April 14, 2012, Mount Vernon - Jim and Michael Virden of Sedro-Woolley won "Bring a Truck to School" at the PACCAR Technical Center Open House raffle to benefit United Way of Skagit County. PACCAR will bring the truck to Central Elementary for a day.

Celebration Recognizes Community’s Efforts to Create Sustainable, Positive Change in People’s Lives

The United Way of Skagit County announced the results of its 2011 LIVE UNITED Campaign at a Boeing Company sponsored luncheon held at McIntyre Hall.  “This year’s goals to Give, Advocate and Volunteer to create opportunities for a better life in Skagit County were reached through financial contributions of $940,000 dollars and an additional $106,000 worth of in-kind contributions and volunteer hours contributed by individuals and organizations throughout the Skagit County,” stated Maureen Lama, United Way Campaign Chair (2010-2011).

Superintendent Carl Zapora, Verdant Commission of Snohomish County and Terry Belcoe, CEO of North Coast Credit Union and 2011 United Way of Skagit County President of the Board of Directors

Terry Belcoe, President and CEO of North Coast Credit Union and United Way Board President welcomed guests and introduced Carl Zapora, Superintendent, Verdant Health Commission  who spoke about United Way’s role in bringing resources and people together to solve Community issues including homelessness and childhood hunger.

Dr. Carl Berliner, Tocqueville giver to United Way with his staff, Maria Cambron, Breeanna Pomerinke and Charlie Lenord.

Sue Krienen, Business Improvement  Leader/West Coast and Latin America Shell Global Manufacturing  and Tocqueville giver recognized Dr. Carl J. Berliner as Skagit County’s newest recipient of the Alexis de Tocqueville Award for his $10,000 gift to support United Way.   Dr. Berliner practices family medicine in Mount Vernon.

2011 Volunteers of the Year receive LIVE UNITED teddy bears

In recognition of their service as Volunteers of the Year, Janice  Condrin,  Youthnet,  Karen Rose, Skagit Valley Family YMCA and Dana Browne, Skagit Valley Family Support Center/Brigid Collins each received stuffed Teddy Bears with a LIVE UNITED/I “heart” Skagit T-shirt.

Marie Erbstoeszer wins 2011 Ted Reep Award

For her dedicated service to United Way of Skagit County,  Marie Erbstoeszer received the Ted Reep Award.    The trophy, presented by last year’s recipient Dan Berentson, Skagit County Natural Resources Division Manager, was named after Ted Reep, a Mount Vernon business man who helped start United Way’s Skagit County chapter in 1963. Erbstoeszer has been a volunteer with United Way of Skagit County since 1999, serves as the Program Committee Chair and is also a member of the Executive Committee.    States Erbstoeszer, “I am so honored.  United Way is a great organization – you truly get back as much as you give.”

Commissioner Ken Dahlstedt, 2012 United Way of Skagit County President of the Board of Directors

The meeting closed with the gavel transfer from Terry Belcoe to incoming Board President, Ken Dahlstedt, Skagit County Commissioner.

Target of Burlington (199 Cascade Mall Drive) joined stores across the country to celebrate the season of giving by donating 2 decorated holiday trees to United Way of Skagit County as part of the Target Share-a-Tree Program. United Way distributed the trees and ornaments—worth an estimated $60 each—to a young mother at Northwest Youth Services; and to Community Action Agency’s  Family Development Center.

Left to right—Lucy Kesterson of United Way of Skagit County, Jaclyn Garuti of Northwest Youth Services, and Target employees Jessica Sample of Burlington, Caitlin Schemmer of Mt. Vernon, Krystal Cantrell of Bellingham, Kaitlyn Conforti and Cheryl Bates of Burlington

“Performing even a single act of kindness is an important step toward improving lives, and strengthening and supporting communities. The Target Share-a-Tree program does just this,” said Debra Lancaster, Executive Director of United Way of Skagit County. “United Way is proud to partner with Target to give a lift to this very special program and bring holiday cheer to families in Skagit County.”

“Thank you so much for helping me with the tree! It will be nice to decorate it with my  daughter,” said the Northwest Youth Services client who received one of the trees.

