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Christmas
for Kids 2005
By
Curt Cunningham
The
Christmas for Kids program was another success this year. We were able to do 26
families with over 60 children. This year we chose 3 agencies that help the
homeless. We are continuing our relationship with the Plateau Outreach
Ministries in Enumclaw. They are a Food bank and assist the needy with basic
needs. Next we have 2 new agencies. First is Vine Maple Place in Maple Valley.
They are a Women’s shelter that assists women and their children escape
domestic abuse. This agency gives these women a place to stay and they also help
them rebuild their lives by giving them a place to live and the opportunity to
get back on their feet without fear. Next is Martin Court a transitional housing
facility that helps homeless families get back on their feet and to help them
become productive members of society by giving them a place to live while they
are rebuilding their lives.
These
agencies provide the assistance they need such as schooling and job training and
placement and have strict guidelines for the families as they must work at
getting themselves back up on their feet or they lose the privileges.
We
feel that these agencies are optimal for our program, as we are giving to
families that are working very hard to get back on their feet. Also this system
helps us ensure that the families we choose are truly needy.
I
wish to thank the entire Local 19 membership for their continuing support for
this program. I also want to thank Local 98 for a donation of $1200, The Seattle
Pensioners for a donation of $300.00. Also the following pensioners; EARL and
VALDA SAMPLE for a donation of $100.00, PETER CHELEMEDOS for a donation of
$100.00 and GRACE MILLER for a donation of $28.00. I also wish to thank Local 19
member DANA MONTEZ for donating $100.00 in toys and Local 19 “B” member
JASON KYTLE for donating $200.00 in toys. In addition to giving toys and food
vouchers to these needy families, Our Auxiliary #3 President and Director of the
Christmas for Kids program LEONA CUNNINGHAM makes a hand made king size ILWU
embroidered quilt and raffles it at the July 5th memorial picnic and then uses
these funds to purchase more material and spends countless hours sewing
beautiful hand made quilts to give to the children. LEONA told me about one
instance where she gave one of these quilts to a child who then looked up at her not knowing what has happening
and when he found out that this quilt was his he started to cry because this was
the only blanket he had. Now LEONA says he takes his “blanky” everywhere and
will not let anyone touch it. LEONA who for the past 5 years who has worked very
hard and spent many hours making sure that this program remains successful.
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