Yakima Costco Workers Help 30 Kids Get Make-A-Wish Dreams

When Bam Mendiola learned that Spanish-speaking families in Yakima Valley had to wait twice as long for Make-A-Wish experiences due to a lack of bilingual volunteers, he knew he had to act. Now he and coworker Brianna Schreeder are on a mission to show others how easy it is to join them.

The two Costco Member Service Center employees started volunteering with Make-A-Wish in September 2024. Since then, they've helped grant wishes for critically ill children across Central Washington, where 30 kids in Yakima County alone are still waiting for their dreams to come true.

Brianna jumped in after learning wish kids in her community were waiting twice as long as those in other areas. As a mom, the thought of sick children having to wait pulled at her heartstrings.

The wishes range from shopping sprees to meeting celebrities, traveling to special places, or even giving back to others. Children between 2 1/2 and 18 years old with critical illnesses qualify, and they have until age 21 for their wish to happen.

Bam's most memorable moment came when he helped an 8-year-old girl who chose a shopping spree at Columbia Center Mall. Instead of focusing only on herself, she filled her cart with thoughtful gifts for her parents, showing him the true meaning of generosity.

Brianna will never forget her first wish, which happened to be the organization's 9,000th. The child chose to give back to the hospital and other kids undergoing cancer treatment, choosing generosity in the middle of their own battle.

Sunny's Take

Here's what makes this story shine: Bam and Brianna are living proof that you don't need unlimited free time to make a massive difference. Brianna has granted just two wishes in two years while working full time and raising her daughter, yet her impact extends far beyond those moments.

The flexibility is real. Volunteers can greet families at airports, translate for Spanish-speaking families, help at community events, or pick up donations. There's no mandatory time commitment, and you can even volunteer with a friend.

Right now, 585 children across Washington and Alaska are waiting for their wishes, supported by just eight volunteers in Yakima County. The math is simple: more volunteers mean kids wait less time for the joy and hope they desperately need.

Brianna shares these experiences with her daughter, becoming "a bit of a hero through the eyes of my child." She hopes her daughter will grow up inspired to drive her own impact in the world.

The message from these two Costco coworkers is clear: if we all step forward, even in small ways, the collective impact is massive.