Make a Difference Day 2013: Volunteers prepare to paint, shovel — or maybe just eat — to help out community [The Wenatchee World, Wash.]

By Marco Martinez, The Wenatchee World, Wash.

McClatchy-Tribune Information Services

Oct. 25--Make a Difference Day on Saturday will involve hundreds of volunteers working a variety of projects all over the region.

Difference making this year ranges from the very simple -- like putting in a to-go order for a pasta dinner to raise money for foster adoptions -- to the more down-and-dirty variety that involves rakes, shovels, hammers and paint brushes.

Laurel Helton has compiled the list of do-good opportunities, which you can view in its entirety at wenatcheemkdd.com. Below is the list of projects found on the website earlier this week. Don't be shy. Pick one or two and Make a Difference on Saturday.

Wenatchee Area

1. Quilts of Valor

10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Chelan County PUD Auditorium

Volunteers will be making quilts to honor and comfort those touched by war -- veterans and active military. No sewing experience necessary. Materials and machines provided. Just bring your enthusiastic will to help.

Contact: Lori Kutch, 669-4529 or [email protected]

2. Saddle Rock trail work

9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saddle Rock Trail

Join the Chelan-Douglas Land Trust to do some fun, rewarding trail work at Saddle Rock. This fall, we'll be closing eroded trails and reseeding them. If you like being outside and working hard with a fun group, this is a great way to spend a Saturday. Please wear work clothing appropriate for the weather and sturdy shoes. Bring water and any snacks you have. If you'd like, you're welcome to bring tools -- hard-tined rakes, shovels, wheelbarrows and work gloves for trail work.

Contact: Hanne Beener, 667-9708 or [email protected]

3. Salvation Army Lodge cleanup

9 a.m. to 4 p.m., 1205 S. Columbia St.

Clean up and winterize the Salvation Army Lodge. Bring gloves.

Contact: Delvin Schorzman, 884-2010

4. Blanket and winter clothing collection

10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Washington Park

Donate blankets and warm winter clothing to the Kiwanis collection for Hospitality House and more.

Contact: Elaine Hensley, 662-6439 or [email protected]

5. Quilting for foster kids

9 a.m. to 2 p.m., 908 Malaga Ave.

Buttercup Quilting, a nonprofit group, will be quilting, cutting, sewing and tying as it makes quilts for foster children. You can make and/or donate a quilt or quilt top for foster children or donate supplies or gift cards. High school seniors can get credit for community service hours and Key Club members for lettering.

Contact: Leitha Weller, 470-6076 or [email protected]

6. Sculpture cleanup

9 a.m., Performing Arts Center of Wenatchee fountain, 123 N. Wenatchee Ave.

Get to know the amazing art around the city and parks of Wenatchee by spending an hour or so cleaning a few outdoor sculptures. Bring clean, soft rags and we will have the rest of the supplies. This is a great family activity or fun for a group of friends.

Contact: Joy Jasinek, 470-7655 or [email protected] or [email protected]

7. Donate school supplies and more

Regular business hours weekdays, Wenatchee School District office, 235 Sunset Ave.

Donate school supplies for kindergartners through high school age students who are experiencing homelessness. Classroom supplies, as well as new socks, undergarments and coats, and/or cash to buy these items also needed.

Contact: Suzanne Stanton, 662-9634 Ext. 330 or [email protected]

8. Help the Women's Resource Center

Ongoing, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., 20 Adams St., Wenatchee

The Women's Resource Center (WRC) will accept nonperishables and perishables on Make a Difference Day and any other day its office is open. The center's weekly food bank has more than doubled this year, and they expect triple for their annual Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday food bank. Please donate the usual holiday fare -- cranberry sauce, green beans, gravy, broth, olives, stuffing, butter, etc. The WRC will also host its annual Coat & Blanket Drive on Saturday. They are requesting new and gently used coats and blankets for children and adults.

Contact: Tanya Bradford, 662-0121 ext. 11 or [email protected]

9. Donate coats for kids

Multiple locations and times

Drop off new and cleaned coats, hats, gloves and scarves for kids age preschool through high school. Donations are distributed through the Wenatchee and Eastmont school districts. You can drop off donations from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Wenatchee Valley Mall, Chim Chimney and The Gilded Lily, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at The Wenatchee World (drive-through area set up in front of The Pressroom Theatre) or anytime at American Family Insurance in Wenatchee.

Contact: Andrea Andrus, 387-0929, [email protected]

10. Bikes for Kids

8 a.m to noon, Eastmont School District maintenance shop, 345 6th St.

Chuck Riibe is fixing up bikes to give away to children. The giveaway is first come, first served. Donors can also drop off bikes that don't require a lot of repair.

Contact: Chuck Riibe, 679-9475

11. Share A Bear

Ongoing, drop box is at 1035 Ninth St.

