Housing Hope honors volunteers
Housing Hope hosted its annual volunteer recognition event Nov. 8 at the Everett Transit Center. The event honors all individuals who volunteer at the agency and focuses on those named as Volunteers of the Year.
Housing Hope, founded in 1987, recognizes that safe, decent and affordable housing is only the first step in creating housing stability for struggling families. The agency employs approximately 83 full- and part-time staff, but has almost 340 volunteers of all ages in various capacities, to deliver needed services for formally homeless families to gain self-sufficiency.
This year, six individuals and one company were presented with the Volunteer of the Year award for their outstanding service to the agency. Recognition plaques were presented to Bruce and Tamara Anderson of Everett, Tracy Bryson of Monroe, Jeff Capeloto of Everett, Tammy Hester of Marysville, Nicole Van Beek of Everett and Windermere Commercial and Property Management NW for their service in childcare, construction with Team HomeBuilding, legal advice, administration, event assistance and organization of supply drives.
In addition, Carol Jensen of Stanwood was presented with a Presidential Lifetime Service Award. This prestigious award is given to individuals who have 4,000 or more hours of volunteer service over their lifetime. Jensen has been involved with Housing Hope for 23 years, focusing primarily on the Stanwood community, but also serving on the board of directors, including two years as president. She was presented with a personalized plaque, lapel pin and a congratulatory letter signed by President Barack Obama.
The event featured a special performance by Jason Quick, a one-armed juggler. Several desserts were donated by local companies including: Bite Me Cupcakes, The Spotted Cow Cream &Bean, Albertsons, QFC and Starbucks.
Bank donates to nonprofits
HomeStreet Bank has donated $5,000 to YWCA Pathways for Women and $5,000 to Clothes For Kids. Pathways for Women operates a family shelter in Lynnwood. Clothes For Kids, based in Lynnwood, offers clothing Snohomish County children from low-income families.
Edmonds schools foundation donation
The Edmonds Public Schools Foundation has received a $35,000 donation from the Campbell Nelson car dealership. Funds will be used to support Edmonds School District’s automotive vocational program and after-school study programs for Title I schools.
“We are pleased to partner with the Edmonds Public Schools Foundation and are grateful to have such great community support to help our students become college and career ready,” Superintendent Nick Brossoit said.
The district’s growing automotive vocational program currently enrolls up to 35 juniors and seniors from all five high schools in the two-year, hands-on program. Students spend 720 educational hours in automotive training.
Students in the District’s Title I schools have diverse populations where significant numbers participate in free and reduced meal programs. After-school study programs support students with the greatest academic need by providing academic support outside the normal school day.
Monroe students run drive for troops
Taylor Gese, a senior and student body treasurer at Monroe High School, headed up a community drive to collect food and essential items for troops.
“In honor of Veterans Day, we decided to do a care package drive and collect snacks, chips and crackers that won’t melt, and basic necessities like baby wipes, hand sanitizer,” said Gese.
Gese also carries the role for social justice leadership for the school and works with her ASB leadership teacher Tyson Horner each month to develop a program to benefit the greater community.
“Mr. Horner created the position for me this year,” she says. “I am interested in working on social change. It’s my biggest passion.”
The idea for collecting for the troops came from Polly Keary, editor of the Monroe Monitor, Gese said. Last summer, Keary toured military bases in the Middle East with her band. Keary and Gese met through the Rotary Club, which sponsored Gese’s attendance in a summer program at New York University.
Gese has family in the military and knows it can be rough, and troops may wonder if they are forgotten. The care packages will include handwritten notes from students. She hopes to make a connection with the recipients and receive letters or a video to share with the school.
Gese and friends set up a donation table at the Monroe Safeway and collected a large tub of food and other items. They also ran a coin drive to cover shipping costs of the care packages. Horner said senior Jessie Green and other students also made the community drive a success.
Zonta Club honors Darlene Conkle
Zonta Club of Everett has honored former club member Darlene Conkle of Mukilteo as the 2012 Founders Day award recipient.
The annual award is presented by the club to a current or former member in recognition of their service to Zonta and the community.
Conkle was recognized for her years of service to Zonta as a tireless recruiter of new members as well as her years of volunteer service to many community organizations, including the Mukilteo Lighthouse Festival, Mukilteo Kiwanis and Mukilteo Farmer’s Market.
Zonta International is a global organization of executives and professionals working together to advance the status of women worldwide through service and advocacy. More information about the Zonta Club of Everett is at www.zontaeverett.org.
Eagle Scout helps wildlife center
Michael Morrow, a freshman at Jackson High School, has earned the rank of Eagle Scout in Troop 478, Klahaya District, Mount Baker Council, Boy Scouts of America.
For his Eagle project, Michael built an animal shelter for Sarvey Wildlife Center, a rescue and rehabilitation facility for injured and orphaned animals in Arlington.
“When I was a young Cub Scout, I held the Eagle Scout book in my hands at a den meeting. I put my hand on the cover of it, and promised myself I would become an Eagle Scout,” Michael said. “I am at the end of my journey and I am proud of how far I have come.”
Michael earned several other awards including his Religious Emblem and Nazarene pin, the rifle marksmanship award at Camp Pigott and top shot honors in archery at Camp Easton. He is also a member of the Order of the Arrow and attended National Youth Leadership Training.
Outside of Scouting, he participates in jazz band, football, cross country and computer programming. He taught an after-school beginning computer class at Gateway Middle School. He is working on earning the Microsoft Certified Professional Developer certificate. He plans to earn a bachelor’s degree in computer science.
“I plan to stay in Scouts and become a junior assistant Scoutmaster to give back to the troop,” Michael said. “I have enjoyed my time here in scouts, and I want to help other people enjoy theirs as well.”
Safe Harbor Free Clinic gets donations
Among the recent donations to the work of Safe Harbor Free Clinic in Stanwood are $2,500 from the Everett Clinic Foundation, $400 from Stanwood Rotary, $3,000 from Greater Everett Foundation, $500 from Jungle Luv and Laurie’s Fall Fling, $1,200 from Mama Traditions Vietnamese restaurant and its customers and $1,900 from Skagit Valley Food Co-op and its customers.
Kiwanis donates to food bank
Kiwanis Club of Lynnwood held a food drive Saturday at QFC and Albertsons in Lynnwood.
A total of 1,843 pounds of food and $822 were collected and delivered to the Lynnwood Food Bank.
The club also presented a check for $1,000 to the food bank.
Club officials said Wilcox Construction employees and generous shoppers made the food drive a success.
Sertoma Club donates to cancer center
Everett Sertoma Club has given a $1,000 check to the John Flynn Cancer Center at Providence Hospital.
The money was raised at the club’s annual Larry Carlson Golf Tournament.
To date, the club has donated more than $100,000 to the cancer center.
To submit news for Applause, contact reporter Gale Fiege: 425-339-3427; gfiege@heraldnet.com.
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