Ken Richardson tells me that the folks from Home Depot spent time painting and fixing lighting at the Bellingham VFW Post 1585.
"This was much needed work that will make it a more comfortable place for all of our veterans groups to meet and to socialize," Ken said. "Not enough can be said for the folks from Home Depot -- no breaks, no lunch, just work!" he added.
Jeremy Davison, specialty assistant store manager for the Home Depot store on Telegraph Road, coordinated the volunteer workers, who included Mike Doggett, Jack Woods, Curtis Ewing, Cheri Hoskins, Chris Crawford and Nichelle McGonigal. "All of you at the VFW have done so much for our country that it is the least we could do to show our appreciation," Jeremy told the local post.
INSURANCE AGENCY HELPS FOOD BANK FARM
The Unity Group, a Whatcom County insurance agency, is forgoing corporate gifts this year, instead spending the money sponsoring a local farm through the Bellingham Food Bank, according to a press release from Kari Glennon, head of sales and marketing.
It's part of the Farm to Bank program in which corporations can sponsor one of four local farms. The money donated to the farms covers the operating costs of a designated area of the farm that is harvested specifically for the Bellingham Food Bank. Originally funded by a state grant and the Whatcom Community Foundation, the farms produce more than 32,000 pounds of food.
READING PROGRAM WINS GRANT
Whatcom Reads!, the community-wide reading program in Whatcom County, was awarded a $7,500 matching grant from Humanities Washington, according to a release from the county libraries. The funds will be handled through the Whatcom County Library Foundation. The foundation, along with the Friends of the Bellingham Public Library, is contributing to the match for this grant.
Elizabeth George's book "In the Presence of the Enemy" was chosen as this year's title. The author will visit in February. For information, visit whatcomreads.org.
SUDDEN VALLEY LIBRARY DONATION
More good news from the library: The building fund for the new South Whatcom Public Library at Sudden Valley received a big boost from a challenge grant given in October.
An anonymous donor pledged up to $5,000 in matching funds for every dollar donated to the Sudden Valley building fund through February 2012.
The Friends of the Sudden Valley Library, working with the Whatcom County Library System and the Sudden Valley Community Association, have secured leased space and are preparing building plans and doing site work for a 6,500-square-foot library in the Middle Barn of the Sudden Valley Community Center.
For more information about the project, go to suddenvalleylibrary.org.
SPORTSMEN DONATE TO TOYS FOR TOTS
The Custer Sportsmen's Club dedicated their December shooting competition to raise money for Toys for Tots. They raised more than $1,900 and, with a 25 percent discount at Yeager's, purchased $2,500 worth of toys for needy children in Whatcom County, according to the club's Anne Culbertson.
Matt Pridachuk's event for 54 competitors included $15,000 in prizes such as a Springfield Armory Pistol and a SIRT pistol donated by Mike Hughes.
BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS LOOKING FOR HELP
Jacob Petz, a board member for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Washington, sent this request for volunteers: "spunky non-profit seeks donor cultivation committee member with five-plus years of fund development or commensurate sales experience willing to work hard for no pay beyond job satisfaction and the admiration of his peers."
They are looking for somebody "able to think strategically and magnetize others who care about helping at-risk kids." Donor database management would be helpful. And they're looking for somebody who can devote 5-10 hours a week working with fund development.
He promises the volunteer "a hearty handshake and doughnuts without sprinkles (sprinkles are not in our budget)."
You can respond by emailing info@bbbs-nw.org with the subject line "Putting Fun into Fund Development."