Do you have new or gently-used "huggable-size" teddy bears? Drop them off anytime (and the names of people who would like them, if you have someone in mind) for delivery to "forgotten" age groups of adults. Please make sure they are clean and ready for delivery. Faith Godbey puts them in gift bags with a cheerful note and delivers.

Contact: Faith Godbey, 663-3701 or [email protected]

12. Mustard Seed yard cleanup

9 a.m. to 2 p.m., 1007 Malaga Ave.

The Mustard See Neighborhood Center is a pre-school/daycare providing Wenatchee area's underserved populations with quality learning and care programs for over 20 years. We are looking for volunteers to help with the fall cleaning of our grounds, including playground, parking lot, gardens, etc., and a bit of light inside cleaning, too. Please bring pruners, rakes, shovels and gloves. Snacks provided.

Contact: Mark Seman, (928) 925-7617 or [email protected]

13. Kids helping kids

9 a.m. to noon, two locations: 246 N. Mission St. and 901 N. Mission St.

Kids will sell Krispy Kreme doughnuts to benefit Seattle Children's Hospital. Purchase your pre-sale doughnuts at Wenatchee Pediatric Dentistry. Pick-up your doughnuts or purchase doughnuts at two locations on Make A Difference Day.

Contact: Melissa or Makenna Schwab, 860-7928 or [email protected]

14. Japanese Garden cleanup

8 a.m., northeast corner of 9th Street and Eastmont Avenue

Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners and local churches are cleaning up the Japanese Garden.

15. Donate to food banks

9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Multiple locations

The North Central Washington Association of Realtors will collect non-perishable foods for three food banks in the greater Wenatchee Valley. Drop-off locations are Grocery Outlet (for the Salvation Army food bank), Martin's Market in Cashmere (for the Cashmere Food Pantry) and Dan's Market in Leavenworth (for the Leavenworth Community Cupboard). Donations of cash also accepted.

Contact: Doug Morger, 670-2342 or [email protected]

16. Stitch and stuff Christmas stockings

Ongoing, Chelan-Douglas CASA office, 431 Douglas St.

Pick up a pattern to sew a Christmas stocking for children in foster care. You can create/fill the stockings which are given to foster children during the holidays. You will make this year one to remember for both of you.

Contact: Sue Baker or Arlene Grover, 662-7350, [email protected] or [email protected]

17. Help Cancer Care/Our House

9 a.m. to 1 p.m., 1708 Castlerock Ave.

Help with cleaning up the grounds at Our House. Please bring work gloves and clippers. Organizers hope to make the yard look great and be ready for winter at this "home away from home" for cancer patients. We will also collect donations of canned soups, Ensure, snack items, coffee and paper towels. Stop by and enter our raffle for two beautiful quilts. Hot soup and refreshments will be served.

Contact: Becky Elwell, 663-6964, 663-3377 or [email protected]

18. Spruce the Bruce

Ongoing, Bruce Hotel, 206 Palouse St.

The improvement project list is long at the Bruce Hotel, which provides transitional housing and social services for families. Call to find which project you can take on to help the downtown facility.

Contact: Carole Nordal, 662-2485

19. Order pasta takeout for a good cause

3 to 5 p.m., Wenatchee High School

New Life Adoptions recruits and trains potential adoptive families, primarily to adopt children from the foster care system. You can help raise funds for the no-fee agency by ordering a chicken fettuccine meal for two. The meal will be prepared by chef Kent Getzin, director of the Wenatchee School District food program. You'll get a great, ample meal for two for only $30. It couldn't be easier and you'll be a partner in the lives of 26 children who are no longer foster kids, and in helping the seven foster children currently in New Life homes to become sons and daughters. Email orders.

Contact: Mike Magnotti, [email protected]

20. Diaper drive

Multiple times and locations

The Junior Service League of Wenatchee will conduct its annual Diaper Drive. Group members will collect diapers, wipes and formula at six locations: Albertsons from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Walmart from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Grocery Outlet from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Wenatchee and East Wenatchee Food Pavilion from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The collection continues into the evening with the Wenatchee Wild game at Town Toyota Center starting when the doors open.

Contact: Lorena Villela, 670-8575 or [email protected]

21. Pet supplies/food needed

8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Pybus Public Market

Drop off pet supplies and pet food at the Wenatchee Valley Humane Society box at Pybus Public Market. Our most pressing needs are cat litter, kitten chow, rawhides and treats, and canned dog food. We can also use donations of dish soap, Simple Green, laundry detergent with bleach, Post-it notes, pens and dry-erase markers, AA and AAA batteries, copy paper. For a list of additional needs, contact the Humane Society at 662-9577.

