Everett, Wash.
Published: Thursday, November 27, 2008

Ways to Give: Where you can make a difference

Herald staff

 Snohomish and Island counties are fortunate to have scores of agencies and charities that provide programs and services for children, families, seniors and others in our communities. But each depends on financial donations, volunteers and other support. Here’s where you can help make a difference.

Kids

Arlington Kids' Kloset, 135 S. French, Box C, Arlington, WA 98223, needs gently used clothing, sizes 4 through teen, along with new socks, underwear, gloves and hats. Volunteers are appreciated. School-age children in the Arlington, Lakewood and Darrington school districts who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch are served twice a year by the all-volunteer organization. For information, call 360-435-4875.

Assistance League of Everett, 5107 Evergreen Way, P.O. Box 3825, Everett, WA 98203, needs new T-shirts for size 8 boys and teen girls and boys sizes, and new jeans in teen girl, plus-size women and large men sizes. The Assistance League, which runs a thrift store, provides clothing for kids in need from throughout the county and financial aid to graduating high school seniors and Everett Community College students. For more information, call 425-252-3011, e-mail contact@assistanceleagueofeverett.org or go to www.assistanceleagueofeverett.org.

Binky Patrol, which meets in a private home in Marysville, provides quilts and afghans to Snoho­mish County infants and children who need comfort. Volunteer seamstresses are needed along with donations of fabrics, batting, thread or money to buy sewing supplies. For information, call 360-659-7198.

Children's Administration, third floor, 840 N. Broadway, Everett, WA 98201, works with children and families in crisis, addressing the safety, well-being and permanency of children in foster care. Adolescents and children often lack support and acknowledgement during the holiday seasons or around their birthdays. Needs include toiletries, toys, school supplies, orthodontia. For more information, call 425-339-4741.

Clothes For Kids, 16725 52nd Ave. W., Lynnwood, WA 98037, expects to serve more than 4,000 Snohomish County children in need this year by providing free quality wardrobes and other resources. Urgently needed is winter clothing. For additional information, times to drop off donations or to make a financial donation, go to www.clothesforkids.org or call 425-741-6500.

Cocoon House, 2929 Pine St., Everett, WA 98201, focuses on preventing youth homelessness and provides shelter, transitional housing and supportive services to homeless and high-risk teens and support to their families. The nonprofit organization needs gift cards for QFC, Safeway, Wal-Mart, Ross and Fred Meyer; movie passes; bus passes; new socks; new boxer briefs; USB or flash drives; and pay-as-you-go cell phones or calling cards. For more information, call 425-259-3342 or e-mail info@cocoonhouse.org.

Compass Health therapeutic foster care program serves children who have mental health difficulties, often resulting from abuse or neglect. Needed are new unwrapped toys, books or DVDs for kids ages 6 through 17, movie passes and fast-food gift certificates. Volunteers are needed to become full- or part-time foster parents and provide respite care for as little as one weekend a month. The program is at 4526 Federal Ave., Building 1, Everett, WA 98203. Go to www.compasshealth.org or call 425-349-8480.

Deaconess Children's Services, 4708 Dogwood Drive, Everett, WA 98203. Its holiday Adopt-a-Family program matches families in need with individuals and groups who donate gifts, cash or gift certificates. Also needed are volunteers to work in the children's program for kids through age 7. Deaconess Children's Services Kids on the Move program in Arlington needs volunteers to mentor teens. For gift sponsorship or to volunteer, call Stacey Pfeiffer at 425-259-0146, ext. 101, or e-mail spfeiffer@deaconess children.org. Cash donations can be mailed to P.O. Box 2629, Everett, WA 98203.

Farm Ministries youth outreach program has its Christmas "Miracle on 92nd Street" party set for 1 to 4 p.m. Dec. 7 for local shelter kids and parents. Needed are donations to purchase presents and stocking stuffers. Checks can be mailed to The Farm Ministries - Christmas Gifts, 11212 92nd St. SE, Snohomish, WA 98290. For more information, call Bruce or Vicki Karr at 360-568-5120 or call 425-971-0939.

