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 FRIDAY, MARCH 12, 2010 6:38 am |
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Local News 
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Families get an early gift: free Christmas trees Donated trees help make holiday bright for hundreds of people MILL CREEK — The holidays weren't looking so good this year for Kimberly Moreau and her family.Moreau, 29, of Monroe, was laid off from her job as a nurse two days before Thanksgiving. Even with her husband picking up extra shift work as a tow-truck driver, buying a Christmas tree seemed out of the question. Moreau was trying to come up with a plan to save Christmas for her three children when a friend found out she could get a tree for free. Moreau and her best friend were among scores of people on Saturday afternoon who stopped by the Gold Creek Community Church in Mill Creek for a free Christmas tree. “It's helped my family tremendously,” Moreau said. The church had about 500 trees this weekend to give to people who are out of work. The giveaway on Saturday was supposed to start at 2:30 p.m., but families began to show up early, Dan Kellogg, the church's pastor said. Volunteers were greeting people and giving out snacks. The smell of fresh-cut trees, hearty chicken noodle soup and cookies filled the church parking lot. Rachelle Balbuena, 30, of Shoreline, was warming up with a cup of coffee as she watched her fiance secure a tree on the top of their car. Balbuena's fiance is out of work right now, and the tree was a big help for the couple and their two children. “Times are hard right now,” she said. “This has truly been a blessing.” The couple chatted with Kellogg before heading home to decorate their Christmas tree. Every year, the church collects food for the hungry and adopts families for the holidays. Volunteers also usually put on a special event for kids with real snow they haul down from the mountains. This year, a construction project took up the space needed for snow, so the church decided to give away Christmas trees instead, Kellogg said. He knew how many people in the community had lost their jobs. Some may be embarrassed to ask for a tree, but Kellogg said he hopes churchgoers with jobless friends or neighbors will pick up a tree for them. On Saturday evening, about 200 trees still were waiting to be taken home. “I have friends who lost their jobs,” the pastor said. “I don't want them to worry about a Christmas tree.” More trees to give Volunteers plan to give out Christmas trees again today starting at 9 a.m. at Gold Creek Community Church, 4326 148th St. SE, Mill Creek. Katya Yefimova: 425-339-3452 or kyefimova@heraldnet.com. |
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COMMENTS
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Exactly how does a "nurse" get laid off in a county where the only expansion in jobs, the only people hiring... are medical?
just wondering?
.
cme everett | Dec 6, 2009 9:14 am | 2 replies | Request removal
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I'll tell you how a nurse gets laid off. In these difficult financial times, Medical professionals are climbing all over eachother to get the best job and medical facilities are hiring those with the most experience. How does a nurse with 7 years experience compare to a nurse with 20 years experience?? They don't. Also, medical facilities have seen a huge drop in patients as people cannot afford to pay co-pays and deductibles. That is exactly how nurses get laid off.
Stephanie Saltzgiver | Dec 07, 2009 10:24 am | Request removal
Also, if you are OVER EXPERIENCED you have a difficult time finding a job because many employers refuse to hire you, because they are afraid you will leave as soon a better paying job is offered.
I tried, unsuccessfully, to leave hospital nursing to work in a physicians office. I wanted a slower pace. I realized I would be taking a good size pay cut. Did not matter. It was the same reason. We are afraid you will change your mind later and we can't chance that.
So, instead of working in a physicians office where my skills could possibly catch a clue the doctor needs to make accurate diagnoses early in treatment...I stopped nursing altogether. I do apologize to all those patients I should have been helping, but hospital and insurance politics
ran me out of there and no one else gave me the chance.
Delores Boone | Dec 08, 2009 8:56 pm | Request removal
It is a wonderful gesture of community that this church is reaching out, still so sad that we have people unable to afford to have a Christmas. But since it is a time when we reflect on life and generosity of a man who is the stuff of legend, his miraculous birth and how it brought together the most dedicated of holy men, I hope that those who receive this token will take the time to say a prayer for those who will not be home for Christmas, who serve our country and protect our freedom to have and celebrate Christmas. That's really what it should be about...not stuff...
I do wish this young woman success in finding another job soon, nursing is a very hot industry right now. It may require a longer commute or some stranger hours, but I hope she realizes the jobs are out there, she just needs to hit it hard.
Merry Christmas all
CC At the Big B | Dec 6, 2009 6:59 pm | 0 replies | Request removal
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