Area Children Will Receive Dressed-Up Teddy Bears

This week, 800 cuddly teddy bears dressed in handmade costumes are being distributed to needy children in the Inland Northwest, thanks to Washington Trust Bank and its customers.

The teddy bears are part of the Dress-a-Bear Contest, a holiday tradition at the bank. In its sixth year, the contest inspires creativity among individuals while ensuring needy children receive a special gift during the holidays.

In October, customers among Washington Trust’s 31 branches were invited to take home a bear, dress it in a costume and return it to the bank.

This week the bears were judged on the playfulness, originality, workmanship and creativity of their costumes.

There were angel bears, bears dressed as clowns, firefighters, ballerinas and grannies. There was a hula bear, a baseball bear and a bear named Iceman; a Top Gun fighter pilot bear equipped with a helmet and airplane. In time for the Rose Bowl was a crimson-and-gray Cougar bear.

“This event is a great opportunity for our bank to work together with our customers to make the holiday season a little brighter for needy children,” said Peter F. Stanton, president and chief executive officer of Washington Trust Bank.

The Dress-a-Bear grand prize went to James Weyen and Dee Bouvier of Spokane for their “Sweet Dreams” teddy bear. Dressed in pajamas, nightcap and bunny slippers, the bear came with his own bed and blankets. Weyen and Bouvier will share a $200 EE Savings Bond. Washington Trust will contribute an additional $200 to a charity selected by Weyen and Bouvier.

A $100 EE Savings Bond goes to second-prize winner Max Upper, of Moses Lake, for his clown bear. Dressed in a bright blue costume and hat, the teddy bear wore a tiny carrier on its back that held a baby bear. A $100 donation will go to a charity designated by Upper.

Star Higdon, 8, a student at Grant Elementary, selected the Child’s Choice Award. “Binkie Bear,” with flannel pajamas and a pacifier, was created by JoAnn Garces, Quincy, Wash., who will receive a $50 EE Savings Bond. Each branch winner will also receive $50 Savings Bonds.

Washington Trust bank employees are distributing the stuffed bears to more than 30 area organizations, including Toys for Tots, Anna Odgen Hall, Martin Luther King Center, Spokane Guild School, Rosalia (Wash.) Giving Tree, Loon Lake (Wash.) Food Pantry, Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery and East Central Community Center. The agencies will give the bears to the children they serve in time for Christmas.

Letters from Santa

There’s still time to ensure a letter from Santa is sent to someone you love. Elves at Complete Computer Services are mailing letters from Santa with a portion of the proceeds directed to The Children’s Ark, a local foster parenting program.

The $6 letter from Santa will contain special holiday greetings and surprises. The letters, personalized on colorful holiday stationery, will mention the child’s school, playmates, siblings, pets …

Order forms are available at Mail Boxes Etc., 1314 S. Grand Blvd., or by calling 624-6707.

Girls’ basketball

Registration is open for girls between 6 and 13 years old to participate in YWCA’s 3-On-3 Girl’s Basketball League. The fee is $45 for those registered before Dec. 17. The league begins Jan. 5.

Volunteers are needed as coaches and referees. For information and registration, call 326-1190, ext. 119, or visit the YWCA, 829 W. Broadway.

Fund-raiser

The Catholic Charities 1997 Christmas Collection provides people in our community with mentoring, job training, emergency food, child care services and more.

“Come Walk in My Shoes,” theme of the fund-raiser, invites the community to consider the plight of the poor and respond with a financial donation. The collection goal is $575,000.

“A $5 or $10 donation, combined with gifts from others, will do so much,” said Mary Ann Heskett, development director for Catholic Charities. Money donated to the Christmas Collection is seed money, Heskett said, which means that every $100 donated becomes $500 in goods and services made possible through grants, contracts and fees.

More than 100,000 people of all faiths benefit from Catholic Charities programs. Of those helped, 85 percent are low-income.

Programs include Family Services, which provides professional counseling, refugee resettlement and neighborhood outreach; House of Charity, which provides meals, clothing and medical assistance to low-income and homeless people; and a housing program with shelters for seniors, disabled individuals and single parents.

Donations to the Christmas Collection can be mailed to: Catholic Charities, P.O. Box 1453, Spokane, WA 99210.

Non-profit notes

WAMPUM grant applications for the 1998 funding cycle are now available to non-profit arts organizations. Criteria for WAMPUM beneficiaries is based on financial need as well as artistic quality and sound management practices of the organization.

Since 1968, WAMPUM has given more than $3 million to support the region’s arts and cultural communities.

Pick up applications at Spokane Arts Commission in City Hall, 808 W. Spokane Falls Blvd.; or the WAMPUM office, 926 W. Sprague. For more information, call 747-3817.

Recipients will be announced in February at WAMPUM’s semiannual meeting.

YWCA Necessities Bank

The Necessities Bank at the YWCA needs donations to replenish its shelves with such items as disposable diapers, adult toothbrushes and toothpaste, deodorant, toilet tissue, soap, laundry detergent and feminine hygiene products.

Also, the YWCA’s Family Clothing Bank needs winter clothing for children, including shoes, boots and coats; professional clothing for women and men; and plus-size clothing for women.

Donations can be dropped off at the YWCA, 829 W. Broadway, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday; and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday.

Volunteers needed

Each year, more than 2,000 young people commit minor criminal offenses in our community.

In an effort to hold them accountable for their actions, the Spokane County Juvenile Court is seeking volunteers to serve on the Neighborhood Accountability Board (NAB).

Using established guidelines, teams of NAB volunteers meet with juveniles to review their offenses and impose consequences for their behavior.

Involvement with NAB provides volunteers the opportunity to understand the juvenile legal system and impact a youngster’s life in a constructive manner.

NAB volunteers receive training, meet twice monthly in the evenings, and participate in the program for a year or more.

The next training session begins in January. To apply for a volunteer position with the Neighborhood Accountability Board, contact Susan Cairy at 458-2469.

, DataTimes MEMO: Community Update appears each Sunday in The Spokesman Review. Please allow two weeks notice for inclusion in this column.