2022 Giving Guide

Supplement to the Skagit Valley Herald, Anacortes American and Stanwood-Camano News

Children of the Valley is a life-changing a erschool program for our community’s underresourced families

Children of the Valley

Year Established: 2006

1318 S. 18th St., Mount Vernon, WA, 98274 360-982-2399

https://childrenofthevalleymv.org/ www.facebook.com/covskagit www.instagram.com/covskagit/

Children of the Valley is a free referral-based afterschool program that has been making a di erence in the community for more than 16 years.

It provides a positive, caring and supportive environment

for children of low-income families in our community. The program values and respects each child’s potential, in a positive and safe environment, with a focus on academic support while o ering a variety of cultural enrichment

activities each day.

Said Executive Director Flora Lucatero, “Our purpose is to remove the barriers that many of our community’s students face, and provide them equal access to opportunities they may not otherwise have in order for our students to dream big in pursuit of their educational goals of graduating high school and obtaining postsecondary education.”

Children of the Valley was started in 2006 after a thirdgrade teacher from Mount Vernon saw a need for her students to have a safe and

positive place to go after school to complete homework and be exposed to activities and opportunities they would otherwise not be exposed to.

Today, the organization has 26 sta members and an average of 152 volunteers serving 140 students from the Mount Vernon School District in grades K-5 and 45 students in both the Burlington-Edison and Sedro-Woolley school districts in grades K-6.

Students qualify to participate in this free afterschool program through a referral-based system. They are admitted based on certain

criteria and through a referral from a school counselor.

By participating in Children of the Valley, children achieve academic gains, increased school attendance and engagement at school, and increased con dence and compassion.

Said Lucatero, “We are on a mission to close the opportunity gap for the children in our community and to o er academic and extracurricular opportunities that give them the skills and con dence they will need to achieve their greatest potential and career aspirations. It’s amazing to see the impact we have had on the many students we’ve served through the years and to see them graduate high school and college and are now living their careers. Some are teachers in our community,

Children of the Valley

some in the military and law enforcement. We even have one of our former students on our sta .”

Children of the Valley’s after-school program is built upon four cornerstones of care aimed at addressing the unique needs of the children in their care.

The four cornerstones are academic assistance, enrichment activities, socialemotional learning and family support.

“We are making a di erence in the lives of each child and family we serve by providing a positive safe space after school for them to be cared for, mentored and provided academic assistance, social emotional learning and enrichment activities. With this consistent support, we are lowering the school dropout rates, preventing juvenile

crime in our community, and closing the opportunity gaps for our children,” Lucatero said.

Funding for Children of the Valley comes from grants, foundations, private donors and fundraisers with 100% of donations going directly to support the program.

The program’s most urgent needs are nancial support in the form of monthly donors or one-time gifts, and volunteers. These two are critical in order for the program to continue to make a di erence in the lives

of students.

In addition to nancial donations and volunteers, Children of the Valley is looking for donations of classroom supplies, including board games, arts and craft supplies, and outdoor games and equipment.

With ve sites now open, the program’s need for support is greater than ever. Learn how to get involved by visiting https:// childrenofthevalleymv.org.

Children’s Museum of Skagit County comes roaring back

Children’s Museum of Skagit County

Year Established — 2003

432 Fashion Way, Burlington, WA, 98233

360-757-8888

www.skagitchildrensmuseum.net

Facebook: www.facebook.com/skagitchildrensmuseum

Twitter: twitter.com/ChildMuseumSkag

Instagram: www.instagram.com/skagitchildrensmuseum/ Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/bakerthebear/

It takes more than a pandemic to deter the mission of the Children’s Museum of Skagit County to provide intergenerational hands-on learning opportunities for children from birth through age 12.

In the wake of COVID-19, however, what has changed dramatically in the past

year has been access to the organization’s facility. With an expanded sta of 15 employees, the museum is not only back to a sevenday-a-week schedule, but has expanded its hours of operation since the early days of reopening in June 2021.

The museum has also returned to hosting its

Community Access Days on the second Tuesday of each month, o ering “pay as you can” admission.

“Sometimes we’ll have as many as 750 a day attending,” said Executive Director Cate Anderson.

The Children’s Museum of Skagit County continues to serve as the venue for the Museum Explorers Pre-School Program, and the organization has revitalized and expanded its scholarship program to provide family passes and memberships, host birthday parties for children who are homeless, and make its camps, classes and other events accessible to children who would bene t from them.

In addition to its other programs, the museum hosts “Mask Up Monday Mornings” for kids of families that have medically fragile members, as well as supervised visitations.

“We are excited to be a

‘venue’ again,” said Anderson.

“We serve as a host site not only for our own events, but for those of other organizations as well, such as Head Start, Leadership Skagit, Burlington Soroptimist Club and the United Way’s Financial People Project. Most recently we hosted United General’s ‘Bringing Baby Home’ event, and this year we partnered with Skagit County Public Health to combine our Full Steam Ahead program with Family Palooza. This was a wonderful way to bring libraries, child care, and children’s health organizations together to focus on disaster preparedness. We included activities for kids, and hundreds of people attended.”

This year will also mark the museum’s sixth annual Winter Wonderland, with live reindeer as well as Santa. With the help of lodging tax grants and generous sponsors, the event

Christianson’s Nursery

Children’s Museum of Skagit County

is free to the community.

From its origins as the brainchild of a group of local parents who were frustrated by the limited number of places where kids could go to have fun while learning, the Children’s Museum of Skagit County has evolved into a 15,400-square-foot facility that is divided into large exhibit spaces, an art studio, a reading area with books, games and other activities, and even a STEAM Lane (science, technology, engineering, art, math) where children are free to engage in age-appropriate activities.

As a member of the Association of Children’s Museums, Anderson said her organization is receiving visitors from far outside the Skagit Valley as well.

During the pandemic, the museum launched its Help Me

Grow-Skagit Family Resource Center to serve the needs of COVID-positive families by providing basic cleaning and hygiene supplies, diapers and wipes, as well as educational activity kits for continued childhood learning.

Even as COVID restrictions forced the organization to scale back its hours and sta , it was able to serve thousands

of individuals and families — which was a continuing source of inspiration for Anderson.

“With all of the things that we can’t control in this world, it’s great to see all the ways that our community came together to support our families. Parents want to do the best for their children, and we just want to help them.”

To help the museum

expand its mission throughout Skagit County, supporters can go online and donate through the organization’s website, or by contacting the museum directly. Cate Anderson is available at 360-770-9746 or by email at Cate@skagitcm. org.

Family Promise of Skagit Valley provides hope for homeless families in Skagit County

Family Promise of Skagit Valley

a wide list of life skills classes that help people learn how to live within their means (even in these tough times), how to cook, clean, garden, sew, etc.

of the community.

They are also proud to o er an opportunity for those of all ages to volunteer in serving the community in helpful and meaningful ways.

Family Promise of Skagit Valley o ers prevention, shelter and stabilization to homeless families in Skagit County.

Under the Family Promise program, families stay together in an environment that is comfortable, private, and safe. They are never

separated based on gender or age.

