Members of the Snohomish United boys’ soccer team were among the volunteers to help gather clothing and toys for the nonprofit Christmas House this year.
The U-17 team, coached by Paul and Bill Hurme, gathered donations at a Dec. 8 Everett Silvertips hockey game.
Last year, Christmas House provided clothing and toys for 7,456 children from low-income families in Snohomish County.
For additional information about Christmas House or to make a donation, the Web site is www.christmas-house.org.
Store hands out bears
The Family Christian Stores branch in Everett recently donated 156 stuffed bears to Families for Kids, a program of Lutheran Community Services Northwest that supports foster and adoptive families statewide.
It was part of a national effort by the Family Christian Stores chain, whose stores donated more than 200,000 bears to underprivileged kids through area nonprofit organizations.
Foundation gives a helping hand
MS Helping Hands, a multiple sclerosis foundation in Edmonds, shipped more than 1,500 new and used donated stuffed animals and dolls to Baton Rogue, La., to be distributed as Christmas gifts to children affected by Hurricane Katrina.
Sultan Harvest gives thanks to community
Sultan Harvest thanks its volunteers and the community’s generous donations for another successful Thanksgiving event.
The fourth annual community dinner served up 173 turkey dinners along with entertainment and gifts of warm coats, blankets and stuffed animals. Extra stuffed animals and food were shared with the Sultan Boys &Girls Club child care program and the Sky Valley Food Bank.
Cynthia Lee’s fifth-grade class from Sultan Elementary School made table centerpieces, place mats and place cards to decorate the tables.
Sultan Harvest coordinator Gordon MacDonald thanked those who helped. “Without your involvement, this would not be possible. Many would have been hungry, lonely and cold on a day designed for us to give thanks,” he said.
Meals on Wheels thanks kids for cards
Holiday season cards were given to Senior Services Meals on Wheels clients from the first- and second-grade classes at Endeavour and Columbia elementary schools in Mukilteo.
The cards brighten the lives of elderly who either do not have family in the area or are isolated and find getting out difficult, said Phil Sullivan, Senior Services executive director. Sullivan thanked the children for their thoughtfulness and artwork.
Meals on Wheels delivers more than 150,496 meals each year to frail and homebound elderly.
Small church makes a big impact
Advent Lutheran Church in Mill Creek, in partnership with Volunteers of America in Everett and Central Market in Mill Creek, has raised more than $5,000 and food for Christmas baskets to give to 180 local needy families from north Everett to Mountlake Terrace.
The annual charity event started 10 years ago, when the church of 160 members gave away 25 food baskets. Baskets this year included frozen turkeys, fresh vegetables and fruit, cake mixes, stuffing and other edible goodies.
Company a big giver to Monroe food bank
The 50 employees at Lakeside Industries in Monroe recently collected nearly $4,000 for the Sky Valley Food Bank.
Employee Roslyn Rosselli also was the winner of two free round-trip tickets donated by Southwest Airlines to help promote the fundraiser.
Lakeside’s efforts have produced more than $30,000 for the food bank the last five years.
County YMCA gets big grant
The YMCA of Snohomish County was one of 132 chapters nationwide recently selected to receive a $12,000 grant from Colonel’s Kids and Entertainment Industry Foundation to strengthen its child care program.
Colonel’s Kids is the charitable arm of KFC restaurants.
“Since 2001, Colonel’s Kids has been instrumental in our YMCA’s ability to provide innovative and quality child care programs for parents who trust the YMCA to care for their children,” said Jerry Beavers, president of the YMCA of Snohomish County.
The money will be used for staff training and curriculum, said Julie Willie, director of youth program advancement.
Rotary’s food drive is a heavyweight champ
More than five tons of food were donated in a drive led by three Everett-area Rotary clubs.
The service organization will distribute the donations to food banks throughout Snohomish County.
About 130 volunteers from three Rotary clubs – Everett, South Everett-Mukilteo and Everett-Port Gardner – solicited donations at six area QFC and Safeway stores Dec. 2.
In addition to giving 11,311 pounds of food, shoppers donated more than $1,000.
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