Lynnwood Convention Center gives to food bank

Through a longstanding partnership with the Lynnwood Food Bank, any extra meals not consumed at the Lynnwood Convention Center are donated to the food bank. The Lynnwood Convention Center donated nearly 9,000 pounds of food in 2012.

“The food is very much appreciated,” said Judy Finn of the food bank. “After the food is picked up from the convention center, it is repackaged by volunteers into meal-sized containers and given out to local families each week.”

The Lynnwood Food Bank has operated for more than 32 years. During the winter season the food bank serves nearly 250 families a week, a number that continues to increase.

For more information or to volunteer, go to www.lynnwoodfoodbank.org.

Wallace donates to Cancer Society

Former Everett songwriter Steve Wallace’s poem, “Anderson Speedway,” was named the 2012 Poem of the Year by Walker Music Group of Nashville, which plans to publish and record it with a release date of January on I-tunes.

You can read the poem and hear one of Wallace’s songs at www.songramp.com.

The $1,000 he won for poem of the year was donated to the American Cancer Society, Wallace said.

South Everett Rotary helps homeless children

The South Everett- Mukilteo Rotary Club invited 45 homeless children ages 4 through 12 from Housing Hope and Tomorrow’s Hope Childcare Center to Kmart to shop for Christmas presents for their families.

The Rotary club provided each child with a $40 gift certificate to spend and helped them pick out presents for family members.

After paying for the items, Rotary members and Kamiak High School volunteers helped the children wrap the gifts with wrapping paper donated by Kmart.

The store also provided snacks and treat bags. This is the 20th year the Rotary has teamed up with Kmart for the shopping trip.

Sea Mar Community Health Center donates to children

More than 250 children from low-income families in Snohomish County received gifts and toys, and their families had a meal at Sea Mar Community Health Center’s annual Snohomish County Christmas Party.

For nearly 25 years, Sea Mar has hosted Christmas parties in several western Washington counties where the organization’s medical, dental, behavioral health, social and educational services are offered.

More than 3,000 children were served at Christmas parties throughout seven counties.

Tamara Fitzpatrick, nurse manager at Sea Mar’s Marysville Medical Clinic, said for some children, the party by Sea Mar is their Christmas.

“The Christmas party is part of Sea Mar’s commitment to help families with limited resources to enjoy the holidays just a little bit more, and sometimes a lot more,” she said.

Fitzpatrick said the event is made possible each year through the donations of local businesses and the work of Sea Mar staff and volunteers.

Group makes handmade quilts for veterans

The Pilchuck Chapter of the Daughters of the American Colonists this month completed 23 handmade lap quilts, which they donated to the spinal cord injury unit at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Seattle.

Ruth Shaff, treasurer of the Pilchuck Chapter and chairwoman of the chapter’s Veterans Services Committee, designed and assembled the patchwork quilts, many of which were created with patriotic or military themes.

At the chapter’s November meeting, the quilts were tied by members, who include Cheryl Healey, Jean Albertson, Pat Zuanich, Elaine Hamner-Yard, Iras Gabryelewicz, Suzanne Cloore, Marjory Radford, Maralyn Ricketts, Mary Bess Johnson, Ramona Arcuri and Jen Champlin.

In addition, chapter member Marietta Roth completed and donated a handmade quilt.

For more information about the Daughters of the American Colonists, call 425-743-5030.

Marysvillle Camp Fire group donates to food bank

The MEGA Camp Fire Club from Westwood Crossing in Marysville ran its annual canned food drive and caroling at the Marysville Safeway store Dec. 14.

Club members made gingerbread men and other ornaments to give those who donate canned food to the Camp Fire food drive.

Donations went to the Marysville Community Food Bank, said club leader Leslie Buell.

The children involved included Dezarea Craig, Kirete and Nathan Rodriguez, Jordyn Kile, Ashlee Rodriguez, Morgan Swales, Lazalea Craig and Chloe Marie Buckmasten.

To submit news for the Applause column, contact reporter Gale Fiege: gfiege@heraldnet.com; 425-339-3427.