Families are provided evening activities, meals and overnight lodging from 5 p.m. to 7 a.m., and access to the day center during the day.

Support with nding employment and housing is provided, as well as access to

Since its inception in 2015, Family Promise of Skagit Valley has served more than 342 families through prevention and shelter diversion services, shelter and housing programming, and graduate services.

The organization works to bring individuals, businesses, schools, churches and other organizations together to create strong communitybased programming for families with children, adapting to the unique needs

Executive Director Audrea Woll, who has been with the agency since 2017, said, “I believe that housing is a right and children deserve access to housing, food, education and love so that they have all the opportunities to reach their full potential. Housing plays such a determinant role in the stability of the whole family.”

Family Promise of Skagit Valley is run by 10 employees, two college interns and about 350 volunteers.

Said Woll, “Volunteers are the heartbeat of how we have grown so quickly. They support the guests a week at a time by providing dinners and children’s activities, and staying overnight at the church to ensure the safety of

GoTo: www.familypromiseskagit.weebly.com

Family Promise of Skagit Valley

the guests.”

The majority of the charity’s funding comes from individual donors, churches, businesses and foundations, with 70% to 75% of funds going to provide direct care to clients.

Charity Navigator deems Family Promise as one of the top charities in the country to donate to.

Said Woll, “It is our mission to come together as a community. That means we rely on the community coming together to provide these much-needed services. Currently we are in need of volunteers and nancial donations for our seasonal shelter and support in spreading the word about the work we are doing. Throughout the year, we always have a need for volunteers to serve community dinners, facilitate

classes, provide maintenance and building upkeep, and other tasks. Donations of basic hygiene supplies, cleaning supplies, new bedding and other items that will help o set the cost to shelter and house families are also very much appreciated.”

Long-term, the charity is exploring ways to purchase its own transitional housing to keep operating costs down and is working to expand to areas/populations that are underserved.

A really big dream is to own their own day center where all the sta could work in the same o ces, and services could be provided in one place.

Woll’s message to the community is “Don’t let your perception of homelessness or the thought of how much time or money you need to

have stop you from getting involved. If everyone just gives a little it makes a huge di erence. Also, I want people to know that we are just a phone call away if they need services. Don’t wait until you lose housing. Even if our services are full, we will do our best to help you nd services and take you through resources that might be able

to help. Homelessness is not always what we think it is. These are our neighbors.”

To learn more about Family Promise of Skagit Valley, go to its website (new site coming in 2023) and follow its Facebook and Instagram pages. Those interested in donating can click the Donate Now button on the organization’s home page.

Help Me Grow Skagit Family

Resource Center provides community services to support Skagit County families with young children

Help Me Grow

Skagit Family Resource Center

Year Established: 2020

432 Fashion Way, Burlington, WA, 98233 360-230-9129 (Family Resource Center) 360-630-8352 (Family Resource Navigator) https://helpmegrowskagit.com/resource-center/ www.facebook.com/HMGSFamilyResourceCenter/

Help Me Grow Skagit Family Resource Center (a program of the Children’s Museum of Skagit County) aims to o er all Skagit County families that are expecting a baby or who have

children up to about age 8 seamless access to community services and support.

The Family Resource Center launched in October 2020 with an initial allocation of

COVID relief funds from Skagit County in order to begin to meet the needs of families with young children and those expecting children who were being a ected by the pandemic.

Nearly 60% of families with young children in Skagit County are eligible for public assistance programs, but not all families know that support is available at the time they need it.

The Family Resource Center (FRC) is able to provide reliable local information, referrals to services and application assistance for public programs with a core team of nine sta and partners, along with the people who serve on the HMGS FRC Advisory Committee.

Cate Anderson, executive director of the Children’s Museum, is chair of the Children’s Council of Skagit County and is committed to

doing all she and her team can to meet the needs of families with young children in Skagit County.

The Children’s Museum is centrally located and provides a welcoming, nonstigmatizing environment for these resources.

FRC works in partnership with the Children’s Council of Skagit County, county Public Health, United General District 304, the United Way of Skagit County/Diaper Bank and WithinReach (Help Me Grow WA). Services are available in English, Spanish and Mixteco.

Said Anderson, “We have served over 1,000 families, or over 4,0000 individuals, across Skagit County, including a number of families whose primary language is Spanish or Mixteco. In partnership with the Diaper Bank of Skagit County, we have distributed nearly 500,000 diapers in the past two years. It is clear that

many of the families who come to the FRC to receive essential items experience stress relief from this support.”

With a long-term goal to have satellite operations throughout the county and a mobile Family Resource Center, the organization hopes to reach people where they are.

The Help Me Grow Program provides:

• Basic needs and essential items for families who are nancially stressed: diapers, wipes, cleaning supplies, hygiene supplies, formula, car seats, and safe sleep items.

• Connection to services and public assistance programs.

• Parent groups, classes and other family support o erings.

Help Me Grow Skagit

Funding for Help Me

Grow comes from county ARPA funds (allocation ends 12/2022), Skagit Community Foundation and private donors with 100% of the donations going directly to procuring items, to FRC sta , and to outreach.

Those interested in making nancial donations, can visit https://www. skagitchildrensmuseum.net/ support/donate/ or drop o donations at the Children’s Museum.

The organization would welcome volunteers to assist with the program and it happily accepts donations of diapers, wipes, formula, car seats, safe sleep items, and hygiene products such as soap, shampoo and toothpaste.

The program is unable to accept donations of used car

seats, furniture items, clothing and toys. Please call with questions or to schedule a drop-o time.

To learn more about the

organization, visit https:// helpmegrowskagit.com/ resource-center/ or attend an open house. Call for the open house schedule.

Helping Hands Food Bank reimagines community nourishment

Helping Hands Food Bank

Year Established: 1985

9386 Fruitdale Road

Sedro-Woolley, WA, 98284

Mailing Address: PO Box 632, Sedro-Woolley, WA 98284 360-856-2211

www.helpinghandsfoodbank.org

Facebook: www.facebook.com/HelpingHandsFoodBank Twitter: twitter.com/helpinghandsfb/ LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/ helpinghandsfoodbank

YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCzJfk3pkz9mA4vs@ QbTPFQ

There’s time-honored wisdom in the old adage about the di erence between giving someone a sh and teaching them how to sh.

It’s one that has guided the evolution of Helping Hands Food Bank in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

From its start in a church

basement in the 1970s, the Sedro-Woolley-based nonpro t has not only expanded on its core mission of feeding those in need but has begun to address the more endemic causes of food inequity.

With six locations, seven full-time employees and nearly 70 volunteers — who collectively contributed an incredible 97,000 hours of their time — Helping Hands Food Bank delivered 3.6 million pounds of food to Skagit County residents in 2021 including feeding 2,300 kids a month through the

CHOW (Cutting Hunger on Weekends) program.

These e orts garnered nearly 406,000 participant visits throughout the county. Even more impressive, however, is that Helping Hands not only survived the challenges of the pandemic but expanded its reach — integrating a number of struggling Skagit County food banks into its organizational structure.

