): Join us for a wonderful lunch to get energized for our bagging. |
| 12:15PM | Kick-Off (Sanctuary): Hear about what good work is happening in the Jitokeze Wamama Wafrika and receive instructions on how to bag apples. |
| 1:00PM | Bag Apples, Load Vehicles, and Kids Activities (Outside Parking Lot and Big Field): We bag apples in order of distance, so that churches that have traveled the farthest can get a head start on the road if they like. We also have activities for the kids, not to mention cider pressing. |
| 3:00ish-PM | Complete Packing & Clean Up (Inside & Outside): We move quickly to get everything bagged up, but any and all help is appreciated so we can get cleaned up after the project is complete. |
Directions to Wiley Heights
From Seattle-area
1. Take Interstate 90 or Hwy 12 to Interstate 82.
2. Head South on Interstate 82.
3. Get off on exit # 36 for W. Valley Mall Blvd.
4. Head west on W. Valley Mall Blvd. and travel 1.8 miles to 3rd Ave.
5. Take a left on 3rd Ave. and travel .4 miles to W. Ahtanum Rd.
6. Take a right on W. Ahtanum Rd. and travel 7.7 miles to Gilbert Rd.
7. Take a right on Gilbert Rd. and travel .4 miles up a hill to Wiley Heights Covenant Church
From Portland-area
1. Take Interstate 84 to Hwy 97 (North)
2. Take Hwy 97 (North) to Interstate 82. (In Toppenish, follow signs to Interstate 82, which should mean at the first light you continue straight on Hwy 22/Elm St. to the Interstate)
2. Head North on Interstate 82.
3. Get off on exit # 36 for W. Valley Mall Blvd.
4. Head west on W. Valley Mall Blvd and travel 1.8 miles to 3rd St.
5. Take a left on 3rd Ave. and travel .4 miles to W. Ahtanum Rd.
6. Take a right on W. Ahtanum Rd. and travel 7.7 miles to Gilbert Rd.
Once loading starts, all churches will be loaded in order of distance from Wiley Heights Covenant Church. Please be respectful as we try to load everyone as fast as possible.
If there are any issues on Packing Day (e.g. if you get lost coming to the church, you need information about your apple order, etc.), please call or text Cara Elzie, one of our Packing Day Co-coordinators, at +1 (509) 895-9847.
Packing Day & Animals:
Animals are welcome on Packing Day, however, they will not be allowed in the church. Unfortunately, due to concerns about allergens pets will not be allowed in the building. This does not apply to service animals. Most of Packing Day takes place outside and, if you need to go inside, a Sharing the Harvest Coordinator will be happy to watch your animals outside while you go inside. In the past we have had many dogs attend Packing Day and we would love to have more animals attend in the future!
If you have any questions, please feel free to call us ahead of Packing Day.
Thank you for your understanding and we look forward to seeing you with your furry friends!
Frequently Asked Questions
We provide all those attending packing day with a wonderful lunch at no cost. We start serving at 11 AM.
Bring weather-appropriate clothes.
The temperature highs for this time of the year is between 50 and 60 degrees. It tends to be sunny and dry, but check the weather before you come.
In the past we have included cider-pressing, a favorite for kids. We have some containers, but invite you to bring your own. We also have had a variety of kids’ activities in the past including pumpkins to color, apples just for kids, and a playground and big field for kids to run and have fun. Kids are of course welcome to participate in bagging apples, but we ask family members to keep a close eye on them at all
Be mindful to have a vehicle or vehicles that can haul back the apples your church purchased. A pick-up truck or a church is a great vehicle for this, but a car can certainly do the trick as well depending on the side of the order. And remember, apples while hearty are still a fruit and can bruise, so handle them gently.
Yes, we have additional apples available for purchase on packing day. We have also, in the past, had growers donate some additional fruit including Honeycrisp Apples and Asian Pears.
We would strongly encourage you to send a group or at least an individual to participate in the packing day and transport apples back to your church. It is a great way to make connections and helps out tremendously with the whole project. If no one from your church is able to come and transport we will work with you to get the apples to your church. Do not let this get in the way of you participating.
Head on over to the Contact Us page or send an email to fruit@sharing-the-harvest.com