Foster Kids Secret Santa Toy Drive, sponsored by Sleep County USA, runs through Dec. 14 at area Sleep Country stores. New unwrapped toys, games, books and movies for all ages are needed. For more information, go to www.sleepcountry.com.

Haven For Life Ministries is a nonprofit organization providing a home for pregnant teenage girls. The program includes counseling, education, computer training, life skills, job readiness, birthing classes, pre-natal care, adoption coordination and parenting classes. For a list of ways to help and what is needed, go to www.havenforlifeministries.org or call 425-418-8315.

Kids Dream of Snohomish helps foster children in Snohomish County. Community donations of clothing for infants to teens are being collected until Dec. 17 at Dow Insurance Agency, 122 State Ave., Marysville, WA 98270. Especially needed are pajamas for all ages and pants for little boys and girls. Call 360-653-5561 or go to www.kidsdreamofsnohomish.org.

Matthew House, 16207 177th Ave. SE, Monroe, is an ecumenical hospitality house for children who have a parent in prison. It provides food, clothing, transportation and support to families. Donations of gloves, scarves, hats and mittens, canned food, turkeys, food baskets for the holidays and Christmas gifts for children are needed. To donate money, send checks to P.O. Box 201, Monroe, WA 98272. For more information, call 360-794-8720 or go to www.matthew housemonroe.org.

Northshore Christian Church, 5700 23rd Drive W., Everett, WA 98203, has its "Christmas Day of Sharing" set for 9 a.m. to 3 p.m Dec. 13 for more than 160 families who otherwise would not have much of a Christmas for their children. Unwrapped gifts for children through age 18 are being collected through Dec. 10. at the church. For information, call 425-407-1119, ext. 1015.

Operation Lookout, National Center for Missing Youths, 6320 Evergreen Way, Suite 201, Everett, WA 98203, provides free services and referrals for families of missing children. The agency needs cash donations. Call 800-566-5688 or 800-782-7335. To download posters, request free mailing labels featuring photos of missing children or learn of other ways to help, go to www.operationlookout.org.

Project Linus, 5023 10th Place W., Everett, WA 98203. Snohomish County chapter volunteers provide quilts, blankets and afghans for seriously ill and traumatized children in Snohomish County. Needed are new, homemade, quilted or tied, knit or crocheted and machine washable blankets. Volunteers are needed to donate time at work parties or Make-a-Blanket days. Donations of batting, fabric, thread, yarn, sewing notions, sewing machines and cash are needed. Donations can be dropped off at Pacific Fabric, Needle & I or Mary's Quilt & Fabric. Call 425-252-4524 to schedule a pick-up.

Sno-Coats for Kids, which hopes to distribute new coats to thousands of Snohomish County children age 14 and under, has information about where to donate and how to help at its Web site, www.sno-coats.org. For more information, e-mail info@sno-coats.org.

South Snohomish County Holiday Toy Shop expects to help more than 450 families this year on Dec. 13 at Terrace Park School. Needed are new toys and stocking stuffers for children of all ages, including gifts for teens. Unwrapped new toys for kids or gift cards for teens can be dropped at the YWCA Pathways for Women shelter at 6027 208th St. SW, Lynnwood; the YWCA Regional Center, 3301 Broadway, Everett, or at the Lynnwood police and fire departments, 19100 44th Ave. W., Lynnwood. Mark the donation for the Toy Shop. For more information on how to help, go to www.ywcaworks.org and click on Volunteer and go to the Toy Shop information or call Luanne Kunz at 425-258-2766, ext 150.

Stanwood-Camano Christmas Room, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 15-19, at 9620 271st St. NW, Stanwood. The organization provides new clothes, school supplies and toys for children and teens from the Stanwood, Camano and Lakewood communities. Financial contributions can be dropped off at the Stanwood Camano Food Bank marked to the attention of the Christmas Room or mailed to P.O. Box 891 Stanwood, WA 98292. New unwrapped clothes, toys or school supplies can be dropped off at the Christmas Room during its operation. Call 360-629-8181.