“We are proud of our growth,” Helping Hands Engagement Manager Käaren Flint said. “We faced many challenges during COVID, but we really stepped up for our community, and we’ve had

Helping Hands Food Bank

such a beautiful response to the increased need. We all committed to ensuring people were fed and reaching all ends of the county.”

In addition to relocating its Sedro-Woolley headquarters from a church basement to its own “Solution Center” at the corner of Fruitdale and Wicker (“Look for the big red barn,” says Flint), Helping Hands also expanded to a total of six locations.

The Solution Center, which provides services beyond nutritional needs to include resource navigation and advocacy, is at the core of what Flint describes as her organization’s uniqueness among food banks.

“Making sure that people get fed is always our main focus,” she said. “But we realized as we were doing this there were other challenges

a ecting the reasons people were coming to the food bank. Our solutions team is a starting point that helps people navigate the systems and resources within our community to help them.”

Through a job skills training partnership with WorkSource, Helping Hands also teaches vocational skills that include customer service, data entry, warehouse management and forklift operations.

Flint proudly points out that the grant that funds these programs injected $750,000 into the community last year through internship salaries, lifting up not only individuals but their neighborhoods as well.

Another point of pride for Helping Hands is the fact that it receives only 2% of its funding from government sources, with the remaining

98% coming from individuals, businesses and foundation grants.

At the same time, its nonpro t status gives it access to government resources. For example, one of its most recent grants now funds unlimited access to fresh produce for food bank participants.

Looking ahead, Flint said, “Our goal is to build our programs and establish solid partnerships with other nonpro ts, businesses and farmers so we can lean on each other to support people who are just surviving in our community. We want to help them thrive.”

The most immediate way to help Helping Hands Food Bank thrive is to give online via the organization’s website at www.helpinghandsfoodbank. org/donate or by mail (P.O.

Box 632, Sedro-Woolley, WA, 98284).

Visiting the Helping Hands website is also a great way to learn about volunteer opportunities, such as food sorting and delivery or working as part of the team that helps individuals access services.

Flint also welcomes changemakers and advocacy experts to help bring about the systemic changes necessary to nd solutions to why people utilize food banks.

“We can’t just solve poverty by lling bellies, though it’s a great start. We need to get in front of the challenges and help people further upstream, so we can better understand how to take people from surviving to thriving,” Flint said.

Helping Hearts and Hands strives to improve the quality of life for patients with dementia and end-of-life

Issues

Helping Hearts and Hands

Year Established – April, 2014 PO Box 1195, PMB #210 La Conner, WA 98257 (360) 724-8107 www.helpingheartsandhands.org

Helping Hearts and Hands volunteers provide trusted palliative care resources and educational services to ful ll the needs of those with dementia and those who have entered their end-of-life phase.

The organization’s services cover those in Skagit, Island, Snohomish, San Juan and Whatcom counties. Its mission is to improve the quality of life for patients with serious illness or debilitating disease by caring for the whole person:

physically, emotionally, socially and spiritually.

With a goal to make each client’s end-of-life experience as comfortable and positive as possible by providing companionship and helping to ease people’s fears through comfort and education, Helping Hearts and Hands supports people when they are at their most vulnerable.

Helping Hearts and Hands was founded by Louise and

Craig Edens and Joanne O. Moore after they had spent time visiting local assisted living facilities to provide activities and van rides to appointments.

While performing those tasks, they saw a tremendous need for people to have better and more compassionate endof-life caring.

With that realization, they started providing companionship and comfort to those in their nal days/ weeks.

Said Louise Edens, “We could see that our e orts were having an impact but knew we could be the most help by providing end-of-life services. Craig and I want to continue helping people for as long as

HelpingHeartsandHandsisanetworkofpalliativecareresources andeducationalservicesservingtheneedsofWashington’sSkagit, Island,Snohomish,SanJuanandWhatcomCounties.

Helping Hearts and Hands

we can and are able. We are proud to o er reasonable rates for our services and ful ll such a large demand.

“We’re happy with how our services are helping people. We concentrate on the importance of socialization and we like to do nice things like throw birthday parties. Helping Hearts and Hands never gives up on people who are ill, including those who are su ering from dementia or Alzheimer’s.”

Over the years, the organization has had between two and 30 volunteers, and employees who work to provide companionship, comfort, cooking, rides and positive reinforcement. It is always looking for volunteers.

The organization relies on donations, sponsorships and fundraising e orts to provide care to their clients, with 90%

of all money raised going directly to client care.

The charity could most use donations to meet administrative needs and to provide nancial assistance to those with limited resources.

Those who need help, would like to help, or would like to learn more about the organization, can visit www. helpingheartsandhands.org or call Louise Edens at 360-7248107.

To make a donation, visit the Helping Hearts and Hands website, call 360-724-8107 or mail donations to P.O. Box 1195, PMB #210, La Conner, WA, 98257.

La Conner Braves Club lls in the blanks in K-8 learning and enrichment

La Conner Braves Club

Year Established: 2017

Contact Marlene Brenton at 360-399-1921 or at mbrenton@ lc.k12.wa.us

The site of the Braves Club in La Conner is a familiar one to parents of school-age children.

For nearly 20 years, it welcomed kids in the La Conner School District as the local Boys and Girls Club. Its director, Marlene Brenton, also worked for the school district.

When the La Conner club closed its doors in 2017, it left a gap in after-school programs for students. The school district responded by hiring

Brenton to manage a program to take its place at the same site. It was given the name Braves Club.

Not surprisingly, given Brenton’s background, Braves Club adopted a model similar to that of the Boys and Girls Club.

“We have daily activities and weekly themes designed for K-8 students,” said Brenton. “We o er STEM and STEAM education, physical tness and a plethora of other enrichment

activities throughout the year.”

La Conner Braves Club currently serves about 100 local students, including public school and homeschool kids.

“Some kids come every day of the week, some just once a week, depending on their needs,” Brenton said. “We don’t want to take them away from anything they are already engaged in, like sports or family activities — we’re here to ll in the blanks when they don’t have something to do.”

Braves Club is o ered 2:40 to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. The rst hour of the

LaConnerBravesClub AfterSchoolProgram

club, known as “Power Hour,” is a time when students can do homework or read.

The remainder of the time is lled with education-based games that include phonics and math, as well as a variety of other activities such as chess club, photography, comic book making, quilting and culinary arts.

Needless to say, Braves Club has been a hit with kids and their parents.

“Kids value the fact that we care about every student in the school district,” said Brenton. “We greet them individually by name when they arrive, and they appreciate that they have a voice in putting together our activities calendar. I like to remind them that it’s not my club … it’s theirs. Parents appreciate the fact that when their kids arrive home they typically have their homework done, and coming to the club

La Conner Braves Club

is sometimes the ‘carrot’ that parents use to encourage good behavior at home.”

Braves Club shut down its normal operations during the COVID-19 pandemic, but quickly pivoted to serving students who lacked internet access.

“We opened up the Braves Club Learning Hub, where students could come, masked and socially distanced, and receive help in navigating the remote learning experience,” said Brenton. “We ended up serving more than 130 kids during the pandemic both at this location and through three di erent hubs on campus.”

