From December 2016 Connections News
Local non-profits provide resources for people, animals and the environment in greater Issaquah and right here in Issaquah Highlands. This holiday season, consider helping a local organization with your charitable giving. The following two pages contain a list of local non-profits, fundraisers and collection drives that need your help.
This is by no means a complete list. We know there are many more wonderful organizations out there. Hopefully you find this to be a useful resource as you plan your holiday giving.
If giving is not possible this year, consider saving this for future reference. While the holiday season is a popular time for giving, non-profit organizations accept donations and need volunteers year-round.
artEast arteast.org
Mission: Their mission is to “exist to promote the visual arts.” Your contributions support visual arts in our community, including youth programs, community events, adult workshops and gallery exhibitions. Highlands Council partners with artEast to bring beautiful exhibits by local artists to Blakely Hall year-round for all of the community to enjoy, for free.
Holiday Fundraising Raffle: artEAST is holding a raffle from Nov. 26 through Dec. 7. Stop by artEAST at 95 Front Street North to enter. Each $10 entry gives you a chance to win half of the money entered into the raffle as an artEAST gift card. artEAST gift cards can be used to make purchases in the gallery, become an artEAST member, and take education classes at artEAST. The drawing will be held on Dec. 8. Raffle entrants do not need to be present to win.
Year-Round Need: artEAST also accepts donations online for its Annual Fund at boxoffice.printtixusa.com/artEAST/donate. Proceeds from the raffle and Annual Fund support programs, including free exhibitions at Blakely Hall and artEAST; free, family-friendly community art-making events; and fee assistance for our youth education classes.
How You Can Help: Donate money, volunteer time
Civilized Nature Holiday Donation Drive civilizednature.com
Help needy animals: Civilized Nature is collecting donations to benefit Motley Zoo Rescue, an animal rescue placing animals in need with volunteer foster families. Donate dog and cat food and lightly used or new collars and leashes now until Dec. 31. Learn more about Motley Zoo Rescue at motleyzoo.org.
How You Can Help: Donate items
Eastside Friends of Seniors eastsidefriendsofseniors.org
Mission: To provide “vital support and assistance to seniors facing the challenges of aging” in the greater Issaquah and Sammamish areas.
Year-Round Need: Donate postage stamps, various all-purpose greeting cards and gift cards from QFC, Safeway, Fred Meyer or Target. Gift cards help offset the cost of fresh produce and even prescription drug bills. Diverse volunteer opportunities are available. Monetary donations can be made online. Contact Heather Downing, Volunteer Coordinator at heather@eastsidefriends.org or (425) 369-9120 if you are interested in bringing a smile to a few special faces this holiday season.
How You Can Help: Donate money, donate items, volunteer time
Giving Tree at Grand Ridge Plaza grandridgeplaza.com
Holiday Toy Drive: This year, support neighbors in-need by donating toys to the Issaquah Food and Clothing Bank. Ribbons on the Holiday Giving Tree, located in the plaza next to Regal Cinemas and Big Fish Grill, will be labeled with needed gifts. Purchase a new, unwrapped toy or gift item for children up to age 18 and drop it off at Santa’s house in the Winter Woodland at Grand Ridge Plaza. Learn more at grandridgeplaza.com/happenings/donate-toys-holiday-issaquah-food-bank.
How You Can Help: Donate items
Hope on the Hill Guild hopeonthehillguild.org
Mission: The Hope on the Hill Guild’s mission is to “help make a positive difference in the lives of children and their families treated at Seattle Children’s Hospital.” Fundraising helps Seattle Children’s Hospital’s uncompensated care program.
Holiday Toy-Drive: This year’s annual toy drive benefits patients at Seattle Children’s Hospital Autism Center, a facility that provides a variety of support and services to families living with autism. Donate new, unwrapped toys at Caffe Ladro in Grand Ridge Plaza or Adventure Kids Playcare on Gilman Blvd. until Jan. 7. Learn more at hopeonthehillguild.org/donate/donateitems.