Shelly's Library, Stanwood-Camano Rotary Club, P.O. Box, 1754, Stanwood, WA 98292, provides a free age-appropriate hardbound book each month to young children in the Stanwood-Camano School District. So far, about 425 children up to age 5 are registered for the program. A $27 donation can buy books for a child for a year. For more information, go to www.stanwoodrotary.org or call 360-629-5564.

Toys for Tots campaign, run by the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, is set to collect cash and new, unwrapped toys from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 20 at Haggen food stores in Stanwood, Arlington, Marysville and Lake Stevens. Donation bins are set up now at those stores. More information is online at www.toysfortots.org.

Visiting Nurse Services of the Northwest, 6100 219th St. SW, Suite 400, Mountlake Terrace, WA 98043, is seeking holiday donations for its home care and maternal/infant clients. Clients are screened for appropriateness and need by their nurses and caregivers. Needed are gift cards for food and clothing, small individual gifts and assistance with utility bills. To adopt a client, call Doris Tideman at 425-738-4937.

Edmonds Community College Foundation, 20000 68th Ave. W., Lynnwood, WA 98036, provides scholarships for students and support for the college and its faculty, staff and facilities. Cash and vehicle donations are needed. Call 425-640-1274 or go to foundation.edcc.edu.

Everett Community College Foundation, 2000 Tower St., Everett, WA 98201, provides scholarship support to students and financial resources to promote faculty and staff innovation. Local business leaders, individuals and alumni can make a difference in the lives of students by contributing an investment of time, talent and/or financial means in support of academic excellence and student success. Call 425-388-9434 or go to www.everettcc.edu/foundation for more information.

Operation Homefront Washington is a statewide nonprofit organization whose mission is "supporting our troops, the families they leave behind during deployment and wounded warriors when they return home." Needed now are stocking-stuffer items for its Christmas stockings. In addition, volunteers can adopt a military family for Christmas or provide gift cards for Christmas dinners for families. For more information, call 425-931-1047, or go to www.operationhomefront.net/ washington.

Navy League, Naval Station Everett, is supporting sailors and their families in need of help. To make a donation or to volunteer, e-mail administrator@ everettnavyleague.org or call 360-651-7761.

Stanwood-Camano Hero Quilters group provides quilts for the American Hero Quilts project. The quilts are given to wounded soldiers at Fort Lewis. People can help sew or donate money to American Hero Quilts, www.americanheroquilts.com. The next quilting bee is set for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 20 at Stanwood Senior Center, 7336 276th St. NW, Stanwood. For more information, contact Sharon Szekely at 360-387-4800 or sharonsseams2b@peoplepc.com.

Village Community Services' Smokey Point Women are collecting baked goods, popular magazines, personal care supplies and other items (no aerosol cans or liquids) from the home front to send to soldiers overseas. Items can be dropped off from 1 to 5 p.m. Dec. 6 at Hawthorne Inn Suites, second floor banquet room, 16710 Smokey Point Blvd. Call 360-653-7752, ext. 14, for more information.

Senior Services of Snohomish County, a nonprofit agency, provides housing, nutrition, meals on wheels, transportation and social services to 35,000 people annually. Cash donations are especially needed to provide health and safety repairs for senior homeowners on fixed income through the Minor Home Repair program. Checks can be mailed to Senior Services of Snohomish County, 8225 44th Ave. W., Suite O, Mukilteo, WA 98275, or donations can be made with a credit card at www.sssc.org. For information call 425-290-1262. The Web site also lists the senior centers throughout the region.

Monroe Community Caring Drive benefits the senior citizens of Monroe. Items needed include personal care essentials and toiletry items, which are to be distributed to senior citizens through the Sky Valley Food Bank in Monroe. Donation bins are at various locations around the city. The drive runs through Dec. 4. To volunteer, call Cheri Hurst with the city of Monroe at 360-863-4517 or e-mail churst@ci.monroe.wa.us.