Tuition for La Conner Braves Club is $100 per student per month, which represents a cost of $5 for 3 1/2 hours of daily programming — and a daily snack.

La Conner Braves Club has waivers and a sliding fee scale for those families who could not otherwise a ord to enroll their children.

“We aren’t going to put families in the position of taking food o their tables in order to have their kids come here,” Brenton said. “But we want every family to contribute something so they feel a sense of ownership.”

Though the bulk of the club’s funding comes through tuition and concessions, roughly $100,000 must be secured through donations, grants and the activities of the La Conner Braves Club Fundraising Council, a 501(c)3 organization.

All donations are used for operations, from sta ng to programs, supplies and snacks. Those wishing to help Braves Club through cash donations

or volunteer time can contact Brenton at 360-399-1921 or by email at mbrenton@lc.k12. wa.us

Healing has an address at New Earth Recovery

New Earth Recovery

Year Established: 2011 P.O. Box 1473, Mount Vernon, WA. 98273 360-848-9281 www.NERecovery.org Facebook: www.facebook.com/nerecovery.org/

Two years of pandemic exposed a lot of fault lines in our social infrastructure. Not surprisingly, one of those was opioid addiction.

According to the National Center for Health Statistics, there were 97,516 deaths from drug overdose in the United States in the 12-month period ending in May 2021 — a 23% increase from 2020. The statistic for Washington state was even more grim: a 30%

increase over 2020.

And while addiction rates went up, access to treatment and mental health services declined.

These grim statistics underscore the importance of New Earth Recovery to Skagit County in interrupting cycles of addiction and incarceration by providing a long-term, holistic and structured residential recovery program. New Earth Recovery grew

out of co-founders Alan and Amy Muia’s experience as volunteer chaplains at the Skagit County jail, and the realization that people needing intensive and wholistic support for their recovery e orts would thrive best in a home environment.

In 2011, they established New Earth Recovery and opened Faith House, a women’s entry-level home. The nonpro t currently operates ve recovery homes in Skagit County, with a sta of seven that includes three program graduates.

More than stable housing,

New Earth Recovery o ers close sta accompaniment, structure and accountability, a relapse prevention program (Genesis), and encouragement in faith.

The e ectiveness of its approach is manifest in the accomplishments of its residents.

Of the 55 people served in 2021, 20 found employment or attended college while in residence, 15 graduated outpatient treatment, eight found secure housing upon departure, 14 completed the Genesis relapse prevention program, eight regained their

NewEarthRecoveryisanon-pro tChristianorganizationoperating aresidentialrecoveryprograminSkagitValley.

NewEarthRecoveryloves,strengthensandaccompaniespeoplein recoveryfromsubstanceaddictionthroughfaith-basedhealingcommunity.

ToDonateGoTo:www.NERecovery.org

driver’s licenses, 26 restored relationships with family — and 32 reported starting or deepening their faith journeys.

In recounting her experience with New Earth Recovery, one of its residents wrote, “I’m seeing a lot of beautiful, abundant things in my life. I’ve learned that I am embraced by God, and God guides me toward having a purpose. I’m living life the way it was meant to be lived.”

New Earth Recovery is funded primarily through individual contributions, and is also supported by Skagit County Public Health, grants from regional foundations, program fees paid by residents, and church participants.

Monetary donations are always needed and appreciated, and more than 90% directly support resident

New Earth Recovery

needs and recovery program participation.

New Earth Recovery encourages the community to learn more about its mission and programs through its website, and to share its contact information with anyone who is struggling with substance use disorder.

The intake phone is 360848-9281, or send a message through the website contact page, www.NERecovery.org.

For the third year in a row, New Earth Recovery will host Noel Harp Ensemble in a musical bene t. To experience the magic of a Celtic harp Christmas, the public is invited to attend the concert at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 6 at Bethany Covenant Church, 1318 S. 18th St., Mount Vernon. Freewill o erings are encouraged.

S.P.O.T. is dedicated to minimizing the neglect, abandonment and abuse of pets in the Skagit Valley

Saving Pets One at a Time

Year established: 1999

830 S. Spruce St., Burlington, WA, 98233

Message line: (360) 336-5388 www.savingpetsoneatatime.org www.facebook.com/spotwa

Founded in 1999 by three local women, Saving Pets

One at a Time (S.P.O.T.) is a companion animal rescue and placement organization. S.P.O.T.’s leaders and 30 active volunteers are dedicated to minimizing the neglect, abandonment and abuse of pets in the Skagit Valley, while

ful lling the organization’s mission to nd appropriate homes for the pets in their care.

Said President Nina Spitler, “At our core, we are a service organization for humans and pets. Our compassionate fosters are committed to our policy of restoring attainable

health for each pet prior to adoption. We are also committed to o ering support for pets to remain in loving homes. Pets stay in our care until adopted or placed in a sanctuary home. S.P.OT. provides an alternative to a shelter environment with in-home foster care for cats and dogs. We have become a community resource; as an example, the Pet Emergency Center in West Mount Vernon will call us as a nancial resource for a pet owner through our Sadie Fund or occasionally to take in a sick or injured cat or dog that has been surrendered.” S.P.O.T. is 100% volunteer run. There are no set hours of operation, which gives volunteers more exibility. Pets are shown to prospective adopters by appointment after completing the application process. Applications and surrender forms can be

found on the website, and the message line is also a great way to contact the organization.

S.P.O.T. spays or neuters pets before adoption to help control the population of unwanted cats and dogs. In addition, S.P.O.T. is proud to o er the following community assistance services: Sadie Fund: Financial assistance for urgent or emergency veterinary care Spay/Neuter Fund: Assistance for low-income pet owners

Emergency Boarding: Temporary care for a pet Trap • Alter • Return

(T.A.R.): Help with the population control of freeroaming cat colonies

Said Spitler, “We are not a high-volume shelter but we take animals that need more or longer care than a shelter may be able to provide. It is not unusual to have dogs

SAVINGPETSONEATATIME

S.P.O.T. Saving Pets One at a Time

surrendered to us when they are sick, injured, emotionally broken, or have some kind of behavioral issue. All these conditions require attention, committed care, and nancial resources to make them adoptable. We also take on cats and kittens that come from distressing situations. Many are too young to survive without a mother but have a chance at becoming the pets they were meant to be with vet and foster intervention. With community support and committed volunteers, we provide the resources to help each attain a healthy condition.”

The majority of S.P.O.T’s funding comes from public donations, fundraising and the occasional grant from organizations such as the Skagit Community Foundation.

With only facility and vehicle maintenance costs to cover, between 80% and 90% of donations go directly to helping the pets in S.P.O.T.’s care. The organization’s primary long-term hope is to keep doing the work it’s doing.

Said Spitler, “We are always appreciative of new people with a passion for rescuing pets. Fostering is not always easy but there is so much more vital assistance that is needed to keep an organization like this operational. Another long-range goal is to create a unique facility where pets can be housed in a home-like environment for temporary emergency situations and extended sanctuary care for senior pets. This is a huge need in our community.”

