Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Washington is celebrating an increase in money raised at its July 29 golf tournament, according to Sheila Connors.
Board member Stan Chronister organized the event held at Avalon Golf Course in Burlington. Board members gathered donations, teams, sponsors and players that added up to a net profit of $20,000, an increase of 178 percent from last year.
Big Brothers Big Sisters serves 300 children throughout Whatcom County, with the goal of providing a mentor for every child who wants one. The group also raises money with its annual Big Breakfast, Bowl for Kids Sake and auction.
STUDENTS COLLECT RECYCLABLES
Silver Beach Elementary School is working with TerraCycle, according to a news release from the recycling and upcycling company, to earn money by collecting nonrecyclable food packaging, such as cookies, chips and juice pouches. Silver Beach students have collected nearly 7,000 juice pouches since August 2010. TerraCycle publicist Megan Yarnall says that has added up to about $150.
Any school or community organization can visit terracycle.net to sign up and start sending trash in for free. For every piece of waste sent in, schools earn two points, which can be put toward charity gifts or converted to money for charity or the school.
QUILT RAFFLE BENEFITS FERNDALE LIBRARY
Marla Morrow, art committee chair of the Friends of the Ferndale Library, reports success from a recent quilt display and raffle fundraiser. Twenty-nine quilts were loaned for display, 19 were donated for the raffle, and eight quilted items were donated for sale. Contributors included residents of Bellingham, Blaine, Deming, Everson, Ferndale, Seattle and Spokane, ranging in age from preschool to nonagenarian. Through donations and raffle tickets, $2,000 was raised to benefit the new Ferndale library.
OIKOS FELLOWSHIP MOVES TO NEW HOME
Craig Harris reports that after four years in York neighborhood, Oikos Fellowship has moved to the Whatcom Museum's Arco Building at 206 Prospect St. The church's first worship service in its new, larger home was planned for 10 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 28.
"Although we are very fond of it, we have finally outgrown the old church," Pastor Pete Williamson told Craig of the century-old church building on Gladstone Street. "The most immediate change will be felt on Sunday mornings as we now have more space and can return to a single service."
The new site also offers more classroom space, a larger nursery and plentiful nearby parking.
About 200 people regularly attend services at the non-denominational Oikos Fellowship. It began in the Irongate area of Bellingham in 2005 as a church sponsored by Mars Hill Church of Seattle and the Acts 29 Network. The name "Oikos" is an ancient Greek word for "family," which is what the church considers itself, Williamson said.
For details, go to oikosfellowship.org or call 360-820-0804.
FERNDALE WOMAN LEADS VFW AUXILARY CANCER SERVICE
Tami Elliott of Ferndale, a member of Streets Pike Auxiliary No. 9474, participated in the 98th National Convention of the Ladies Auxiliary to the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Aug. 27-Sept. 1 in San Antonio, Texas. The convention marked the beginning of Elliott's 2011-2012 term as national cancer aid and research director.
Nationwide, auxiliary members have volunteered 1.2 million hours in hospitals and raised $2.4 million for the organization's Cancer Aid & Research Fund. The group has donated $292,501 to VFW National Military Services, which includes Operation Uplink to provide long-distance calling opportunities to deployed soldiers and hospitalized veterans.
LYNDEN CHRISTIAN STUDENTS HELP COMMUNITY
All 88 sophomores at Lynden Christian High School planned to spread out across Whatcom County Sept. 7 to perform service projects to help residents and businesses. The exercise gives students a common experience on which to build relationships with each other, according to Shelly Hendricks.
She writes: "As a Christian school, our goal is to help lead our students to be like Jesus Christ. When we examine the gospels, it quickly becomes clear that one of Christ's main missions on Earth was to love by serving those around him."
VET HONORED WITH DAIRY GRANT
Dr. Amber Itle recently won a Dairy Continuing Education Award from AgriLabs. She works with dairy producers to implement and evaluate general herd health programs in a large-animal practice in Lynden. The news release says she has a special interest in animal welfare issues on dairies, and that the $5,000 grant will help in her pursuit of a master's degree at the University of British Columbia's Animal Welfare Program.