Families

ARC of Snohomish County, 2500 Hewitt Ave., Suite 300, Everett, WA 98201, provides assistance, education and social opportunities to families and individuals with developmentally disabled members, promoting self-reliance and advocacy skills. Donations of Legos, time and services are needed. For more information, call 425-258-2459 or go to www.arcsno.org.

Boy Scout Tree of Giving through Dec. 18 at the Everett Mall, 1000 SE Everett Mall Way. A joint project of the mall, Fluke Corp. and the Mount Baker Council of Boy Scouts of America, the tree is covered with wish-list tags. Shoppers select a tag and purchase the items listed. Tags represent wishes from families and senior clients of more than 30 local noprofit agencies. Last year, more than 1,500 gifts were purchased and left at the tree for Scouts to distribute. Mount Baker Council, 1715 100th Place SE, Everett, WA 98208. Call 425-338-0380.

Domestic Violence Services of Snohomish County, P.O. Box 7, Everett, WA 98206, provides services to victims of domestic violence and their children, including a 24-hour crisis hotline, confidential emergency shelter, transitional housing, legal advocacy, advocacy based support groups and children's programs. The organization's New & Again Thrift Shoppe, 3116 Rucker Ave., Everett, provides free clothing, furniture and household items to clients and their children. Volunteer opportunities and a wish list of holiday items are available at www.dvs-snoco.org or by calling Sharon Lee at 425-259-2827, ext. 24.

Everett Gospel Mission offers emergency shelter and services that meet basic needs. The organization needs gift certificates or donations for children's and adults' holiday gifts, such as toys, dolls, CD players, footballs, sweatshirts, perfume and holiday foods. For more information, call 425-252-1297, ext. 234, or e-mail Ellen Davis at edavis@egmission.org. Donations can be mailed to P.O. Box 423, Everett, WA 98206.

Everett Teens Secret Santas, a group of Everett students is assisting six families in Snoho­mish County. Donation boxes are scheduled to be up Dec. 1-23 at A Gathering Grove, 2820 Oakes Ave., Suite C, Everett, and Everett Surplus and Salvage, 3506 Broadway, Everett. For more information, call 425-710-0349. Needed are nonperishable foods, gifts for children, diapers, towel sets, gift cards to grocery stores.

Evergreen Manor, 2601 Summit Ave., Everett, WA 98201, is a chemical dependency treatment organization providing housing and addiction recovery services for low-income pregnant women and mothers with young children. Among the items needed are toddler push toys, baby slings, twin-bed linens, bath towels and wash cloths, car seats, high chairs, cribs, toddler beds, disposable diapers, yarn and knitting needles, and day planners. Go to www.evergreenmanor.org or call 425-258-2407.

Families & Friends of Violent Crime Victims, PO BOX 1949, Everett, WA 98206, provides support and advocacy for crime victims and the loved ones of missing persons and homicide victims. The agency needs cash donations, gas cards or grocery gift cards. Call 800-346-7555 or 425-252-6081. To learn more about services and other ways to help, go to www.fnfvcv.org.

Habitat for Humanity of Snohomish County has a four-home building project currently under way on Broadway in Everett. Construction, special event and public relations volunteers are needed. Habitat construction relies on volunteers and cash donations of any size. Volunteer or donate online at habitatsnohomish.org or call 425-258-6289.

Housing Hope, 5830 Evergreen Way, Everett, WA 98203, provides affordable housing and services for low-income and homeless residents of Snohomish County. Needed are those who will "adopt" a Housing Hope family, choose an item off a wish list, or provide nonperishable food, cleaning supplies, baby items or gift cards. Drop off donations from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Dec. 15 and 1 to 5 p.m. on Dec. 16 at the Housing Hope Learning Center, 5908 Evergreen Way, Everett. For more information and specific needs lists, call 425-347-6556 or e-mail jennycline@housinghope.org.

Intercommunity Mercy Housing at Family Tree Apartments, 10110 19th Ave. SE, R200, Everett, WA 98208, is an affordable housing program that offers a variety of social services to its residents. Needed are nonperishable food, gift cards to grocery stores for fresh food, warm coats for kids, school supplies, craft supplies, gifts for teens, headphones for computer use and movie, bowling and skating passes. Volunteers are needed, too. For information, call 425-337-2132 or e-mail jhots@mercyhousing.org.

