LAKE STEVENS — As Christmas gets closer, Kristen Ames’ schedule becomes more hectic.
A single mom with three kids, she works a part-time job. She also volunteers at the Lake Stevens Family Center, feeds the homeless, helps out at the elementary school her children attend, and puts together baskets of Christmas presents for low-income families.
Ames said she has three good reasons to be a volunteer, and those reasons are Chayla, 11, Ashley, 9, and Michael, 6.
“The kids think volunteering is great. During the summer they help feed the homeless and Chayla helps out around the community center,” Kristen Ames said. “I think it gives them a better understanding that life isn’t perfect but there is stuff they can do to help out.”
Ames, 31, of Lake Stevens was a student at Everett Community College when she found a passion for volunteerism. She was looking for help with tuition when she discovered AmeriCorps. The program offered to help her in return for some volunteer work. Everything about volunteering appealed to her, making her feel a part of something, Ames said.
Now she’s made volunteering part of her daily schedule.
This Monday was typical: Work until 10 a.m.; then two hours at the Lake Stevens Family Center helping with their English as a Second Language class; then cooking — corn this time — and feeding six homeless men at Ebey Waterfront Park in Marysville. After that, she picked up Chayla, and headed back to the family center to help wrap gifts.
On average, she’s managed to volunteer 60 hours a month. During the holiday season those hours can skyrocket because of need, she said.
Right now, that need is toys.
The family center sponsors a Giving Tree: People sign up to buy toys and presents for children and teens.
This year looks like it’s going to be a little tight.
“The toy drive last year had a hundred families and we had the donations to meet that need,” Ames said. “This year it’s harder. We have 168 families, with each family having an average three to four kids and I don’t know if we’ll have enough presents.”
Kimberly Ritchey is the youth coordinator for the Lake Stevens family center. She sums up Ames’ volunteer efforts in a word: “Awesome.”
“She’s been here for four years and she does anything we ask of her, she’s always smiling,” Ritchey said. “She’ll do anything for us, and does it from the heart. You can just tell from her can-do attitude.”
Ames hopes that the Christmas drive will succeed this year.
“I hope we’ll be able to get those gifts for the kids by Christmas,” Ames said. “We haven’t failed yet.”
Reporter Justin Arnold: 425-339-3432 or jarnold@heraldnet.com.
How to help
For more information on the Lake Steven’s Family Center Christmas Giving Tree program or to make a cash or toy donation, call 425-397-7433.
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