Events

Robot Garage: Kids can explore robotics kits and discover some amazing robot achievements from 2-4 p.m. Wednesday at the Mukilteo Library, 4675 Harbour Pointe Blvd. For grade 4 and up. Register at www.sno-isle.org or at the library. More info: 425-493-8202.

Movie matinee: A free showing of “Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted” (rated PG) will be shown at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Olympic Theater, 107 N. Olympic Ave., Arlington. Sponsored by the theater and the city of Arlington.

Pancake breakfast: Flapjacks start flipping at 9 a.m. Saturday, and the first Saturday of every month, at Zion Lutheran Church of Everett, 4634 Alger Ave.

Stories of Hidden Folk: Hear magical tales of trolls, fairies and elves at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Mukilteo Library, 4675 Harbour Pointe Blvd. For ages 6 to 11. More info: 425-493-8202.

Sandy Hook Community Vigil: The North Regional Girl Scouts office hosts a public vigil to honor and remember the victims and all affected by the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Friday at Marysville-Pilchuck High School’s Quilceda Stadium, 5611 108th St. NE, Marysville. Attendees are encouraged to bring a snowflake, made or purchased, with a written message of encouragement. More info: 360-658-8083 or tbranch@GirlScoutsWW.org.

Heart-Warming Winter Soups: Seminar with Bastyr University instructor focuses on cooking nutrient-packed, vitamin-rich soups that use fresh and easy-to-grow ingredients. Set for noon to 1 p.m. Saturday at Molbak’s Garden Center, 13625 NE 175th St., Woodinville. Free and open to the public. More info: 425-483-5000.

Civil War Quilts: Drawing from diaries of the Civil War era, art historian Susan Olds presents a visual account of the quilts and the women who created them, 2-3:30 p.m. Saturday at the Lynnwood Library, 19200 44th Ave. W. More info: 425-778-2148.

Origami for Seniors: Learn the art of paper-folding with local origami master and author Duy Nguyen from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Saturday at the Mukilteo Library, 4675 Harbour Pointe Blvd. Designed for older adults. More info: 425-493-8202.

Pajama Storytime: Families are invited to come in pajamas for stories, songs, fingerplays and fun at 7 p.m. Jan. 9 at the Snohomish Library, 311 Maple Ave. A craft may follow. More info: 360-568-2898.

ASSISTANCE

Edmonds Brain Support Group: Meets next from 6:30-8:30 p.m. today (first Tuesday) in the cafeteria room at Swedish/Edmonds Medical Center, 21601 76th Ave. W., Edmonds. Group supports brain-incident survivors and their caregivers. More info: Lou Nash, 425-776-7264 or lou_nash@frontier.com.

Employment Network: 10 a.m.-noon Fridays at the North Creek Presbyterian Church, 621 164th St. SE., Mill Creek. Free help with job searches, resume writing and interviewing. More info: 425-743-2386.

Family support group: Meets next from 7:30-9 p.m. Jan. 7 (second Monday) at Mountain View Presbyterian Church, 5115 100th St. NE, Marysville. A group for family members of adults living with mental illness to share ideas about coping and becoming better caregivers for their loved ones. More info: Wendy, 206-790-0162.

Grief support group: 10 a.m.-noon Thursdays at Mountain View Presbyterian Church, 5115 100th St. NE in Marysville. This group uses the GriefShare curriculum. More info: 360-659-7777, www.mtvpc.org.

Support group for parents of children with behavioral problems: 6:30-9 p.m. Thursdays at Zion Lutheran Church, 4634 Alger Ave., Everett. The network offers peer-to-peer support for parents struggling with children exhibiting risky behaviors such as drug or alcohol use. Groups are confidential and free. More info: 888-468-2620 or www.cpsn.org.

Take Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS): Several local chapters of this nonprofit weight-loss club meet at different days and times across Snohomish County. Meetings include a private weigh-in, peer support, information and awards for progress. First meeting is free. More info: www.tops.org, or area captain Darlene Wascher at 360-658-1311.

SENIORS

Bingo: 12:30-3 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at the Carl Gipson Senior Center of Everett, 3025 Lombard Ave. Cost is $2 for three-on. Everybody older than 50 can participate. More info: 425-257-8780, www.ci.everett.wa.us/seniors.

Double-deck pinochle: 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays and 4:30 p.m. Thursdays at Scriber Gardens/GenCare, 6024 200 St. SW, Lynnwood. More info: Carla, 425-771-5471.

Friendship Club: A group of senior citizens meets for lunch the second Thursday of each month at the Fraternal Order of Eagles, 216 Broadway, Everett. Lunch costs $7. The group also takes monthly bus tours. More info: Edward, 425-493-2588.

WAYS TO HELP

Volunteers over 55 wanted: The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), sponsored by Catholic Community Services, has access to hundreds of volunteer opportunities throughout the county, including opportunities on Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Jan. 21. More info: John McAlpine at johnm@ccsww.org, 425-374-6374 or 888-240-8572.

Camano Center help: Cashiers are needed for lunches at the Camano Center, 606 Arrowhead Road, Camano Island. Days would be Mondays, Wednesdays or Fridays. Time commitment would be about an hour. More info: Call Nancy at 360-387-0222 on Monday, Wednesday or Friday mornings.

Gospel Mission: Several volunteer opportunities are available at the Everett Gospel Mission. Volunteer orientations are held at 6 p.m. the third Tuesday of the month at the mission’s administration offices, 2222 52nd St. SE. Applications are required ahead of time. More info: www.egmission.org.

VOA needs drivers: The Volunteers of America food banks in Everett and Sultan need volunteer drivers for their senior home delivery and grocery pick-up services on weekdays. Training is provided. Volunteers must have a valid driver’s license and pass a background check. The Everett Distribution Center also needs warehouse volunteers, who must be able to lift 30-plus pounds. More info: Bill Kraut at bkraut@voaww.org or 425-259-3191 (Everett) or Jennifer Reasoner at jreasoner@voaww.org or 360-793-2400 (Sultan).

