Applause
Published 9:00 pm Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Children at Sunnyside Preschool are learning compassion and empathy for others, along with the lesson that giving is very rewarding, said Cindy Petosa Brengman. The school’s owner and director, Brengman has been educating 3- to 5-year-olds at the Lake Stevens preschool for more than 16 years.
In lieu of gifts for teachers and staff during the holidays, preschool students donate gifts to children in need through the Lake Stevens Family Support Center. Recently, more than 80 gifts were donated. Ed Williamson from the family center said the toys collected by the preschoolers will help many families.
Earlier this fall, more than 50 Sunnyside families participated in the school’s annual celebration “Harvest From the Heart.” The children sang and danced and more than 250 pounds of food were collected for the Lake Stevens Community Food Bank. In addition, nearly 100 new books were donated and given to Providence Children’s Center to support literacy, and about eight 39-gallon bags full of new and used clothing were donated for the KidsDream Closet at Compass Health in Everett. At the end of each school year, in lieu of gifts for teachers, donations are accepted for the KidsDream “Stuff the Bus for Foster Kids.”
Snohomish County Red Cross celebrates 90 years
One of Snohomish County’s oldest institutions of community service turned 90 this year. Congress chartered the Snohomish County Chapter of the American Red Cross on Oct. 19, 1916.
The chapter swung into action just six months after its founding when America declared war on Germany on April 6, 1917. Red Cross branches were established throughout the county including in Everett, Snohomish, Monroe, Granite Falls, Arlington, Edmonds, Stanwood, Sultan, Lake Stevens, Startup and Three Lakes.
By the end of its 1917 membership drive, the chapter had 14,470 members – an estimated 58 percent of the county’s population, according to David Dilgard, Everett Public Library historian. Junior Red Cross charters were also established throughout county schools, with 6,068 children registered. The same year, the chapter set a fundraising goal of $45,000, but received $75,308.
After WWI, the Red Cross continued to build upon its humanitarian legacy in Snohomish County and nationwide. During 1932, Red Cross chapters had given relief to victims of 120 disasters and distributed 10.6 million barrels of flour to 5.8 million families and helped another 5 million families with clothing needs by distributing 55.2 million ready-made garments.
During World War II, the Red Cross in Snohomish County again aided the war effort. Chapter archives reveal an extensive history of wartime fundraising and aid to troops at Paine Field Air Force Base. Battlefield support was also ongoing.
The Snohomish County chapter has maintained its local headquarters at various locations in Everett. The chapter house is currently at 2530 Lombard Ave., with an Armed Forces Emergency Office at Naval Station Everett. Its programs include disaster relief, health and safety training, armed forces emergency help, international tracing and administration of Project Pride, an energy assistance program in cooperation with Snohomish County PUD, said Chuck Morrison, the chapter’s executive director. Morrison praised residents of the county for donating time and money to help the organization.
EdCC students help nonprofit organization
Edmonds Community College students recently banded together to help a fledgling nonprofit organization in south Seattle realize a financial success. The students raised and processed more than $16,000 worth of donations for Eco Encore. In total, Edmonds Community College students and staff have contributed more than $36,000 in used books, CDs, DVDs and software throughout the year.
Eco Encore depends on student volunteers to raise funds to benefit other environmental conservation organizations including OneNorthwest, Washington Trails Association and 15 others. Eco Encore generates funds by reselling used books, CDs, DVDs and software on Amazon.com.
Thomas Murphy, anthropology department chairman at EdCC, designed a service learning project for Edmonds college students to aid Eco Encore. At the beginning of each academic term, participating classes divide into groups and compete against each other to see who can raise the most reusable resources for the nonprofit organization. At the end of the competition, winning students receive prizes donated by local businesses.
Salvation Army gets help to feed flood victims
The Salvation Army of Everett and Snohomish County will fill 100 Christmas boxes specifically for families affected by the November floods in the Sultan, Gold Bar and Index areas. The boxes include contributions by area grocery stores and other businesses. Students from Henry M. Jackson, Cascade and Mariner high schools contributed food from their food drives. The Salvation Army will distribute 500 Christmas boxes countywide.
Pack 16 makes big donation to food bank
Cub Scout Pack 16 in Mukilteo recently collected 2,348 pounds of food and $400 in cash to donate to the Mukilteo Food Bank. The scout group estimates that the money collected will buy an additional 381 pounds of food. Pack 16 contributed the largest single food donation in 2006, said food bank president Jack Bateman.
Community Foundation aids county organizations
Employees of Crown Distributing Corp. have created an employee giving fund at the Greater Everett Community Foundation to benefit charitable causes in Snohomish, Skagit and Island counties. The Crown employee fund is supported by personal donations. Organizations recently benefiting from the fund include Arlington Kids Kloset, Clothes for Kids, Senior Services of Snohomish County and Snohomish County Center for Battered Women.
Snohomish Marine Corps Junior ROTC competes
Snohomish High School Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps, under the direction of John Mack and Reid Zachary, competed with 14 other schools Dec. 9 in Tacoma and came home with a number of awards.
Color Guard 1, under the command of Ashleen Williams, placed second, and Color Guard 2, commanded by Ashley Maier, placed first. The Armed Drill Team, under the command of Geoffrey Smelser, placed first and the Unarmed Drill Team, led by Williams, placed fifth. Spencer Rader and Smelser placed first in the armed duel competition, and Rader placed first in the individual armed drill. The rifle team, under the command of Robert Kazmi, placed sixth. Tyler Minkel placed second in the armed drill down and Emilee Wagster placed second in the unarmed drill down.
The group’s next competition is Jan. 20 at Snohomish High School.
Stanwood-Camano community grants given
The Stanwood-Camano Area Foundation recently awarded three community grants to several nonprofit organizations.
Grants were awarded to the Stanwood-Camano Food Bank to fund the operation of its Christmas gift-giving room, Island County Readiness to Learn to fund its parenting education program, and the Camano Arts Association for installation of art lighting at the Four Springs Preserve Meadow Room for public art events.
The foundation’s grants are funded by local philanthropists. The foundation will host its first Philanthropist of the Year breakfast Feb. 9. Nominations are due Friday. Nomination forms and additional information may be obtained by calling 360-629-6878 or e-mailing info@s-caf.org.
Japanese students visit county Fire District 1
Snohomish County Fire District 1 officials played host Dec. 7 to 40 students from Japan who were on hand to learn how the department provides emergency medical services.
The students are enrolled in a three-year program at Osaka’s Toyo Medical College, which has been sending students to North Seattle Community College since 2001 to study emergency medicine.
Sound Singers accept command performance
The Sound Singers from South County Senior Center in Edmonds were honored recently with an invitation to perform at one of Gov. Chris Gregoire’s holiday events at the governor’s mansion in Olympia.
The group will sing Tuesday for the governor and 160 guests. The choir plans to perform Christmas carols under the direction of Bob Jones and Merilyn Beck. Gregoire first heard the Sound Singers perform the national anthem at a Mariners game.
The Sound Singers rehearse at 1 p.m. Tuesdays at the South County Senior Center, 220 Railroad Ave., Edmonds. The group welcomes new members. For information, call 425-774-5555 or go to www. soundsingersofedmonds.org for photos and activities.
