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Many Thanks to North Kitsap High School Interact Club
North Kitsap High School Interact Club did it again – 4th year in a row. Just before Christmas a team of energetic students did a food drive at a local Albertson’s
and rounded up almost $900’s worth of grocery items for us. Some of the team were also involved back in December 2007.
Consider that in 2008 they did it on a very cold, snowy weekend, and due to winter storms were not able to deliver till January, so one kind family allowed their
daughter to store the food at home for almost a month! No wonder we think they are wonderful.
StandUP helps Registration
Diana B., our StandUp For Kids volunteer who works in the Central Kitsap Alternative School, helped 40 students register to vote prior to the National Election.
StandUp For Kids paid for the postage stamps. She says that even though the election is over, kids are still coming in to register as soon as they turn 18.
Thanks to Ladies of Circle of Friends
Ladies of Circle of Friends, a service group, has ‘adopted’ StandUp For Kids for several of their service projects. The ladies have donated individually and
as a group, and make sure that they provide items that are needed or the funds for us to purchase them. Thank you, Ladies.
Many Thanks to SPLASH
Middle school students of North Point Church in Poulsbo organized a campaign to raise awareness of the plight of homeless teens in the county as part of their
SPLASH (Students Praising, Loving, And Serving Him) program. They made signs, posters, and encouraged their church members to donate. They raised over $420,
collected food, clothing and hygiene items.
The young children of Suquamish United Church of Christ in North Kitsap raised $231 over a short period of time by collecting cash from the congregation
during each service. They know there are teens out there that are on the streets or very needy and wanted to help. Yeah Kids. We love kids helping kids.
An Angel for StandUP
Our local Navy Catholic Chaplain arranged for two Christmas 'Angel' trees to be placed at the two chapels under his command, with all proceeds coming to
StandUp For Kids. We got to suggest what would be requested, and received a generous $2,600's worth of toys, books, gloves/hats/scarves/T-shirts/etc.
and dozens of little stocking stuffers for our Kids – just in time for Christmas.
StandUP Relics for Rick
Diana B., long time volunteer in StandUp For Kids, gave Rick Koca two T-shirts from early days. They had the ‘scarecrow’ logo that was
used back in the early 90’s. Rick hoped to be able to display them in the National Office.
Rick Koca, Founder of StandUp For Kids visits Kitsap County
Rick met with the volunteers who make SUFK a reality in Kitsap County. Some knew him from earlier times and new volunteers were touched by his huge heart and mission. His visit to our program is a great honor,
knowing that he has 37 programs in 20 states to encourage, maintain, and support. Best of all, he presented our Chairperson, Pat, with Volunteer of the Year – 2008. Considering the number of volunteers
in the program, this is indeed a prestigious award, and well deserved by Pat for her dedication and hard work for the program over the past 10 years.
Concert Brings in Money for SUFK
On October 4, 2008, the VFW on Central Valley Road held a concert for teens. Dustin Mangini organized this event, with the proceeds going to StandUp for Kids. Five bands participated, including
Dustin’s band P.K.I.A., along with Valley of the Dinosaurs, Alligators, The Flex and Puma Run. More than 125 people – mostly teens – attended the concert and raised over $580 for the organization.
Several volunteers from StandUp For Kids also attended and said the event was successful and a lot of fun for everyone involved.
Colby United Methodist Church
Colby does it again. This local church has supported StandUp For Kids for many years, donating food, clothing and cash, especially at Christmas. On Halloween weekend they had a special drive and delivered about
$200 of snack foods and 180 handmade hats, gloves and scarves, all made with loving fingers. Thanks so much, Colby.
Local School Supporting the SUFK Mission
Stand Up for Kids has been delivering snacks to Renaissance Alternative High in Bremerton for over four years, and weekend backpacks filled with meals for the last year. Recently Staff has created a storage room and set
up tables for food, hygiene products and racks for clothes and shoes of all sizes. Teachers and local churches are helping fill this area with donations for students in need, and are working to get Christmas gifts
together, as well. One student, who is bettering herself and her family, says of this program, "This is wonderful. I’m in a clean house. I’m in AA. I’m helping take care of two kids. When we run out of money
towards the end of the month, it’s nice to be able to contribute and be a caretaker."
Six Girl Scouts earn Silver Award and helped SUFK
Six N. Kitsap High students earned their Scouting silver award by choosing to knit/crochet, etc. scarves for the needy kids in the county. The result was a whopping 72 scarves and 2 hats in a rainbow of colors, styles
and yarns that will be sure to dazzle those lucky enough to receive one as a gift. Thank you, young ladies, and your leader, for all your hard work, and being so sensitive to less fortunate youth in our community.
Local dentists support SUFK
Drs. Okunami and Phillips recently contributed dozens of toothbrushes and toothpaste to our program. This will make it possible for us to see that every child/youth that receives a Christmas present from
StandUp For Kids will have a new brush and paste to go with it.
