Times are tough for everyone, but those hit hardest are not alone in the fight. Whether it’s during the holidays or all days, Northshore residents are an impressive group by lending a hand to others.
Here’s a few examples:
• Inglemoor High Key Club adviser Joyce Lyons said the annual Santa Breakfast for local families in need is a heartwarming event.
One day before the gathering, Lyons spoke highly of her students who would be involved last Saturday at Northshore Junior High.
According to Key Club President Trevor Shih, around 30 Inglemoor students helped serve breakfast to roughly 200 families, made balloon animals and took Santa pictures.
The Key Club’s goal is to teach leadership through serving others, and I got a first-hand view of that during the club’s dinner service to Tent City residents in Kirkland last year.
Students and faculty treated the residents as if they were part of their own families, welcoming them into the cafeteria and getting to know them during and after dinner. You could tell they cared about those less fortunate than themselves.
And last Saturday was no different at the Santa Breakfast, and they’ll continue their crusade for caring with more activities planned throughout the school year.
• Santa teamed up with Northshore Little Leaguers over at The Lyon’s Den Coffee Shoppe in Bothell last Saturday for another noteworthy event.
The scorecard was filled with several highlights: Along with holding signups for the upcoming season, there was a food collection for Hopelink’s Holiday Season Food Drive, pictures with Santa and the Lyon’s Den planned to donate 20 percent of all sales during the event to the league’s scholarship fund.
I’ve spoken with the folks at the Den before and know that their hearts are in the right place, so I’m sure it was a winning effort all around.
• Valerie Spagnolo’s beginning leadership students over at Bothell High are putting their “Paws for the Cause” into action by holding a breast-cancer-awareness run/walk from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Jan. 9 at the school.
She noted that breast cancer has affected some staff members, and the students are stepping up to raise awareness and money for the Susan G. Komen Foundation.
To register, visit their Web site at: http://sites.google.com/site/cougarscause.
• Bothell’s Cougars reached out to Matthew Newman of Cowiche, Wash., as well, during football season and beyond. The Highland High quarterback suffered a serious concussion this season, and players, students and a multitude of others locally and from across the state joined the “Raise 7 for Matthew” campaign by raising seven fingers and having positive thoughts throughout their day. For information, visit www.Raise7formatthew.com.
“Remember how lucky you are and enjoy that moment of your life all the sweeter as you raise your hands. Life and this game of football is a gift. Never take either for granted,” reads the Raise 7 mission statement.
Well done, everyone.