Year-Round Need: Year-round monetary donations contribute to the Seattle Children’s Hospital uncompensated care program. According to the Hope on the Hill website, Seattle Children’s is expected to provide more than $100 million in uncompensated care to children in need this year. Donate online or by mail: hopeonthehillguild.org/donate/donatemoney.
How You Can Help: Donate money, donate items
Issaquah Community Services issaquahcommunityservices.org
Mission: Issaquah Community Services provides emergency financial assistance to families in the Issaquah School District with the primary goal of keeping Issaquah families in their homes. Assistance is provided in the form of rent or utility payments, medical care, bus tickets and other financial support.
Annual Merry Christmas Fund: This annual holiday fundraiser accounts for 65 percent of the organization’s annual budget. Monetary donations can be made by check or online. The organization has a goal to raise $100,000 in this year’s fundraiser.
Year-Round Need: Monetary donations are accepted online year-round. Volunteer board and committee member opportunities are available and training is provided for volunteer positions working directly with clients. Learn more at issaquahcommunityservices.org/get-involved.
How You Can Help: Donate money, volunteer time
Issaquah Food & Clothing Bank issaquahfoodbank.org
Mission: The Issaquah Food & Clothing Bank provides quality food, clothing, household items, toiletries and diapers to families in need throughout our community, in addition to referrals to agencies and organizations and other valuable special services.
Lunch for the Break: Help Issaquah Food & Clothing Bank make sure all Issaquah kids have enough to eat during the holiday break by donating a box of grocery items or making a monetary contribution. Go online to register your donation, select a drop-off location and download the list of needed grocery items per box at lunchforthebreak.com. Drop off on Dec. 19 between 2–7pm.
Holiday Gift Barn: Help bring joy and happiness to families during the holiday season! Pickering Barn is turned into a giant toy store where qualifying families are invited to shop and choose gifts for their children ages 18 and under. Contribute to the holiday cheer by donating new, unwrapped gifts to the Pickering Barn, Dec. 1-2, between 1-7 pm. Register your donation online and get gift ideas at issaquahfoodbank.org/holiday-gift-barn.
IHCA Food & Clothing Drive: Bring your food and clothing donations to the IHCA office until Dec. 15. The IHCA will deliver donations to the Issaquah Food & Clothing Bank on Dec. 16.
Year-Round Need: The Issaquah Food & Clothing Bank relies on year-round contributions in order to keep their doors open and shelves fully stocked. Donate food, clothing and household items year-round at their 24-hour drop-off box, located at 179 1st Avenue SE in Issaquah. Monetary donations can be made online. For more information, visit issaquahfoodbank.org/donate. There are plenty of volunteer opportunities, too, for adults, kids and groups.
How You Can Help: Donate money, donate items, volunteer time
Issaquah Philharmonic Orchestra iphil.org
Mission: The Issaquah Philharmonic Orchestra is an organization of talented volunteer musicians who perform free community concerts each year. They are “dedicated to providing qualified youth and experienced adults from Issaquah and surrounding communities an opportunity to perform symphonic music.”
Holiday Concert: Hear the Issaquah Philharmonic Orchestra at their upcoming free holiday concert on Dec. 5 at Skyline High School, from 7:30 – 9:00pm.
Year-Round Need: The organization is currently seeking volunteer string musicians to play with the group. Non-musical volunteer opportunities are also available. Monetary donations can be made online at iphil.org.
How You Can Help: Donate money, volunteer time
Life Enrichment Options lifeenrichmentoptions.org
Mission: This Issaquah-based organization provides valuable support for individuals with development disabilities and works with them to “achieve their goals through supportive housing, recreation, employment opportunities and community education.” A LEO adult family home is located in Issaquah Highlands.
Year-Round Need: Monetary donations can be made online or by mail. Donations will directly contribute to the organization’s mission and help fund a future adult family home location. Volunteers are welcome to join one of the organizations’s local outreach committees or participate in future events.
How You Can Help: Donate money, volunteer time
PUP Dog Rescue pupdogrescue.org
Mission: PUP works with local shelters, rescue groups and foster homes to save homeless dogs and find them permanent, loving homes. The organization provides veterinary care for these dogs prior to their adoption and volunteer foster parents begin the house, crate and leash training to prepare them for forever homes.