Lake Stevens Family Center, a program of Lutheran Community Services Northwest, helps individuals and families with support, resources and opportunity. Basic needs assistance is a focus of this mission. The center is located at 1803 123rd Ave. NE in downtown Lake Stevens and can be reached at 425-397-7433. Volunteers, cash donations, gift cards to local merchants and family sponsors are needed.

Mountlake Terrace High School choirs and orchestras have scheduled a benefit concert on Dec. 16 and the school bands are set to perform Dec. 18 for the Concern for Neighbors Food Bank in Mountlake Terrace and Clothes for Kids in Lynnwood. The concerts begin at 7 p.m. in the school theater, 21801 44th Ave. W., Mountlake Terrace. Cash donations, nonperishable food items, and new or gently used clothes for babies through high school students and gift cards are needed. Call 425-775-7013 for more information.

North County Fire/EMS firefighters are collecting toys and canned food to be donated to the Stanwood Food Bank and Christmas House. Donations can be made through Dec. 12 at the Warm Beach Fire Station, Freeborn Fire Station and the Bryant Fire Station. In addition, donations can be dropped off at the Stanwood Haggens Starbucks and the Stanwood Starbucks in the QFC Village. For more information, call 360-652-1246.

Operation Marysville Community Christmas, P.O. Box 917, Marysville, WA 98270, helps families in need of food, basic necessities and toys for the holidays. Food and toy drives continue through Dec. 23. Food and unwrapped toys can be dropped off at any of 50 red barrels in stores, fire stations, banks and other locations around Marysville. To volunteer, contact Marysville Community Food Bank at 360-658-1054.

Snohomish County Salvation Army, 2525 Rucker Ave., Everett, WA 98201, holiday service program needs support for its annual Adopt a Family and Angel Tree programs. The Adopt a Family program targets families in need by providing gifts for their children as well as food for a holiday dinner. The Angel Tree program provides donors an angel tag gift request representing a boy or girl up to age 14 in the Salvation Army social services program. Salvation Army also looking for volunteers from civic groups, clubs, Scout troops, sports teams or other organizations to ring bells on Sundays for the Red Kettle Campaign. Interested groups would donate time to help raise money for Salvation Army social service programs. To learn more, call 425-259-8129.

Snohomish County Project Self- Sufficiency, 3000 Rockefeller, M/S 305 Everett, WA 98201, provides services to low-income parents who are employed at entry level jobs or who are in an educational or job training program gaining the skills they need in order to eventually fully support their families. Community donors are anonymously matched with Project Self-Sufficiency families for holiday gifts and food. Donors can also give cash or checks for gifts or food for a family. To donate, call 425-388-7318. To learn more, go to www.snoco.org.

Soap for Hope donation drive collects toiletry items and distributes them to local shelters, food banks and other charitable organizations. Donations can be dropped off at the AAA Everett office, 909 SE Everett Mall Way, E-520, and the AAA Lynnwood office, 4100 Alderwood Mall Blvd., No. 8, through the end of the year. For more information, go to www.AAA.com or call 800-562-2582.

South Everett Neighborhood Center and Familias Unidas, 6315 Fleming St., Suite B, Everett, WA 98203, is a resource and family support center of Lutheran Community Services Northwest. It provides a variety of programs free to the community. The center is still looking for a larger and less expensive or free space in order to trim operational costs. The space could be shared with another nonprofit agency, business or church. Also needed are office supplies, volunteers to do yard work, food for an emergency food pantry and cash donations. Call 425-355-6005 or e-mail jclifford@lcsnw.org to help.

Take the Next Step, 202 S. Sams St., Monroe, WA 98272, is a nonprofit agency serving homeless and at-risk families, individuals and teens in east Snohomish County. The organization's goal is to build self-sufficiency and independence. Volunteers are needed, along with monetary donations, personal care products, gas cards, bus tickets, canned or boxed meals and Christmas gifts. Call 360-794-1022 to help out.

