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Published 5:13 pm Wednesday, May 27, 2015
Shopping spree helps teens prep for college
In addition to studying hard, kids heading for college — some the first in their family to attend — have many needs, from computers and printers to pots, pans and bedding.
Working with Fred Meyer in Mill Creek, the Rotary Club of Everett brought together 10 Everett School District high school students May 7 to shop for those college essentials.
Each student, together with a parent chaperone, was paired with a Rotarian for the shopping spree. School staff members were on hand, too. The students purchased items needed for their college dorm or apartment, as well as school supplies and computers. They were each given $500 and two hours to shop. Fred Meyer partnered in the event with store discounts, coupons and refreshments for the students.
The participating students are part of the Everett School District AVID (Achievement Via Individual Determination) Program, a nationwide program dedicated to preparing the least-served students to enter and succeed in college. Participating students:
Sequoia: Taylor Elliott and Rafael Alvarez
Everett: Sy Luc Nguyen, Konnor Simons, Tiffany Little and Bailey Formon-Haynes
Cascade: Maya Shresthra, Bryson Blackmore, Abigail Nava and Matondo Mbuku Tulu
The Rotary Club of Everett has committed $200,000 in support of the Everett School District’s AVID program as part of the club’s Next Generation Project. In addition to monetary support, Rotarians donate their time as career mentors, career fair speakers, classroom facilitators and culminating exhibit judges. The Next Generation Project has received a $50,000 grant from The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Wentink honored for 50 years in League
The Snohomish County League of Women Voters and the national League of Women Voters each recently recognized Lois Wentink for her 50 years of membership.
Wentink has served in a variety of roles with the nonpartisan group over those 50 years, starting with the South Clark County League of Women Voters in Indiana. Wentink moved to Everett in 1993 and soon became active in the Snohomish County League. She has served on its board of directors, revived the Observer Program, and often serves as a speaker on ballot issues.
For more information about the local League of Women Voters, go to lwvsnoho.org.
Rotary recognizes Snohomish mayor, food bank
The Snohomish Rotary Club on May 21 presented Mayor Karen Guzak and Elizabeth Grant, executive director of the Snohomish Community Food Bank, with Paul Harris Fellowship honors. The club donated $1,000 in each of their names to The Rotary Foundation for community and international service.
Kiwanis clean up Lake Stevens
The Kiwanis Club of Lake Stevens recently led a cleanup project in downtown Lake Stevens.
Volunteers power-washed the sidewalks, bulkheads and guard rails and removed overgrown weeds.
Adriatica Ristorante and Creekside Ale House and Grill also helped by allowing the group to use their outside faucets for water supply.
Kiwanis Club members who took part included Ray Mitchell, Jack Welch, Ken Brown, David Minch, Bob Ingraham, Gary Wolfe and Karen Wolfe.
Food bank having a good year
The Snohomish Community Food Bank is celebrating a successful first half of the year.
Some of the highlights:
The Snohomish Cold Weather Shelter closed its first season, hosting 93 guests on 23 nights.
Five grantors — Bickford Motors, The Everett Clinic, Norcliffe, Norman Archibald and Paccar — have donated money for a new Ford Connect truck.
The Sisters of Snohomish held its annual bunko tournament and auction, raising $3,475 for the food bank.
Boeing and Bickford each pledged funds to help the food bank replace a 1997 box truck (the food bank is still seeking $15,000 to complete the project).
Liberty Mutual sent a team of 20 people to help clean the facility and its equipment.
The recent Letter Carrier Food Drive brought in more than 21,800 pounds of food for the food bank. Kohl’s and Target employees helped sort the donations.
Besides the Rotary fellowship (see above), Executive Director Elizabeth Grant also has been honored with The Ruby Award from Soroptimist International of Everett and a Community Citizen Award from the Garden City Grange.
To learn more about the food bank and how to volunteer or donate, go to snohomishfoodbank.org or call 360-568-7993.
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