22. Donate to Packing Friendship Project

All day, Walmart

You can donate canned and packaged foods all day at Walmart for the Packing Friendship Project. We don't use anything that has to be cooked or refrigerated because the recipients are sometimes living in their cars or other places without a kitchen. Packing Friendship is a partnership of 11 churches and people in Wenatchee and East Wenatchee concerned about children, hunger and homelessness.

Contact: Kay Berdan, Yvonne Gowell, Lana Salvina, 670-0722, 884-7559 or 884-3103

23. Join the Buddy Walk

10 a.m., Walla Walla Point Park

The Greater Wenatchee Valley Buddy Walk is a walk for support and awareness of individuals with Down syndrome. There will be games and various activities for the youth, as well as a short walk as a group. The walk is appropriate for all ages and abilities.

Contact: Amy Garrison, 393-5404 or [email protected]

24. Lend a hand on cleanup

10 to 11:30 a.m., 1408 Washington St.

Help Washington Elementary students do grounds cleanup at Grace Lutheran Church. Bring your broom to sweep the parking lot, rake leaves and pick up pinecones.

Contact: Sara Rolfs, 662-3013 or [email protected]

25. Ohme Gardens needs some love

8 a.m. to noon, 3327 Ohme Road

Help prepare an area at Ohme Gardens for a big renovation and planting project next spring. Some of the work includes thinning, weeding and lawn and trail work. There are projects for every skill level. Please bring work gloves.

Contact: Mike Short, 662-5785 or [email protected]

26. Help Hospitality House

By arrangement, 1450 S. Wenatchee Ave.

The Hospitality House, a men's shelter, needs some help making improvements. Projects include assembling 30 new bunk beds and painting a dorm area. Breakfast, lunch and dinner will be provided to volunteers.

Contact: Jim Zumini, 664-4289 or [email protected]

27. Lend a hand to Habitat for Humanity

8 a.m. to noon, 144 S. Terminal Ave.

Come work in the yard at the newest Habitat for Humanity house. Bring work gloves and a water bottle. RSVP please.

Contact: Jen Pearson-Gale, 393-8897 or [email protected]

28. Ferry Street cleanup

8:45 a.m. to noon, Ferry Street

We are cleaning up areas on the south end of Wenatchee. Meet at the Ferry Street Market (park on Ferry Street across from the market) at 8:45 a.m. We will work until noon weeding, sweeping, picking up trash, spraying weeds and more. Please bring work gloves, brooms and a weed-eater (if you have one). We also need a truck to haul away organic waste.

Contact: Dave or Dianna Williams, 630-6253 or 665-3634, or [email protected]

29. Veterans Will Clinic

10 a.m. to 5 p.m., 504 S. Chelan Ave.

The Red Cross is working with Vets for Vets and the East Wenatchee VFW to conduct a Veterans Will clinic at the Wenatchee Community Center. The project will provide area vets with much needed legal paperwork for free. One hundred veterans will have pre-registered prior to the day of the clinic. We have attorneys who will help them create their last will and testament, but need another 50 people to help make this event a success. We need people to man the refreshment table, the registration table, and to act as greeters and runners. You can volunteer for the whole day or part of it.

Contact: Heather Dunham, 663-3907 or [email protected]

30. Help Lighthouse Christian Ministries

7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and ongoing, 526 S. Wenatchee Ave.

Donate cleaning supplies, bleach, paper towels, toilet paper and other home and kitchen products to the Lighthouse.

Contact: Shawn Arington, 859-2115

31. Glean for a good cause

8 a.m., Pybus Public Market

Interested in gleaning on Saturday? Meet at Pybus Market and carpool to a location to glean with a group from Grace Lutheran Church. Hannah Hostetter from Community Farm Connection will set up the location. There will also be a film, "A Place at the Table," shown at 3 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall at Grace Lutheran Church, 1408 Washington St. A donation of food is requested. There will be popcorn and a beverage served. This is also open to the public.

Contact: Pat Fitzgerald, 663-5723 or [email protected]

32. Watch L-Bow the Clown, donate food

Noon, Smallwood's Harvest, Peshastin

Donate non-perishable food to Leavenworth's Community Cupboard and watch L-Bow the Clown perform.

Contact: 548-4196

33. Help repair Ballard Park gazebo

10 a.m. to 2 p.m., across from Douglas County PUD

Repair the gazebo at Ballard Park on Valley Mall Parkway in East Wenatchee. Some of the wood needs to be replaced, roof shingles replaced and then the whole structure painted.

Contact: Brian Predmore, 669-4336

34. Make improvements to Disciple House

8 a.m. to dark, 744 N. Grover Place, East Wenatchee

Disciple House is a men's Christian living clean and sober discipleship home. The lawn is dead and the facility's exterior needs help. Since the ministry began nearly a year ago, no funds have been used for fixing the landscaping. Also the house needs to be prepped for painting. A paint company has volunteered to paint the home after the scraping and prep work is finished.