Terrace Alderwood Rotary Club Hispanic Center, Terrace Park School, 5409 228th St. SW, Mountlake Terrace. The Hispanic Center is an all-volunteer program working with all races of students and their families to help with homework and English language skills. The center helps to provide school supplies, backpacks, instrument rentals and books for students. Needed are volunteers and donations. For information, call Mike Cordova at 425-771-4046.

Volunteers of America, 2802 Broadway, Everett, WA 98206, operates the Everett Food Bank and helps 2,700 families each month. It runs two preschools for low-income children, provides school supplies and delivers food to hundreds of seniors in the county. To learn more about volunteering or donating, go online to www.voaww.org. Checks also can be mailed to P.O. Box 839, Everett, WA 98206.

Stanwood Camano Community Resource Center, 9620 271st St. NW, offers free parenting, English language classes, after-school activities and programs for youth and adults. Partnerships with churches and community agencies help provide financial resources for individuals and families who need assistance with paying their rent and utility bills. Needed are volunteers to teach music and art classes at the new youth activity center, along with donations of healthy snacks for youth and child care programs, gently used resalable books for the center's bookstore. Checks can be sent PO Box 935 Stanwood, WA 98292. For more information, call 360-629-5257.

Sultan Winterfest, set for 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 6 at Sultan High School, 13715 310th Ave. SE, includes a giving tree program. The program helps low-income parents provide Christmas presents for their children. Last year, the giving tree helped nearly 100 families. Registration to help out is set to take place at Winterfest and at the Sky Valley Visitor Information Center at Fourth and Main streets in Sultan.

Community

American Red Cross, Snohomish County Chapter, 2530 Lombard Ave., Everett, WA 98201. A nonprofit, nongovernmental, humanitarian organization, Red Cross provides shelter, food and additional immediate emergency needs to victims of house fires, floods and other disasters. It offers health and safety courses, assists the armed forces and their families, and administers Project Pride, energy conservation and utility assistance. Money and volunteer help are ongoing needs. Building needs include installation of new flooring and cleaning of exterior cedar shakes. For more information, call 425-252-4103.

Edmonds Community College Volunteer Literacy Program, 20000 68th Ave. W., Lynnwood, needs tutors. Volunteers commit two hours a week for three months to help adults improve their reading, math and computer skills. Training and support are provided. Call program coordinator Nancy Strom at 425-640-1032 or e-mail nancy.strom@edcc.edu.

St. Vincent de Paul, 6424 Broadway, Everett, WA 98201, is a Catholic lay organization that assists the low-income and disadvantaged residents of Snohomish County. The organization assists with rent, clothing, furniture and food. More than 300 volunteers make home visits to clients. Needed are toys for kids all ages as well as other donations, which can be dropped off at any St. Vincent de Paul store or can be picked up by calling 425-355-3504, ext. 2. For more information, call 425-513-6052.

United Way of Snohomish County, 3120 McDougall Ave., Suite 200, Everett, WA 98201, seeks volunteer help. A list of needs is at www.uwsc.org. Click the "Volunteer" button and search by area of interest. Especially needed are volunteers to help prepare tax returns. Monetary donations also can be made on the Web site. United Way funds 92 local nonprofit programs that seek to meet the needs of people in the county. For more information, call 425-374-5501 or 5506.

Whidbey Island Share a Home is a nonprofit agency providing shelter for the homeless, using existing homes, helping homeowners remain independent while offering affordable rents. Donations can be sent to P.O. Box 213, Freeland, WA 98249. For more information, call 800-864-7549 or go to www.whidbeywish.org.

Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1040 of Lynnwood has a used cell phone collection box located at the Lynnwood Fire Station, at 188 Street SW and 44th Avenue W. The donated cell phones will be reused as 911 emergency phones. For more information, call 425-774-7416.