“Giving to others, especially those in need, is a part of the holidays at Target,” said Laysha Ward, President, Target Community Relations. “With our partners at United Way, Target is honored to continue our tradition of donating holiday trees to families to enjoy this
holiday season.”

United Way distributed several coats through partner agency, American Red Cross – Mount Baker Chapter to a Mount Vernon family who lost their home in a fire on December 2.

The remaining donations went to partner agency, Skagit County Community Action Agency, where 1,200 warm coats have been distributed in the last nine days.

A Girl Scout observed, “It’s good to know that my old coat can keep a young child warm.”

The need is still present – Community Action, American Red Cross, Sea-Mar Community Health Center, Catholic Community Services, and Brigid Collins all welcome donations of blankets, sleeping bags and especially warm coats for those in need this winter.

The Anacortes Girl Scout troops combined gifts purchased with money earned from selling Girl Scout Cookies and personal donations to make a difference to Skagitonians this Holiday Season.

“I like helping other people. It makes me feel good,” said a Girl Scout.

Photo Credits: Back Row (left-right): Elizabeth Koals, Ellie Harrison, Lieutenant Ryan (Salvation Army), Abby Lindberg, Claire Severin, Katie Dyer, Debra Lancaster (United Way) , Front Row (left-right): Kendall McCauley , Lillian Rue, Malea Linder, Jennifer Spurling, Meleah Fine. Girl Scout Leaders (not pictured): Tara Linder, Kate Koals, Laurel Harrison, Chris Wood, Rebecca Spurling, Photographer: Kathy Lindberg

The Salvation Army’s Holiday Gift Giving campaign, Adopt-a-Senior Citizen also received donations from the Girl Scout troops.

To find out how you can get involved with Girl Scouts of Western Washington, contact
Heidi Fish at (360) 658-8083.

This team of volunteers arrived at the Anacortes Senior Center on a beautiful
sunny friday morning, donning bright yellow Shell T-shirts.  A list of landscape
cleanup projects ranging from weed pulling, raking, shrub trimming, digging and
installing a new garden area awaited them. Once volunteers received a short
safety briefing, they put on their gloves, gathered their shovels, rakes, and
trimmers and began their work to beautify the Senior Center grounds.

“Projects like this are great for our local community and we have fun doing
them” said Jody Barnett, External Affairs Coordinator for Shell.  “Days of
Caring is a great way to bring volunteers together with leaders and clients at
United Way service agencies.”

Fundraising is also critical to the work accomplished each year by United
Way.  As a Pacesetter in this years’ fundraising campaign, Puget Sound Refinery
has set the bar high with its pledge of $200,000.00.  “Even with the current
economic climate I know we can do it,” said Barnett.  “Our employees have always
had a history of supporting the local community both by volunteer efforts and
financial contributions.”

For more information about the United Way or to make a donation, go to: http://www.unitedwayskagit.org/

November 2011 was declared United Way Month by Skagit County Commissioners Ron Wesen, Ken Dahlstedt and Sharon Dillon.  All three Commissioners are Leadership Givers to United Way; Ken Dahlstedt is a member of the United Way of Skagit County Board of Directors.

The proclamation states that the “United Way Campaign is an effective and efficient way to raise funds to support the very important work“  of their thirty partner agencies providing much needed services for health, housing, hunger and life skills development.

The proclamation further encourages all citizens to support United Way of Skagit County either financially or through volunteering.

Skagit County Administrator Tim Holloran and Skagit County Public Works Manager Dan Berentson spoke in support of the proclamation.

2011 United Way Fundraising Chair, Maureen Lama and United Way of Skagit County Executive Director, Debra Lancaster received the proclamation.

Play the video below to watch the proclamation!

United Way of Skagit County focuses community investment to create sustainable, positive change in people’s lives.

Thank you to all the donors and volunteers who have contributed so far.

If you haven’t contribued yet, it’s not too late!

GIVE to support Skagit County’s Local Community Fund.

The Mount Baker Chapter of the American Red Cross deployed me to Birmingham, Alabama on May 18^th, 2011. It was my first assignment, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. I’d never visited Alabama before, nor been in a tornado destruction area. I packed my bag for anything and everything I might need.