Tutor: Everett Community College’s Adult Literacy Center seeks volunteers who can tutor adult learners two or more hours per week in reading, writing, basic math and English as a second language. Volunteers must be patient, have good literacy skills and be sensitive to a variety of learning styles and cultural backgrounds. Tutoring times and locations are flexible. Training is free with a six-month commitment. More info: vlp@everettcc.edu, 425-388-9524.

Working Wardrobe assistant: The Working Women’s Wardrobe program needs assistants to help low-income women select interview- and work-appropriate clothing, sort clothing, help keep the area clean and change displays. Retail experience is helpful. Weekly 2-hour shift at the YWCA, 3301 Broadway, Everett. More info: 425-258-2766.

Humane Society: HappyPaws Farm, a no-kill, farm-like shelter in Arlington, has a variety of volunteer opportunities. Donations also are accepted, such as gift cards to pet stores, dog heating pads, pet food, and more. More info: 360-652-5844, hmnsoc@aol.com, [URL]www.saveourdogsandcats.org;http://www.saveourdogsandcats.org[URL].

Help out at Habitat Store: Habitat for Humanity of Snohomish County seeks volunteers to help staff the store in four-hour shifts (9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. or 1:30 to 5:30 p.m.) Thursday through Sunday. The store is at 2302 Broadway, Everett. The store also accepts donations of building materials, household items and furniture by appointment. More info: 425-903-4430 or [/URL]www.habitatsnohomish.org.;http://www.habitat.snohomish.org[URL]

Assist cancer patients: The Cancer Resource Center at the Providence Regional Cancer Partnership seeks volunteers to work weekly four-hour shifts meeting with cancer patients and caregivers to provide support. Drivers also are needed to get cancer patients to treatments and appointments. Volunteers use their own vehicles and get mileage reimbursement. More info: Jerri Wood, 425-322-1114 or jerri.wood@cancer.org.

Volunteer Chore Services: This program of Catholic Community Services seeks volunteers to assist with household chores and more, enabling elders and adults with disabilities to remain independent in their own homes. Volunteers can help the same person each week or be listed for on-call assistance. More info: Cherisse Webb, 425-374-6323 or cherissew@ccsww.org.

Vet center needs help: Healing Hearts In Hope Veteran Retreat Center seeks volunteers to help clean trails and organize fundraisers, among other things. The nonprofit helps veterans by providing a retreat. It is located at 28902 Mountain Loop Highway, Granite Falls. More info: Teresa, 360-691-6284 or hhhvrcfounder@netzero.com. Soup kitchen volunteers: The Salt of the Earth Soup Kitchen needs volunteers to help prepare, cook, serve and clean up starting at 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays at the Westminster Presbyterian Church, 2531 Hoyt Ave., Everett. The group also is looking for a box truck to pick up food for food banks in Snohomish County. More info: Sandra, 425-355-1042.

Arlington Food Bank: Arlington-area businesses and community groups are needed to hold food drives. Volunteers also are needed. More info: Dori, 360-435-1631.

Hands of Hope Food Bank: Help your neighbors in need by volunteering at the food bank or making a donation. To make a donation, send checks to 9506 Seventh Ave. SE, Everett, WA 98208, or bring in your food donation from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday. More info: 425-355-5985.

Marysville Community Food Bank: Volunteers are needed to help sort food (10 a.m.-noon Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday), serve clients groceries (9-11 a.m. Monday and Friday and 3-6 p.m. Tuesday), pick up groceries and other tasks. The food bank is at 4150 88th St. NE, Marysville. More info: 360-658-1054, [/URL]http://marysvillefoodbank.org.;http://www.marysvillecommunityfb.com[URL]

The Binky Patrol: A group of quilters, knitters and crocheters who make “binkies” for children in traumatic situations seeks volunteers and donations of fabric, yarn or thread. Meetings are on the first Sunday of the month in Marysville. More info: 360-659-7198.

Help plan Village fundraiser: Volunteers are needed to plan and implement Village Community Services’ 2013 Taste of Decadence fundraiser, to be held in May. The planning committee meets at 5:30 p.m. the second Wednesday of the month in Arlington. If interested, contact Michelle Dietz at 360-653-7752 ext. 14 or resource@villagecommunitysvcs.org.

Web guru: The Lake Stevens Education Foundation seeks a volunteer to update and manage its website. The nonprofit supports the Lake Stevens School District with classroom grants, programs and scholarships. More info: [/URL]www.LkStevensEF.org;http://www.LkStevensEF.org[URL] or call Terri at 425-334-0691.

Hospice volunteers: Providence Hospice and Home Care of Snohomish County, 2731 Wetmore Ave., Everett, holds volunteer information sessions the third Wednesday of the month. More info: Joanie, 425-261-4815.

Senior Services needs administrator, drivers: Senior Services of Island County, facilitating agency of the Meals-on-Wheels program at the Camano Center, needs an administrator for the program as well as dedicated volunteers to help deliver meals to home-bound Camano Island seniors. Drivers are reimbursed 50 cents per mile. More info: Ginny or Nancy at 360-387-0222.

Donate cellphones: Domestic Violence Services of Snohomish County is recycling cellphones. Even without service, cellphones can call 911 when charged. Phones may be dropped off at the New and Again Thrift Shoppe, 3116 Rucker Ave., Everett, which is open Tuesday through Saturday. Other locations can be found at [/URL]www.dvs-snoco.org;http://www.dvs-snoco.org[URL], or call Stephanie Civey at 425-259-2827 ext. 13.[/URL]