SMOKEY POINT — As the holiday season approaches, area residents already have two chances to provide food for needy families.
Cascade and Summit rehabilitation clinics throughout Snohomish and King counties are teaming up with community food banks to collect food in celebration of National Physical Therapy Month.
Cascade Rehabilitation Associates in Smokey Point, in Suite 101 on 16404 Smokey Point Blvd., and Summit Rehabilitation in Marysville, in Suite A on 3719 88th St. NE, are both collecting for the Marysville Food Bank.
Among the items they’re asking for are rice, beans, oats, cereal, baking and stuffing mixes, macaroni and ramen noodles. And canned versions of fruits and vegetables, soup, tomatoes, tuna and pumpkins. Also in demand are peanut butter and jelly or jam, syrup, honey, cranberries, olives, evaporated milk, yams or sweet potatoes, gelatin desserts and sugar. Even items such as diapers, baby wipes and grocery gift cards for meat and dairy products are welcome. These items may be dropped off at the Cascade or Summit locations.
AmeriCorps VISTA is going a step beyond, by going out into the community to collect food.
Annie Snodgrass, with AmeriCorps VISTA at Quil Ceda Elementary, explained that the group already dropped off bags throughout Marysville neighborhoods Oct. 18. The bags were donated by local grocery stores and are meant for canned and non-perishable food items.
“On Oct. 25, the people who live in those neighborhoods can place those bags on our doorsteps and our volunteers will pick them up,” said Snodgrass, who is looking for volunteers who can spare time between 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. to do the job.
The crew will be meeting on the morning of their “Make a Difference Day” on the south side of the Cedarcrest Golf Course, and dropping their bags off at the Marysville Food Bank that afternoon. Snodgrass welcomes businesses to sponsor the group’s efforts, but more importantly, she needs volunteers who can bring their own vehicles for four hours.
To learn more, you can call Snodgrass at 360-657-6552.