Contact: Shawn Arington, 859-2115 or [email protected]

ORONDO

35. Trusting Spirit Horse Rescue

9 a.m. to 4 p.m., 1 Crystal Moon Lane, south of Orondo

Trusting Spirit Horse Rescue was created to make sure the needs of neglected, abandoned and mistreated horses are met and to enable these horses in need to live out their lives in comfort and dignity. Work on Saturday will include fence repair and installing electric fence. Pulling weeds and general fall clean-up will also take place. Bring hammers, shovels, drills, saw for cutting boards and gloves.

Contact: Stephanie Stibal, 421-0003 or [email protected]

LAKE WENATCHEE

36. Winterize Camp Zanika Lache

9 a.m. to 5 p.m., 1640 Cedar Brae Road

There is lots to do at Camp Fire's Zanika Lache, Lake Wenatchee. Clean up cabins, make repairs and do maintenance, carpentry work, cut wood, remove brush, take down the archery and ropes course, move canoes and boats, paint signs (if weather permits). Muffins and lunch provided. Bring gloves, brooms, shovels, axes, rakes, chainsaws. We are looking for people with chainsaws, electrical knowledge, construction background, as well as people who just like to work hard and help kids. Register in advance. Overnight lodging available.

Contact: Theresa Samuelsen, 663-1609 or [email protected]

GIVEAWAYS

37. Get free stuff

7 a.m. to 2 p.m., 315 S. Mission St., basement of Foothills Foursquare Church

It's like a yard sale but everything is free! This special event takes place at Foothills Foursquare Church. If you can haul it off, it's yours. Clothes, furniture, household items, etc. Use the door off the lower south parking lot.

Contact: Denise Langlois, 663-8761 or [email protected]

38. Winter clothing/coat giveaway

9 a.m. to noon, J. Russell parking lot, 517 S. Wenatchee Ave.

Free winter clothing, coats and more will be distributed until gone. The project is by church members of the Serve Wenatchee Valley ServFest.

Contact: Bob Shepherd, 663-4673

NOT REPRESENTED ON MAP

Donate Yarn to Hat Project

Ongoing

The Hat Project is a community program that involves people making winter hats for children who need them. If you have yarn or gas gift cards to donate, please look for the collection box at Pybus Market on Make a Difference Day. The project always needs yarn. Gift cards for gas are also appreciated.

Contact: Aida Bound, 888-1953 or [email protected]

Share a story about your favorite teacher

Ongoing

Do you have a story about a teacher who has made a difference in your life? Tell your story and be included in a book that recognizes her or him for the difference they made. These books are sold and the proceeds go toward college scholarships. Stories can be submitted and orders for books will also be taken.

Contact: Eldene Wall, 665-2629 or [email protected]

Help elderly, disabled stay in their homes

Ongoing

There are several projects that can be "adopted" that will assist low-income elderly and disabled adults as they strive to stay in their homes year-round. You can choose to paint, clean, do minor house repairs, yard work, winterize homes, and do other small group projects throughout the Wenatchee Valley. Call Catholic Family & Child Services (CFCS)/Volunteer Chore Services, to choose a project that is right for your group or business.

Contact: Amber Bryant, 662-6761 or [email protected]

Donate to start a Little Free Library

Ongoing

Sara Harris is raising money to build a Little Free Library in Wenatchee and register it with the organization. Little Free Library is a box full of books where anyone may stop by and pick up a book (or two) and bring back another book to share. This project will promote literacy, help recycle books locally, and promote the joy of reading. The plan is to put it at the Literacy Council's building at 508 S. Chelan Ave.

Contact: Sara Harris, 679-7946 or [email protected]

NO VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Piano concerts in area retirement homes. Washington State Music Teachers Association is organizing concerts by students. The public is welcome. For times and locations, contact Teri Rappe at 663-4121.

YMCA Water Lilies calendar. The YMCA Water Lilies have made a calendar to raise money for YMCA scholarships. Members will preview the calendar at Pybus Market on Make a Difference Day and pass out invitations to their "Autograph and Release Party" to be held Nov. 16.

Live music in area retirement homes. A group of Latino students will spread the joy of music to different nursing homes. These are all Wenatchee High School students who play instruments.

Unveiling of Special Needs Social Program mural. The Special Needs Social Program is an ongoing, interactive recreation program coordinated by the City of Wenatchee Recreation Department for individuals with developmental delays. In an effort to give back to their community, group members have painted a mural at the Walla Walla Point Park handball courts. They will host an unveiling ceremony and reception at the park on Make a Difference Day from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.

___

(c)2013 The Wenatchee World (Wenatchee, Wash.)

Visit The Wenatchee World (Wenatchee, Wash.) at www.wenatcheeworld.com

Distributed by MCT Information Services

Wordcount:

3267