Arriving in Birmingham, I spotted another Red Cross Volunteer right away. He was a seasoned volunteer who’d been deployed over 40 times so he took me under his wing and laid out what I should expect, what I should do when we got to headquarters and most importantly to always remember, to BE FLEXIBLE.

At first sight, headquarters was a little overwhelming. Every department was clearly labeled, but hearing the low roar of over 100 people in one area, along with 35 runners constantly darting from place to place was a lot to take in. Once I Finally found the Mass Care/Shelter department, I was assigned to a shelter at Faith Chapel Christian Church (FCCC).

Upon arriving at the shelter, I was quickly introduced to the other shelter workers and given a tour. The church was an absolutely beautiful building. The shelter residents were located in an amphitheater, with a large area that encompassed the cots, and a canteen area along the wall, which kept snacks, drinks and food during mealtimes.

I quickly learned to BE FLEXIBLE. Volunteer’s deployment dates were off-set so there was a constant influx and change of personnel. In the midst of the chaos and confusion, we Were left without a shelter supervisor. The shelter manager, realizing my leadership skills and attention to detail, unofficially promoted me to the position of shelter supervisor.

Because of the classes I’d taken at the Mt. Baker Chapter I felt comfortable being assigned the position.  Another lesson I learned quickly was that the manuals from class give you a basic outline in a theoretical world, whereas in reality, you have to be quick on your toes and wait for it … BE FLEXIBLE.

The quality of most of the other volunteers was absolutely outstanding. Without the Shelter team at FCCC, we would not have been able to accomplish as much as we did. Coming from the Mt Baker Chapter, I was used to working shoulder to shoulder with some of the best, most dedicated, hardworking volunteers. It was relieving to meet others of the same caliber. Occasionally I did meet some volunteers that were not meant for such a high stress assignment, but luckily they were far and few between.

There is one memory that will always stay with me from this eye opening experience. A family from Birmingham decided to contribute what they could for the tornado survivors. They had decided to donate their home to a survivor that really needed and deserved it. The shelter team at FCCC decided to nominate a family out of the shelter residents that were down on their luck and really needed this amazing gift. The selected family included a single mother, her adult son and daughter, and her daughters’ son of 2 years old. When
we told the mother of the donated gift, she could not believe it. She was jumping up and down and crying out of pure happiness and joy and she still could not show the extent of what she was feeling inside. Her reaction will stay with me forever.  It’s because of these moments that I volunteer for such an amazing organization. I Volunteer to help people in times of need, and to make a difference in someone’s life.

Mt. Baker Red Cross Responder

A local Red Cross Disaster Action Team (DAT) responded to the fire. DATs are made up exclusively of volunteers. These dedicated individuals respond to those in need at all hours of the day or night and in the most adverse conditions. The help that they provide to the client is free and the compassion that they show is profound but always professional. DAT volunteer caseworkers are among the more than 400 volunteers who serve the families and businesses of Skagit Valley and Whatcom County.

Red Cross Volunteer Comforts Client

David immediately received extensive help from the Disaster Action Team. This included hotel accommodations, money to buy clothes, food and essentials, and referrals to other organizations for additional services. The team also helped him locate a trailer similar to the one that he had lost. Stacy Rice, the Chapter’s Emergency Services Director, met with David on the last day of his recovery as he was buying his new trailer. “He was exhausted, excited, and ready to rebuild his home,” Rice recalls. “During our meeting I asked him how his service from the Red Cross had been.” Rice clearly remembers David’s response.

With tears in his eyes, he began to express his incredible gratitude for the generosity of our organization and the kindness and professionalism of our volunteers. This was his first contact with the Red Cross and he was amazed. He had no idea the extent of our services and was extremely grateful. David went on to describe how he had become a “hermit” of late and had basically lost faith in humanity. After the fire and the  outpouring of support from the Red Cross and others, he had come back to life. He was interacting with society again, socializing with friends, and had a new outlook on life in general. Once he was back on his feet, he vowed to volunteer with the Red Cross as a way to give back.

Stacy Rice, Emergency Services Director

David’s story is just one out of many and is an example of the work that the Mt. Baker Chapter of the American Red Cross does every day. “I love my job,” Rice concluded. “We do amazing work and accomplish amazing things. We see the best of people in the worst of times, and clients like David make it all worthwhile.”