S.P.O.T. depends on fundraising and private

donations to care for rescued pets and to provide community services.

Volunteers are absolutely vital to the organization’s success, and there are many options for involvement. The rescue currently has about 15 fosters, but its biggest need is more committed foster homes.

Pet supplies and food are always appreciated, and can be dropped o on the

S.P.O.T. house doorstep. Call the phone line to ask about donating large items or to learn about becoming a volunteer or foster.

“Monetary donations, for which we are so, so thankful, can be made on our website as well,” Spitler said.

Skagit County Historical Museum is Skagit County’s Best Kept Secret!

Skagit County Historical Museum

Historical Society founded in 1959, museum built in 1968 501 S. 4th St., P.O. Box 818 La Conner, WA, 98257 360-466-3365 www.skagitcounty.net/museum Facebook: Skagit County Historical Museum

The Skagit County Historical Museum (SCHM) serves as the leading source for the understanding and enjoyment of Skagit County’s unique cultural history.

The museum enjoys strong and diverse community support, and it maintains high standards for ethics and accuracy.

Sta and volunteers work hard to ful ll the museum’s mission: The Skagit County Historical Society shall preserve and present the county’s unique cultural heritage for the enjoyment and education of all.

Said SCHM Director Jo Wolfe, “The museum serves the people of Skagit County.

We preserve and present the history of the county through exhibits and educational programming. For students, we o er docented tours of the museum and Pioneer Days at the historic Skagit City School. For adult education, we have Skagit Topics, Topics @ the School, and a Speaker’s Bureau that is available to speak at retirement communities, community clubs or any gathering.”

The idea for the museum was sparked at a Pioneer Picnic when the president suggested that “someone” needed to start preserving Skagit County’s history.

After a few years, his suggestion became an order, and he assigned a group to create the Historical Society. The Historical Society was formed in 1959 and the Skagit County Historical Museum was built in 1968.

The museum currently has

30 volunteers and employs seven people (one full-time position). The museum is always looking for volunteers to handle a wide range of tasks, including giving school tours, collection care, tending the front desk and promotion.

Museum sta and volunteers are currently working on several important projects and goals, including: • Completing a comprehensive inventory

Skagit County Historical Museum

of all 450,000 artifacts, and ensuring they are properly documented in PastPerfect Museum Software

• Re-starting the school age programming (which stopped due to COVID)

• Re-invigorating the history trunk program

• Developing curriculum to go with the SCHM history books

• Developing ve- and 10year maintenance plans and a comprehensive energy plan

• Getting into a nancial position to increase sta hours or provide bene ts

• Cleaning up storage areas

• Eventually getting the archives collection — diaries, documents and more — digitized Said Wolfe, “We have striven

to make Skagit a better place by recording and sharing the history of all Skagitonians. Our tagline is ‘preserving Skagit history for all people for all time.’ We are the storytellers – Our Voces del Valle exhibit shared the history of Latino people who have made Skagit County their home. We did an exhibit on the internment of Japanese-American Skagitonians and we continue to tell the stories of the rst residents of our county through our book “Indians of Skagit County” and through Coast Salish stories shared in our education program.”

The funding to operate the museum comes from memberships, donations and support from Skagit County.

To donate to the Skagit County Historical Museum, use the donate button on the home page of the museum’s

website, drop o a donation in person 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday through Sunday, or send by mail.

The museum also accepts donations of Skagit speci c artifacts, stories, documents, etc., for its collection.

Those interested in volunteering or lling the open position of outreach and adult education coordinator

should call 360-466-3365.

“We are one of the best kept secrets in Skagit County,” Wolfe said. “There are so many people who have been in Skagit for years and never visited the museum. Once here, they are amazed at the stories we have to share. The best way to learn more about the museum is to come to the museum for a tour.”

Skagit Friendship House strives to empower the local homeless population by feeding, sheltering, clothing and providing a safe place for healing to begin

Skagit Friendship House

Year Established – 1986

1002 S 3rd St. Mount Vernon WA 98273 (360) 336-6138

www.skagitfriendshiphouse.org www.facebook.com/skagitfriendshiphouse

Skagit Friendship House is the largest provider of homeless services in Skagit County, serving those in need for 36 years. It was founded by a group of churches that

HOMELESSNESS

&HUNGER

saw a growing problem of homelessness and decided to come together to start a shelter.

The organization is run by 10 full-time employees,

20 part-time employees and more 100 volunteers, led by Executive Director Jonathan Kline.

Friendship House is recognized as a gateway for those struggling with homelessness to reenter society. Its unique service model places special emphasis on transforming a person’s crisis into an opportunity for empowerment and selfsu ciency by o ering a “hand up,” not just a handout.

The idea is to empower those in need so they can get back onto their feet by o ering a wide range of services, including shelter, meals,

clothing and necessities, as well as programs to help with job placement and referrals to help with addiction issues and mental health.

The organization’s shortterm goal is to ease the su ering of the community’s unsheltered neighbors. The long-term goal is to reduce the number of people in Skagit County su ering because of lack of housing.

Friendship House is one of a kind in Skagit County. It makes an immediate, impactful di erence by sheltering an average of 80 homeless a day, providing meal service that helps reduce food insecurity

NEVERTAKEAHOLIDAY.

Asyougatherwithfamilyandfriendsthisholidayseason, pleaserememberFriendshipHouse.Wewelcomethosewho wouldotherwisebehungry,cold,andalone.Lastyearwe served40,000mealsandprovidedhousing,basicneeds,and compassiontothousands.

Pleaseopenyourheartandsendagenerousdonationtoday: FriendshipHouse,POBox517,MountVernon,WA98273. Youmayalsodonateonlineatwww.skagitfriendshiphouse.org.

Skagit Friendship House

in the county and by helping to keep people warm and dry through the cold and wet months with the winter shelter program.

Friendship House provides two clean and sober emergency shelters, one transitional house, a low-income rental home, daily meal service (making 150 plates per day), an employment training program and many other services to the community’s homeless neighbors such as access to

showers and laundry.

It also manages Burlington’s low barrier shelter and additional services to the community.

In order to ful ll its mission and meet short- and longterm goals, the organization seeks funding — support from individual donations and other sources, including grants, that help provide seamless services year-round. A full 80% of all donations go back to helping the homeless community in Skagit County.

The organization’s most urgent need is funding, but volunteers and non nancial donations are also greatly needed. To learn more about Friendship House, visit www. skagitfriendshiphouse.org.

To make a donation, visit the Friendship House website or mail a check to P.O. Box 517, Mount Vernon, WA, 98273.

Skagit Land Trust recognized as an innovative leader in the conservation of Skagit Valley’s natural lands and waters

Skagit Land Trust

Year Established: 1992

1020 S. 3rd St.

P.O. Box 1017, Mount Vernon, WA, 98273 360-428-7878 www.skagitlandtrust.org/ www.facebook.com/skagitlandtrust www.instagram.com/skagitlandtrust/

Skagit Land Trust is a nonpro t that conserves natural lands and waters by purchasing and accepting donations of land and conservation easements.