World Giving craft and gift fair, noon to 7 p.m. Dec. 13, Morning Star Lutheran Church, 338 S. Lewis St., Monroe. For more information, call 360-794-2111. Those scheduled to be on hand included nonprofit agencies such as Heifer International, World Vision, Housing Hope, Shenaini China Ethnic Crafts, Muttshack, Delta Service Animals, Sky Valley Food Bank, Fair Trade Coffee.

Eagle Wings disAbility Ministries, 1522 Third St., Suite F, Marysville, WA 98270, provides relational support for adults with disabilities, their families and caregivers. The nonprofit agency depends on donations. Currently, the agency is collecting new Christmas and holiday DVDs for Santa to hand out at its annual Christmas dinner on Dec. 12. For information, go to eaglewingsministries.org or call 360-658-6093.

EquiFriends, P.O. Box 856, Snoho­mish, WA 98291, needs volunteers and financial contributions to for its therapeutic horseback-riding program at 4525 87th Ave. SE, Snohomish. For more information, call 425-377-0802 or go to www.equifriends.org.

MS Helping Hands, 9792 Edmonds Way, Suite 229, Edmonds, WA 98020, is an all-volunteer organization that provides services and resources for people with multiple sclerosis. It is looking for volunteer drivers and driver helpers to help make pickups and deliveries for the MSHH Donor Closet. Volunteers drivers must be 18 or older and have a valid license and a good driving record. The organization has a van and the driver and vehicle are insured. To volunteer, call 425-712-1804.

Food Lifeline, 1702 NE 150th St., Shoreline, WA 98155, distributes 22 million pounds of food to more than 300 neighborhood food banks, meal programs and shelters, including 20 in Snoho­mish County. For each $1 donated, five meals are provided. Donate at www.foodlifeline.org. To volunteer, contact Food Lifeline at 206-545-6600.

Granite Falls Food Bank, 215 S. Granite Ave., is in need of donations. Checks can be mailed to P.O. Box 1211, Granite Falls, WA 98252. For information about volunteering, donating and a list of needs, call 360-691-6466 or 360-691-4253.

Lake Stevens Community Food Bank serves 350 families a month and distributes 250 baskets of food for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Donations of nonperishable food as well as monetary gifts, to buy hams and turkeys, are needed to fill these baskets. Volunteers are needed Monday through Thursday mornings to help sort food and pickup food from local grocery stores. Contact Lake Stevens Community Food Bank, 2111 117th Ave. NE, P.O. Box 1031 Lake Stevens, WA 98258, or call 425-334-3430.

Lynnwood Food Bank, 5320 176th St. SW, Lynnwood, WA 98037, serves residents in the 98036, 98037, 98012 and 98087 ZIP code areas. The food bank needs donations of nonperishable food, cash and checks made out to Lynnwood Food Bank. For more information, call 425-745-1635.

Maltby Food Bank provides help to people who live in the southeast corner of the Monroe School District. The food bank is open 2-5:30 p.m. Thursdays at 21104 86th Ave. SE. For information, call 360-668-7900. Needed now are donations of food, new toys for children and gift cards for seniors.

Salt of the Earth Food Bank has eight locations in Snohomish County and feeds more than 6,000 people each month. Volunteers are needed to help sort, pickup and distribute food. Also needed is someone to help run the soup kitchen. Monetary donations can be mailed to Salt of the Earth Food Bank, 2908 118th Place SE Everett, WA 98208. For more information, call 425-355-1042.

Sky Valley Food Bank of Monroe is collecting funds for turkeys, holiday foods, new unwrapped toys and baby supplies for the increasing number of Monroe's struggling families and senior citizens. Monetary donations, used to buy food at bulk prices, can be mailed to Sky Valley Food Bank, P.O. Box 724, Monroe, WA 98272. For more information, go to www.svfoodbank.org or call 360-794-7959.

Sultan Harvest has joined forces with Volunteers of America to help families in the Sultan area. Cash and Thanksgiving food donations are needed and can be dropped off at the Sky Valley Community Resource Center, 701 First St., Sultan. For more information, call 425-791-1722. Also needed for distribution are new or clean used coats, blankets, hats and gloves.

