Last Day of FamilyWorks Drive

Thank you to everybody who has donated our Wallingford campaign for FamilyWorks, our local food bank and family resource center. When I first started working on this with FamilyWorks, I wasn’t quite sure where to set the goal. Early on, I thought maybe we could set it at $5,000, but I got nervous: what if we came up disastrously short? What kind of embarrassment would that be for the kindness of the neighborhood? Even asking people to go together to pledge $3,000, seemed a reach, but a good “stretch goal”.

Which is why I’m just teary with appreciation at the 37 people who have, together, donated $6,730 as of this writing. Plus, plus, in addition to the three previously announced people who have pledged to match $1,000 each, we now have a fourth person who has done the same! That puts our total at $10,730 donated to FamilyWorks, all from neighborhood and nearby.

It’s not too late to get in on the action. You can, of course, donate any time, but if you donate using this link by midnight tonight, Dec 31st, your donation will be counted alongside your neighbors as part of this great Wallingford drive to support FamilyWorks, and, and, you’ll be entered in our raffle. One lucky winner will receive this grab bag of gifts donated by generous Wallingford businesses:

• Set of wine glasses from City Cellars (which, sadly, is forbidden by law from donating actual wine)
• Emerald City Athletics has donated a six month gym membership (just in time for the new year)
• Bartell Drugs has donated a $100+ value beauty basket
• CPR Seattle has donated a free CPR and first aid class
• Haircut at Spin’s Barber Shop
• A cake from The Sweet Side
• Gift certificates a month’s membership and classes from Bala Yoga
• Something fun from Archie McPhee

I’ll add that I’ve talked two friends recently that both said they had benefitted from FamilyWorks in a time of need. One family, with several children and finding themselves suddenly and surprisingly out of work, used the food bank to tide them and keep their children healthy until they were employed again. Now that they’re comfortable and settled, they’re giving back generously. Another friend told me they just discovered the drop-in playgroups, and are loving using the center as a way to connect their child with others in the neighborhood.

The list of programs they offer is extensive: bus coupons for people to get to work, classes for teen parents, single parent activities, life skills development: it’s an organization focused on creating sustainable solutions, and scaffolding people to independence. I’m proud and pleased to say that I’ve joined the board, and am looking forward to working with FamilyWorks more closely over the coming year.

Thank you all for your generosity.