Founded in 1992 by three visionary leaders and 32 charter members, the trust is recognized as an innovative leader in conservation with an o cial accreditation

from the National Land Trust Accreditation Commission.

As the only local nonpro t that works to protect all types of natural lands and waters found in Skagit County, the organization relies on community support and partnerships to make its work possible.

The 10 sta members, 18-person board and hundreds of volunteers are joined by over 1,600 family and business supporters (members) who take on a variety of tasks and roles to

protect freshwater and marine shoreline, wildlife habitat, agricultural and forest lands, scenic open space, and nature parks in Skagit County.

“Our conservation work is done for the bene t of the community, sh and wildlife, and as a legacy for future generations,” Executive Director Molly Doran said.

“We know that the conservation work we do today will mean that a generation from now the natural and rural character of Skagit County will remain,”

Skagit Land Trust

Doran said. “The next generation will have clean water, clean air, nature they can visit locally, and healthy sh and wildlife populations. They will understand that this is ‘the magic Skagit.’”

The trust works with more than 40 partner organizations as well as with private landowners, schools, businesses, tribes, public agencies, communities and residents.

Some of the Trust’s most successful projects have knit together protected natural lands across private ownership boundaries, helping residents, landowners, farmers and businesses join a wider protection network.

“We are appreciative of those who want to volunteer with us and have many open opportunities from planting trees to educating

the community about nature,” Development & Outreach Director Laura Hartner said.

The trust has helped protect more than 10,000 acres of forest, farmland, and open space, including more than 48 miles of shoreline.

The organization is working on more than a dozen land conservation projects for 2023 under the guidance of a conservation strategy that helps protect the best, most at-risk and beloved lands rst.

Some of these projects will help Skagit County protect rare wildlife habitat, others will allow the community to be better prepared for climate change, others will preserve farms and forests, and some will help expand trail systems or unique parklands.

Skagit Land Trust’s funding comes from member donations, grants, business

supporters and donated land and conservation easements.

The trust is working to connect with more members of the community who want to create a natural legacy in Skagit County.

Those interested in learning more about donating or selling land, placing a permanent protection

agreement on land they own, making a legacy gift to protect land in Skagit County or volunteer opportunities, can reach the trust by emailing info@skagitlandtrust.org or calling 360-428-7878.

Donations can be made through the donate button at www.skagitlandtrust.org.

e Skagit Regional Health Foundation supports the programs and services at Skagit Regional Health and the patients it serves

Skagit Regional Health Foundation

Year

The Skagit Regional Health Foundation (formerly known as the Skagit Valley Hospital Foundation) carries out its mission to raise, manage and distribute funds to support the programs and services of Skagit Regional Health.

The foundation was established in 1988 by a group of community members who wanted to raise funds for needed medical equipment and program support for Skagit Valley Hospital. In 2022, the foundation changed its

name to the Skagit Regional Health Foundation to align with the entire Skagit Regional Health system.

In its existence, the foundation has successfully raised nearly $22 million to support a wide variety of programs and capital projects — notably the Regional Cancer Care Center, the Mental Health Center, the Women’s Imaging Center and most recently the Family Birth Centers.

The foundation is currently focused on a $3 million “Cardiac Cares” fundraising campaign to fund stateof-the-art diagnostic imaging equipment for two catheterization labs at Skagit Regional Health’s Heart and Vascular Institute. The new

equipment will provide cardiologists with quicker results and improve overall outcomes for Skagit Regional Health patients.

Volunteers are the key to the Skagit Regional Health Foundation’s e orts in raising money. The foundation is led by a group of 25 community leaders who serve without compensation.

The foundation has about 100 event volunteers and three sta members: Executive Director Linda Frizzell, Stewardship and Annual Fund Manager Wendy Ragusa, and Development Associate Kylee Dowe.

The foundation supports the programs and services at Skagit Regional Health and the patients it serves. This includes

Skagit Regional Health Foundation

patients who are treated at Skagit Valley Hospital, Cascade Valley Hospital, and 27 clinics throughout Skagit, Island and north Snohomish counties.

The foundation’s funding comes from:

• Donations from individuals and businesses

• Gifts from Skagit Regional Health employees through the Employee Giving Campaign

• Grants from private and corporate foundations

• Estate gifts

• Gifts of stock

• And through the organization’s three signature fundraising events — the annual Have a Heart for Kids dinner in February, the Par Tee Golf Classic in June, and the Festival of Trees held on Thanksgiving weekend.

All donations go toward helping those served by the foundation. In addition,

donors can designate the care area they would like to support with their gift, such as cancer care, mental health, cardiac care, and the Family Birth Center (a complete list is on the website.)

To donate, visit https:// www.skagitregionalhealth. org/foundation/donatenow or mail a donation to the Skagit Regional Health Foundation, P.O. Box 1376, Mount Vernon, WA, 98273.

“Our most urgent need at this time are donations to our Cardiac Cares Capital Campaign to purchase state-of-the-art equipment for Skagit Regional Health’s Heart and Vascular Institute,” foundation Director Linda Frizzell said. “The foundation is also always looking for volunteers to assist with our events as well as non nancial donations that are utilized in

the silent auction at the Par Tee Golf Classic and the live auction at the Festival of Trees.”

Said Frizzell, “We are proud of our commitment to ensure excellent health care services and programs through Skagit Regional Health for the families and neighbors in our community, and we have exciting plans to continue raising the bar.”

WeWouldn’tBeUs WithoutYou

Skagit Valley College Foundation enhances student and community

success

Skagit Valley College Foundation

Year Established — 1978 (College founded in 1926)

2405 East College Way, Mount Vernon, WA, 98273 360-416-7870 360-927-1804 (cell) www.skagitfoundation.org www.facebook.com/SVCFOUNDATION/

For nearly a century, Skagit Valley College has been transforming the lives of students and their families, enabling many residents of Skagit, Island, and San Juan counties to move out of poverty through access to family-wage jobs.

In the process, the College has also provided the broader community with a trained workforce that is critical to continued economic development through its Professional Technical (Workforce) degree program and its focus on

core skills unique to the area, such as Marine Technology and Manufacturing and Composites Technology programs.

The college also o ers academic transfer degrees, a Basic Education for Adults program, which includes English language acquisition and upgrades on math/ computer/English skills, and four-year baccalaureate degrees in Environmental Conservation and Applied Management.

In 1978, then-president of the college, James Ford, established the Skagit Valley College Foundation to engage the community in reducing barriers for students pursuing and achieving their educational goals, while also ensuring the college’s programs have the tools, equipment and resources they need to provide high-quality and relevant education.

“We serve all students, no matter who they are, where they come from, or their educational/ professional background — no one is turned away,” says foundation Executive Director Brad Tuininga. “Lives are transformed thanks to the work of SVC and the philanthropic dollars invested by our community. The funds raised open up so many more opportunities for students who would never have been able to attend or stay in college.”

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the Skagit Valley College Foundation was highly successful in its “friend-raising” e orts in 2022, which resulted in scholarships being awarded to 382 students as well as providing emergency and child care funding and direct support to college programs.

