Kids helping kids in Haiti, and other events this week

There must be a full moon or something because my e-mail inbox has been dead quiet for the last two days. Besides the regular messages from Jo-Ann fabrics and Southwest airlines, there’s hardly been a peep in what is normally a very active litte corner of my world.

Is this a late January/early February/dead of winter sort of thing?

A quiet inbox doesn’t mean there isn’t good stuff happening, though. Here’s what’s cooking in Spokane this week:

- hArt for Haiti . My friend Stacey Conner, who writes the often heart-wrenching and often hilarious blog Is There Any Mommy Out There? has organized an event that will give kids in Spokane a chance to help kids affected by the earthquake in Haiti.

At hArt for Haiti, children can sell their artwork, with the proceeds going to God’s Littlest Angels orphanage , which is where Stacey’s daughter Saige spent the first year of her life. There will also be dancing and painting and general jumping around.

hArt for Haiti will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday (Feb. 2) at Kids Sports . A $5 donation per child is requested. I can’t think of a better way to spend a Tuesday afternoon with my kids.

-Another way you can give a helping hand this week is by donating gently-used items for growing, preparing or serving food (such as plates, pots and kitchen appliances) to Slow Food Spokane River, which is holding a fundraiser/thrift sale on March 6. Drop off the items Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Peters and Sons Flowers and Gifts, 512 E. Pacific Ave. (downtown).

- The Spokane International Film Festival is under way at the AMC theaters at River Park Square and The Magic Lantern, at 25 W. Main Ave. What a wonderful way to escape for a couple of hours without having to board a plane (sorry, Southwest. Your persistent e-mail messages aren’t working on me.) Take a look at the lineup .