Proving you’re never too young to help others, Tilly Melton, the 4-year-old daughter of Chris and Josie Mel-ton of Bellingham, recently presented $144.80 to the Northwest Wildlife Rehabilitation Center. She had asked guests at her birthday party to donate to help the animals instead of bringing her a gift.
Her mom said they had been to another birthday party in the spring where the family asked people to bring a children’s book to donate to the library in lieu of gifts. “When we talked about Tilly’s birthday, we asked her if she would like to do something like that. She said she would like to help animals instead of get presents.”
Friends and family pitched in and some kids raided their piggy banks to help.
Northwest Wildlife Rehabilitation Center is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping injured, ill and orphaned wild animals in our community. Its goal is to help animals return to the wild, if possible, by providing medial care, proper nutrition and rehabilitation. It receives more than 3,500 calls a year from local residents, 911 dispatchers, the Humane Society, Coast Guard, parks and state wildlife services asking for help.
The center is located at 3671 Mt. Baker Highway in Everson. Call 360-966-8845 if you have an injured animal.
Board member Jan Stamey says the group has one full-time, paid rehabilitator and many volunteers. They are always looking for those willing to help or donate. You can contact her at 360-647-1415 or wstamey@comcast.net. You can check out their website, northwestwildlife.org, for volunteer opportunities or call Cheri Foster at 360-318-0482.
The group also raises fund at it annual auction, which is Jan. 28, 2012, at the Bellingham Golf and Country Club. Tickets will be available in November.
BELLINGHAM ASKS ABOUT DOWNTOWN
Bellingham is asking residents what they love about downtown and invites you to share your ideas and experiences to help share the city’s Downtown Plan.
A press release said the Downtown Plan, when completed in 2013, will be a blueprint for success to sup-port business investment, building renovations, and new commercial and residential development.
For more information about the Downtown Plan, visit cob.org/mydowntown.
SUDDEN VALLEY GOLFERS GIVE TO KIDS
Proceeds of the 2011 Sudden Valley Women’s Golf Invitational Tournament were donated Aug. 3 to the Assistance League of Bellingham for its Operation School Bell.
The $2,700 raised will aid children referred by the Readiness to Learn staff in the public schools throughout Whatcom County.
In 2010-11, 11,000 kindergarten through fifth grade students were provided with sets of new clothing, toiletry kits and shoe vouchers; 300 middle school students received new hooded sweatshirts and shoe vouchers and 400 homeless middle and high school students received hooded sweatshirts.