STARBUCKS donation for SUFK celebration
Starbucks donated 24 cups of coffee and accompaniments for the recent get-together of Rick K. and his volunteers in Silverdale, WA. We appreciate their generosity.
Thank you, Old Town Custom Framing & Gallery and Art from the Sea Studio!!
Maria Mackovjak of Old Town Custom Framing & Gallery and Jerry Mattoon of Art from the Sea Studio collaborated to do a fund-raiser for StandUp For Kids. Jerry donated a beautiful piece of desk art, and everyone that made a donation to SUFK had a chance to win it. A total of $79 was raised. We thank Maria for her ongoing dedication to SUFK and to Jerry for putting his amazing talent to work for our Kids.
Thank you, Fred Meyer!!
Fred Meyer came through with a generous gift of $1000 in gift certificates. They have helped us many times over the past years, and we appreciate their recognition of our program, and what we do in Kitsap County.
Big Boost for Backpack Program
StandUp For Kids was chosen by a team of Leadership Kitsap this year. Their project was to provide 65 backpacks with food for weekends, hygiene items, etc. for teens who find themselves on the street in emergency situations with nothing, or for homeless kids attending school and needing help over the weekends. They worked with Honor Society students at Bremerton High School to make a comprehensive list of items to include; to get donated used backpacks; and also to organize donations of all such items from the students in general, as well as from the community. The team networked with StandUp For Kids to ensure that their project would be appropriate and useful, and we really appreciate their huge effort and generosity. Thank you, Leadership Kitsap.
SUFK Thanks Babs
Babs loves donating homemade baby quilts and fleece blankets. She has made dozens for the needy young moms-to-be in our local school teen-parenting programs. Each one is a work of art, and a lovely gift for the newborn. We use them to wrap a variety of new or gently-used baby clothes, diapers and a few hygiene items, and then place the whole package in a pink or blue plastic bag, with a card offering good wishes to mom and baby.
SUFK Extends Outreach
We are adding a new form of outreach to our homeless/at-risk youth. Many attend school, and get free meals or snacks during the week but have nothing on the weekend. Now we provide a backpack as the youth leaves for the weekend. It contains basic meals for the weekend, and they bring the pack back empty when they return to school, to be refilled for the next weekend.
Now that school is out we are working through the free meal providers. Meals are served weekdays only, so servers let the teens know that a backpack of food is available if they need it.
An Unusual Birthday Party
Young G. decided to forego gifts for his 11th birthday, for the second year in a row, asking instead for donations of snack items or cash to be donated to StandUp For Kids to help the needy kids in Kitsap County. The success of this drive brought in approximately $60 in snack items and $35 in cash. StandUp For Kids appreciates your effort, G., and so will the hungry teens who will eat better, thanks to your efforts.
New Frontiers Jr. High School
Crafts and knitting are two projects that are being taught at New Frontiers Jr. High School. However, because of limited funds, in order to have enough supplies for all of the teens who participate in learning these arts, donations were needed. One of the biggest donations the school asked for was sewing machines, so they could make quilts.
Within the week, four sewing machines were donated so these kids could continue to participate in the program. After a few weeks, two of the machines needed adjustment. Coming quickly to their aid, a local company repaired the two sewing machines for free.
Thanks so much to our local merchants for caring about kids.
West Sound Tech School
When an estimate of $2,000 for essential work on the SUFK van was received, the Board, after doing a little research, found out that West Sound Technical School could do all the repairs on the van for under $600! This was a huge help to SUFK.
If you’re looking for mechanical work to be done on your vehicle, consider the quality work technical schools can provide for much less money than other repair shops.
Thank you West Sound Tech School for the services you provided to SUFK!
South Kitsap Indian Graduation
StandUp For Kids’ directors, Pat and Jo were invited by the Indian counselors to attend the 2008 Honoring Celebration of Indian High School graduates which included students in South Kitsap from all different tribes.
One of the counselors told stories of history and culture. The main speaker was an Elder of the Lakota Tribe and she delighted everyone with her life stories, photos of various tribal leaders of her family, and encouraged the graduates to be proud of their culture. They also served dinner and dessert, and Jo won a hand-made dream-catcher in the raffle.
North Kitsap Students
The Interact Service Club of NK Hi School recently had a food drive for SUFK outside a local grocery store. Nine teens spent the better part of a Sunday to collect snack/food items and delivered approximately $1,000 worth. This group had previously had a drive in February and October of 2006, so we really applaud their effort.
Thanks to the 9 kind and energetic teens, sensitive to the needs of others.
The Search is on. Volunteers NEEDED!
 STANDUP FOR KIDS is an all volunteer program, so for us to be there for our homeless kids, we need your help! If you or someone you know is interested in getting involved e-mail us:
Bremerton@standupforkids.org |
