Natural playground will make a difference

On behalf of the Skagit/Island Head Start Child and Family Learning Center, I would like to thank volunteers Daniel Corbin and Ayla Bystrom-Williams for their hard work, expertise and donations. They spent a full day planting and hauling dirt all over our playground.

Since the children were outside and very curious Dan and Ayla made sure to include them in all that they were doing. It was a great learning experience for our toddlers. Dan has continued helping us maintain our garden areas.

I would also like to thank the Skagit Valley Food Co-op for the generous donation of plants, and for continuing to be very supportive of our natural playground. Mailliards Landing Nursery heard that we were looking for a kiwi vine to plant so they sent one over to us. One day our children will be able to walk outside and pick their own snack, what fun!

We sincerely appreciate all the support we have received from all of you. You are making a difference in the life of a child.

Linda Hilden

Center manager

Mount Vernon

Kudos to Shrine circus supporters

A personal thank you goes to all the business establishments who displayed the posters and passed out free tickets for the Nile Shrine Temple-sponsored circus, held Saturday, July 12, at the Skagit County Fairgrounds. Their participation made the circus a huge success.

In addition to the circus, the Skagit Shrine Club held a free drawing for two girl’s and two boy’s 20-inch bikes. The girl winners were Tailah Brannam and Elysa Stone; the boys were Cooper Hendrickson and Martin Vazquez. Congratulations, and enjoy.

Frank Knowles, president

Skagit Shrine Club

Mount Vernon

Kudos to breakfast supporters

The Sedro-Woolley Schools Foundation Board of Directors would like to thank the participants in our first annual pancake breakfast fundraiser, held the morning of July 4 in Sedro-Woolley. We had a great turnout for the first year and look forward to serving pancakes again next July 4.

We want to thank the following groups and local businesses that donated financially and of their time to the breakfast: Sedro-Woolley Senior Center, Adolfo Hinojosa and S-WHS Challenge Day students, Sedro-Woolley Food Pavilion, Burlington Costco, Food Services of America, Riverside Distributing, B&R Distributing, Hometown Café and James Market.

With their help we are able to give more to our students. Since 2001 the foundation has given over $68,000 to the students in the Sedro-Woolley School District.

Robyn Miller, vice president

Sedro-Woolley

Thanks for supporting benefit dinner

The Mike Hernandez family would like to extend our greatest appreciation to everyone who contributed and attended our recent “Family Affair” benefit spaghetti feed and auction. Your donations made it a success beyond our expectations. Your support has and will mean so much during our struggle.

We would like to also thank the McLean Road Fire Department for the use of their station.

Mike and Susan Hernandez

Sedro-Woolley

Thanks for work on teen shelter

On behalf of the Skagit Valley Family YMCA, I would like to thank Jim Scott of Windermere Real Estate and all the Windermere agents who were able to make it to the YMCA on June 20 for the Windermere Community Service Day.

The agents put a much needed coat of paint on wooden play structures and landscaped the YMCA grounds, as well as our Oasis Teen Homeless Shelter. These projects would not have been done in such a timely manner if it weren’t for their efforts.

I would also like to thank the Mount Vernon Windermere agents for their continued support through the Windermere Foundation.  They provide $10,000 a year to the YMCA for scholarships for at-risk children in our community.  Because of their generosity, continuous support and volunteer hours, we are able to provide a safe place for children after school and during the summer.

Karen Rose, director

Mount Vernon