Holiday Collection Drive: Three businesses in Issaquah are sponsoring collection drives for the PUP organization during the holiday season: Mud Bay, Earth Pet and The Grange. Needed items include high quality, grain-free dog food and pee pads.
Year-Round Need: Monetary donations are key to providing each rescued dog with proper, sometimes advanced, medical care. Donate online at pupdogrescue.org/general-donation.html. Learn about becoming a foster parent for PUP rescues at pupdogrescue.org/volunteer.html.
How You Can Help: Donate money, donate items, volunteer time
Red Waggin’ Rescue redwagginrescue.petfinder.com
Mission: Red Waggin’ Pet Rescue’s mission is to “rescue, provide vet care for, and find new forever homes for homeless dogs and other animals” from Eastern Washington. Headquartered in Connell, the organization has volunteers and foster homes across the state, including in the greater Issaquah area.
Local Success Story: Issaquah Highlands resident, Elizabeth Dixon List, recently fostered her first puppy, Bodie, through Red Waggin’. “He is the sweetest dog and I really wanted him to stay local and end up with a fantastic family so I posted about him on the Issaquah Highlands Facebook page,” List said. “A lot of people reached out, and the family he ended up with couldn’t have been more perfect…It was such a rewarding experience.”
Pet Photos with Santa: Red Waggin’ Rescue is hosting Santa Paws pictures at Civilized Nature on December 10 from 11 AM to 2 PM. Bring your pet for a photo with Santa and some holiday flare. Photos are a $25 donation and are tax deductible.
Year-Round Need: Red Waggin’ Pet Rescue is most in need of foster homes for homeless dogs and cats. Other volunteer opportunities are available. Monetary donations fund basic and advanced vet care. Learn more about how you can help at redwagginrescue.petfinder.com.
How You Can Help: Donate money, volunteer time
Village Theatre villagetheatre.org
Mission: Village Theater’s mission is “to be a regionally recognized and nationally influential center of excellence in family theatre.” Their goals include commissioning and producing new musicals, training young people in theatre skills and promoting an appreciation of and positive values through live theatre and the arts.
Year-Round Need: Its Annual Fund raises funds for promoting new works through the Village Originals program and youth education programming, including KIDSTAGE classes, camps and productions. Donate to their annual fund online or by mail: villagetheatre.org/issaquah/donate.php.
How You Can Help: Donate money
Washington Trails Association wta.org
Mission: The Washington Trails Association (WTA) works to “preserve, enhance, and promote hiking opportunities in Washington state through collaboration, education, advocacy and volunteer trail maintenance.”
Improving Issaquah Highlands trails: Recently, the WTA has hosted a series of volunteer work parties in the Issaquah Highlands to build the new 2-mile Watertower Loop trail at the top of Grand Ridge. The trail is close to completion and a ribbon-cutting ceremony is in the works. This year, the organization put in thousands of volunteer hours improving trails throughout the Issaquah Alps.
Year-Round Need: Monetary donations help the WTA protect trails and promote hiking. Donate online at wta.org/support/donate-join/donate. Trail parties of volunteers make trail improvements and expansion possible, no experience necessary. Find a trail party near you at wta.org/volunteer/schedule.
How You Can Help: Donate money, volunteer time
YWCA ywcaworks.org
Mission: The YWCA’s ultimate goal is to “eliminate racism, empower women, and promote peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all.” They help women and families get through tough times by providing counseling, financial assistance, food, clothing and shelter. Their Issaquah Highlands location directly helps local residents.
Gift Barn Partnership: YWCA families will have the opportunity to receive gifts from the Issaquah Food & Clothing Bank’s Holiday Gift Barn.
Year-Round Need: You can donate household items, toys and school supplies year-round. Contact Victoria Thai for more information: vthai@ywcaworks.org. Monetary donations helps the YWCA provide essential resources. Donate online at ywcaworks.org/donate. Volunteer opportunities are also available.
How You Can Help: Donate money, donate items, volunteer time