Just as signi cantly, the foundation led SVC’s e orts

www.skagitfoundation.org•360-416-7870 brad.tuininga@skagit.edu

Skagit Valley College Foundation

to increase its community footprint in Skagit, Island, and San Juan counties through the completion of three capital projects: a new Head Start Center in Friday Harbor (through a partnership with San Juan Island Community Foundation), the Sue Krienen Early Learning and Childcare Center on SVC’s main campus, and the grand opening of the Claude Blackburn Pickleball Pavilion. With 10 covered courts and lighting, the pickleball facility is the only one of its kind north of Seattle.

Along with existing community venues such as the Skagit Dream Field and McIntyre Hall, the foundation’s most recent capital projects underscore one of its core themes: community engagement.

“For the SVC Foundation, it’s not just what things look like

on campus, but how we bring people to it. Not just getting young ones here to see what they can aspire to, but people from all walks of life as well,” says Tuininga. “After nearly 100 years, you can’t come across anyone in Skagit Valley that hasn’t been touched in some way by Skagit Valley College.”

To learn more about the Skagit Valley College Foundation, visit www. skagitfoundation.org or call Brad Tuininga at 360-4167870.

To make a donation, visit the SVC Foundation donation page at www. skagitfoundation.org/givenow.

All money raised goes back to helping students, and in-kind donations are appreciated as well.

WinterquarterstartsJan.4. Registernow! skagit.edu/getstarted

Skagit Valley Herald Christmas Fund: Bringing the Joy of Christmas Since 1949

Skagit Valley Herald Christmas Fund

Year Established — 1949 1215 Anderson Road Mount Vernon, WA 98274 (360) 419-7261 goskagit.com/xmasfund/

The Skagit Valley Herald Christmas Fund’s annual goal has remained steadfast for more than 70 years: to help families in need celebrate the joyous time of Christmas. The Christmas Fund provides toys, stu ed animals, books, knit hats, and a holiday meal to families that need some

help celebrating Christmas. The Fund can also match up sponsors (individuals, families, organizations, or businesses) to directly help a family in our community.

Qualifying families live in Skagit County, have custody of one or more dependent children under the age of

18, and family income under 150% of the Federal Poverty guidelines. The fund typically has around 50 sponsors who help 100 families directly, with another 1,700 families going to the Skagit County Fairgrounds to pick up their gift bags.

The Christmas Fund was started by the Skagit Valley Herald newspaper in 1949, and currently operates with the assistance of two paid temporary sta and 100 volunteers

under the direction of Lynn Postler. it is made possible by the support of local businesses, organizations, and individuals. In 2020, even in midst of pandemic, there were 97 volunteers who donated more than 891 hours of their time to the fund’s mission, while cash donations were received from 607 donors along with nearly 60 in-kind donors. These contributions made a Christmas celebration possible for 1,867 families with 5,191 children.

The majority of the Skagit Valley Herald Christmas Fund’s nancial support comes from individual donors and grants, with 86% of donations going directly to families in need who sign up for the program.

Volunteers are needed from mid-November until Christmas (call 360-4197261). Toy donations may

Skagit Valley Herald Christmas Fund

be dropped o at the Skagit County Fairgrounds, 1410 Virginia Street, Mount Vernon, WA (please call 360-419-7261 to make an appointment to drop o gifts). Donations may also be made through the fund’s website (goskagit.com/ xmasfund/; select “Donate”),

or by mailing a check to Skagit Valley Herald Christmas Fund, 1215 Anderson Road, Mount Vernon, WA 98274 to help maintain a reserve of funds to sustain the program for many years and families to come.

SkagitValleyHerald

isproudtosupportitslocal communitiesthisholidayseason.

e Community Resource

Center of Stanwood Camano meets families where they’re at

Community Resource Center of Stanwood-Camano

Year Established: 1997

9612 271st St NW, Stanwood, WA 98292 360-629-5257 www.crc-sc.org

The mission statement of the Community Resource Center of Stanwood Camano (CRC-SC) distills its outreach in fewer than 20 words: “To help build a healthier and stronger community through positive relationships, education, programs, and support services.” Behind that description is the vision of an inclusive, thriving, and connected community —

“one in which all members experience enriched and empowered lives.”

The origins of the CRC-SC is as the Stanwood Family Center, under Deaconess Children’s Services. In 1997, the organization became an independent 501(c)3 and changed its name to the Community Resource Center.

In 2002, property was purchased and the CRC

moved to a house on 271st Street in Stanwood. In 2008, through generous community support, the Davis Place Teen Center was created and a neighboring house was purchased with the help of a generous donor. This house became a used bookstore to support the center’s programs.

The Stanwood-Camano community stepped up again to help fund a new and larger facility on the same property, and in 2013 there was a ribbon cutting at the new facility. In the succeeding years, the resource center expanded its work around homelessness and poverty prevention, teen programming, improvements to its used bookstore, and providing a gathering place for community groups.

The COVID-19 pandemic hit CRC-SC hard, just as it did many other nonpro ts whose operations depend on face-toface interactions.

“There were a lot of people in need, so we had to get really creative about how we connected with families,” said Executive Director Mary Bredereck. “We ended up being the liaison between families in Snohomish and Island counties for COVIDrelated funds.”

The CRC has been able to distribute nearly $1.3 million in funds to Stanwood and Camano residents since 2020. This helped numerous families living in the StanwoodCamano School District that were struggling to stay warm, housed and keep utilities on.

Since joining the organization in 2021, after having been a part of the YMCA organization for 25 years, Bredereck is returning CRC-SC’s focus to family support.

“Post-COVID, we are reimagining ourselves while holding on to our core

Community Resource Center of Stanwood Camano

principles as a community center,” she said.

One of the primary areas the organization is emphasizing is early childhood education.

“There is a big gap between the education resources available to school-age children and those between zero and 5 years old,” said Bredereck. “We are turning one of our spaces into an early childhood education and family support center where we can bring children, parents, grandparents and caregivers together through learning groups and parenting workshops.”

Through a multiyear grant and in partnership with the Making Life Work collaborative, CRC-SC is ramping up a kindergarten readiness program to address learning disparities within its

communities.

Along with its early childhood education program, CRC-SC’s teen programs have evolved to serve what Bredereck describes as a “tightly knit group” that gathers weekly for “family style dinners,” movie nights and activities.

Participating teens come to the CRC and feel supported, accepted and empowered. Adjacent to the teen center is The Wardrobe, the center’s new venue for new and gently used free clothing for teens and young adults in need.

Underlying all its outreach e orts are a set of guiding principles that focus on recognizing family strengths and working with these strengths toward greater selfsu ciency.

“We work alongside families, providing support as

they travel their path. We meet people where they’re at,” says Bredereck.

An example of a success story tells of a single mother living with relatives who wanted to provide stable housing and a better living environment for her children. A CRC resource coordinator guided her through a two-year process of enrolling in a trade school, nding consistent housing, creating a personal nancial plan, and helping

her build self con dence and resiliency. Today, her children are thriving and she has started her own business.