The Sing from the Heart program helps food banks. Anyone from classical quartets to a pair of friends willing to share their musical talents can brighten the holiday season while helping local food banks. Sing from the Heart event is Dec. 12 through 14 at all Haggen Food and TOP Food stores including those in Arlington, Lake Stevens, Marysville, Stanwood, Everett, Edmonds and Snohomish. The stores plan to make a donation of $50 to local food banks for each hour a group presents holiday music. Register in advance for a performance time at the guest services counter of each Haggen and TOP Food store.

Helpful Harvest and Helping Paws programs at Arlington Food Pavilion and Everett Cost Cutter stores are set up to help local food banks and animal shelters. Donations of $10 provide supplies to the nonprofit organizations.

Bats Northwest, P.O. Box 3026, Lynnwood, WA 98046, is a nonprofit bat advocate group that offers educational bat talks and bat houses for sale. It needs a volunteer woodworker to build bat houses. Contact the group at www.batsnorthwest.org.

The Equine Rescue Association cares for abandoned and abused horses on property it leases from the Marysville School District on the Tulalip Indian Reservation. Monetary and horse feed donations are needed. Call 425-681-0885.

Humane Society Low-Income Animal Food Bank, 8304 Wayne Ave, Stanwood, WA 98292, needs pet store and supermarket gift cards, stamps and donations for medical expenses. Also needed is a double-wide mobile home and chain-link or wood fencing. Volunteers are welcome. Call 360-652-5844 or e-mail hmnsoc@aol.com.

Northwest Organization for Animal Help Animal Adoption and Spay-Neuter Center, 31300 Brandstrom Road, Stanwood, WA 98292, located on I-5 and Exit 215. NOAH provides spay-neuter surgeries to low-income families, finds homes for healthy pets facing euthanasia, offers dog training classes. Needed are volunteers to work with animals, wash laundry and garden. Needed are gas cards for the pet rescue van, stamps, Iams dry cat and dog food, cat litter, paper towels, dish soap, bleach and latex gloves. For more information, call 360-629-7055 or go to www.thenoahcenter.org.

Old Dog Haven, based in Arlington, provides homes for abandoned senior dogs. Old Dog Haven needs gift cards for pet supplies or office supplies, dog food, stamps, washable dog beds, dog collars and flea treatments. Old Dog Haven's mailing address is PMB A4, 621 Highway 9 NE, Lake Stevens, WA 98258. For more information, call 360-653-0311 or go to www.olddoghaven.org.

Purrfect Pals, a nonprofit cat shelter and sanctuary based in Smokey Point, helps more than 3,000 cats yearly through adoptions, low-cost and free spay and neuter surgeries and lifetime sanctuary for unwanted cats. Volunteers are needed to work with cats, to raise money and do yard and fix-it jobs. Needed are cat beds, bath towels, paper towels, scratching posts, high-quality cat food and washable cat toys. Donations can be mailed to 230 McRae Road NE, Arlington, WA 98223. For information, call 360-652-9611 or go to www.purrfectpals.org.

Progressive Animal Welfare Society companion animal shelter and wildlife center, 15305 44th Ave W., Lynnwood, WA 98037. PAWS rehabilitates sick, injured and orphaned wildlife and finds new homes for cats and dogs. Needed are gift cards from pet and building supply stores, vehicle donations, soft and washable cat toys, heat lamps, gently used or new towels, sheets and fleece blankets, dog biscuits and high quality dog and cat food. For information, go to www.paws.org or call 425-787-2500, ext. 256.

Sarvey Wildlife Center, 13106 148th St. NE, Arlington, rehabilitates orphaned and injured wildlife and provides educational programs. It needs liquid laundry and dish detergent, bleach, paper towels, rubber gloves, scrub brushes and sponges, heating pads, dry cat food, baby food, applesauce, peanut butter, raisins and honey. For information, call 360-435-4817 or go to www.sarveywildlife.org. Mail donations to P.O. Box 3590 Arlington, WA 98223.
© 2009The Daily Herald Co., Everett, WA