In brief: Auction benefits food banks
The employees of the Washington State Department of Transportation Eastern Region recently held their annual office food drive, collecting 364 pounds of food and raising more than $12,500.
WSDOT employees donated approximately 30 handmade items, including paintings, wood sculptures and Christmas decorations, that were put on display at the office for a silent auction.
The drive benefited the Medical Lake Food Bank, North County Food Pantry, Spokane Valley Partners, Second Harvest Food Bank, Meals on Wheels, Cheney Food Emergency Bank, Loon Lake Food Bank, Mead Food Bank, North Palouse Community Food Bank and the Neal Richards Memorial Fund.
Make-A-Wish seeking helpers
SPOKANE COUNTY – The Make-A-Wish Foundation is in need of volunteers to help plan and grant wishes.
Volunteers should be creative, energetic and organized. They also must be at least 21 years old, complete the volunteer application process, which includes a background check, “wish granting” training, and agree to accept a wish to grant within six months of training.
Make-A-Wish will hold a training session Jan. 19 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
For more information, call (800) 304-9474, e-mail volunteer@ nwwishes.org or visit www.nwwishes.org.
Dispose of trees in yard carts
SPOKANE – After the holidays are over, Spokane residents have a number of options to safely dispose of cut trees.
Trees can be picked up curbside in clean green yard debris carts. Trees also can be picked up curbside in a garbage cart, or next to the garbage. They must be cut into six-inch pieces in order to be accepted.
Trees also may be dropped off at the Waste to Energy Facility or at any of the transfer stations, located at 2900 S. Geiger Blvd.; 3941 N. Sullivan Road; and 22123 Elk-Chattaroy Road.
For more information, call (509) 625-6800 or (509) 625-7878.
Classes for new careers offered
SPOKANE – With American Recovery and Reinvestment Act stimulus funding, WorkSource Spokane is partnering with Spokane Area Workforce Development Council and Community Colleges of Spokane to provide tuition, books and supplies at no cost to eligible adults seeking career opportunities in high-demand fields.
Classes will begin Jan. 4 at CCS campuses, providing the education and assistance in the fields of medical assistant, network design administrator, Web and software design, and project management.
For more information, call (509) 532-3109 or visit www.workspokane.org.