To further the mission of the Community Resource Center of Stanwood Camano, donors are encouraged to visit the nonpro t’s website www. crc-sc.org. There, they can learn more about the center’s various programs and ways to support them through donations of volunteer time and/or nancial contributions.

For Youth Dynamics, faith is the greatest adventure

Youth Dynamics

Year Established – 1970

850 Haggen Drive, PO Box 468, Burlington, WA 98233

(360) 757-1337 www.yd.org www.facebook.com/youthdynamics

Paul Evans used to be a life insurance salesman. When he approached a minister with six children, he no doubt anticipated a commission. His would-be client agreed to listen to Evans for 15 minutes, if Evans would extend the same courtesy to him.

While this story doesn’t divulge whether or not Evans closed the deal, he came away with something of higher value: a devotion to spreading

the Gospel message to youth.

Over time, the ministry of Paul Evans and his wife Connie evolved into an organization known as Youth Dynamics.

Since its founding in 1970, its mission has been “to invite and challenge youth to a lifelong adventure with Christ and His church.”

From its headquarters in Burlington, Youth Dynamics’ unique approach to ministry has spread throughout

Washington, Idaho and Oregon, and is supported by 53 sta — ve of whom serve students locally.

Youth Dynamics believes that all young people look for three things: meaningful relationships, adventurous experiences and nding purpose.

Reaching youth ages 11 to 24 regardless of religious a liation, Youth Dynamics o ers weekly junior and senior high school programs, young adult internships, rural outreach, leadership opportunities, professionally guided adventure experiences, and retreats at Stonewater, the organization’s 158-acre adventure and retreat facility in Leavenworth.

What started as a personal

ministry remains so at its core, even as the organization has grown. Its “relational adventure” aspect is what distinguishes Youth Dynamics from the more typical outdoor retreat or camp program.

As President Tom Davis explains, “One of the things that makes Youth Dynamics special is that we incorporate adventures such as rock climbing, rafting and backpacking into our programming to build trust and break down barriers so that authentic relationship building can happen.”

For Youth Dynamics, authenticity in relationships comes from a lifelong commitment to its youth, and reaching them wherever they are at in their personal

Youth Dynamics

journeys.

“Kids know they can come as they are,” says Jessica Ronhaar, Youth Dynamics’ regional director for Western Washington. “We walk through life with students, day in and day out — not just by doing a program and sending them home. There are students I rst started working with 15 years ago that now have children of their own — and we are still living life together.”

In each area where Youth Dynamics is present, the organization takes into account the speci c needs of

that community and invests there.

This includes rural services, working with youth in the criminal justice system and partnerships with local clubs, churches and schools.

The organization relies on individual donations to operate, as its after-school outreach programming is free to all youth who attend.

Adventure activities have a slight fee, however, fundraisers and scholarships are available for those who want to attend but need some assistance.

A full 86% of donations

goes back into the program.

While the pandemic impacted Youth Dynamics in some areas, Develop Director Susan Lange notes, “We adjusted fairly well with regard to student ministry — we managed to make lemonade out of lemons, but the need for building community and providing an outlet for youth continues. We are working on expanding our presence in places like Whidbey Island and Monroe, so additional funds are always helpful and appreciated.”

The organization has a

continuing need for ministry partners, including volunteers as well as nancial support. Says Davis, “We have so many youths who are showing up to our outreach events, and we need volunteers and sta to develop relationships with them.”

To learn more about Youth Dynamics, visit www.yd.org or www.facebook.com/ youthdyanmics. To make a donation in support of the organization’s seasonal fundraiser, visit www.yd.org/ christmas.

ALGER

AlgerFoodBank

Distribution:Tuesdays,9:00AM 2:00PM Address:18731ParkviewLn.,Alger Phone:360-724-5131 Email:algerfoodbank@wavecable.com

ANACORTES

HelpingHands ofAnacortes

Distribution:Tuesdays,11:00AM 2:00PM Address:1211MAve.,98221 Phone:360-856-2211 Website:helpinghandsfoodbank.org Email:programs@helpinghandsfoodbank.org

SalvationArmy FoodBank

inghandsfoodbank.org sthroughWednesday

Distribution:MondaysthroughWednesdays, 9:00AM 12:00PM&1:00PM 4:00PMand Thursdays,10:00AM 12:00PM&1:00PM 6:00PM Address:3001RAve.,#100,98221 Phone:360-293-6682 Website:anacortes.salvationarmy.org Email:Paula.John@usw.salvationarmy.org

CLEARLAKE

ClearLake FoodBank

Distribution:Mondays,10:00AM 12:00PM Address:12605Hwy9,98235 Phone:360-856-1023or360-419-7061 Website:clearlakecov.org/food-bank Email:clearlakecov@gmail.com

CONCRETE

ConcreteFoodBank

Distribution:2nd,3rd,&4thTuesdayofthe month,12:00PM 3:00PM Address:45942MainSt.,98237 Phone:360-853-8505

HAMILTON

HelpingHands ofHamilton

Distribution: Tuesdays,1:00PM 4:00PM Address:951PetitSt.,98255 Phone:360-856-2211 Website:helpinghandsfoodbank.org Email:programs@helpinghandsfoodbank.org

LACONNER

St.VincentdePaul

Distribution: Fridays,10:00AM 11:00AM Address:4001St.Mary'sDr.,98221 Phone:360-293-9821 Email:svdpanacortes@gmail.com

BURLINGTON

HelpingHands ofBurlington

Distribution:Fridays,3:00PM 6:00PM

Address:1551ERioVistaAve.,98233 Phone:360-856-2211 Website:helpinghandsfoodbank.org Email:programs@helpinghandsfoodbank.org

HelpingHands atSwinomish

Distribution:Thursdays,2:00PM 5:00PM

Address:17444SneeOoshRd.,98257

Phone:360-856-2211

Website:helpinghandsfoodbank.org Email:programs@helpinghandsfoodbank.org

LaConnerSunrise FoodBank

Distribution:Mondays,2:30PM 5:00PM

Address:602S3rdSt.,98257

Phone:360-488-3878

Website:laconnerfoodbank.com Email:laconnersunrisefoodbank@gmail.com

MARBLEMOUNT

HelpingHands ofMarblemount

Distribution: Wednesdays,11:00AM 2:00PM Address:59850WA-20,98267 Phone:360-856-2211 Website:helpinghandsfoodbank.org Email:programs@helpinghandsfoodbank.org

N

MOUNT VERNON

SkagitValley NeighborsInNeed

Distribution:Tuesdays,11:00AM 6:00PM Address:1615S2ndSt.,98273 Phone:360-982-2089

Website:svneighborsinneed.com

Facebook:facebook.com/svneighborsinneed Email:svneighborsinneed@gmail.com

SEDRO-WOOLLEY

HelpingHands ofSedro-Woolley

Distribution: Mondays,11:00AM 3:00PM; Wednesdays,10:00AM 2:00PM;Thursdays, 12:00PM 4:00PM;&Fridays,2:00PM 6:00PM

Address:24703WickerRd.,98284 Phone:360-856-2211

Website:helpinghandsfoodbank.org Email:programs@helpinghandsfoodbank.org