Good Works: New packs, day of fun help kids start year right

Published 11:09 pm Friday, August 29, 2008

EVERETT — Kids going back to school need backpacks stuffed full of supplies.

Volunteers of the Casino Road Stakeholder Group, a consortium of South Everett churches, volunteers, businesses and social services agencies, recently did their part to make sure that — and more — happens.

At the second annual Start Out Right back-to-school event at South Everett Foursquare Church, volunteers recently handed out hundreds of backpacks with school supplies.

“We ended up giving out nearly 700 packs and an additional 300 vouchers which will be honored today,” said Heidi Happonen, who handles communications for the group.

Besides receiving free school supplies, families and kids were treated to a free pancake breakfast, live music, kids’ activities and crafts followed by a family fun festival at Walter E. Hall Park in Everett. There, they played in bounce houses and listened to live rap music.

“It was amazing,” Happonen said. “People lined up around the block. The best part was seeing the families who came at 7:30 a.m. who were still hanging out at 11 a.m. … A true community gathering. This event grew more than five times bigger in its second year.”

The Casino Road Stakeholder Group got its start last year when a group of volunteers from Everett’s Casino Road area — police, government agencies, churches and business leaders — decided to work together to help transform the rough neighborhood into one that fits the city’s All-America image.

To do that, they’ve been putting on events such as Start Out Right and the Family Fun Fest. Organizers have also spearheaded special garbage pick-ups and after-school homework help in addition to other events, including a party in June at the Bluffs Apartment complex on Casino Road. The group also provides information about community resources at the events.

For more information, call 425-330-3177.

Monroe, Sultan churches work in community

More than 1,000 people from roughly 13 Monroe and Sultan-area churches recently skipped their Sunday services.

They didn’t really play hooky. They participated in Servefest, a ­community-wide day of service held annually in August or September.

Instead of sitting in pews, the volunteers gathered at the Evergreen State Fairgrounds in Monroe for prayer and to listen to worship music before being dispatched to paint, clean and help complete a long list of projects in Sultan and Monroe.

The volunteers served more than an estimated 4,200 hours and donated more than a ton of food and water to benefit people through the Sky Valley Food Bank, said Joni Hvattum, community care, associate director at Cascade Community Church in Monroe, one of the churches involved in Servefest.

At the end of the day, volunteers returned to the fairgrounds for food, music and comedy.

This year, help was needed at Matthew House, Housing Hope and various community organizations, including schools.

For more information, go to www.servefest.org.