‘Tis the season to make spirits bright. On Orcas, dedicated people are making this holiday warm in the hearts of those that need their Christmas wishes answered.
Food Bank stocking stuffers
The 4H and Girl Scouts are teaming up again this year to provide stockings for Orcas Island Food Bank families. This is the 10th year that this duo has made Christmas special for islanders in need. They fill stockings with gloves, scarves, books and toys. For several years, dentists Brenda Ivans and Steven Bailey have donated toothbrushes and toothpaste. Mary Minnis sews the stockings every year.
“The girls felt like it was a huge contribution and they liked decorating the stockings to make it special,” said Margie Sabine, Girl Scout Leader.
The funds for the stockings come from donations by the Lions Club and cookie sales from 4H and the Girls Scouts.
“It has really grown over the years,” said Sabine. “This year we have 87 stockings.”
Every year, Margie and her daughter Morgan Sabine, one of the last of the original Girl Scouts, shop together for the stuffers. Morgan is a senior so this will be her last year helping with the project.
“It’s nice to have a sense of giving back to the community,” said Morgan. “Everyone should get something for Christmas.”
Gingerbread auction
Since the first of November, a display of gingerbread houses resembling various stores in downtown Eastsound has been on display at Islanders Bank.
Created by Susie Frank, each one is unique and replicates each store in detail. The pieces will be auctioned off on Dec. 14 with proceeds going to the Orcas Island Food Bank. Visit Islanders Bank before Dec. 14 and choose the one you fancy most.
Decorated Christmas trees
The Moran Mansion at Rosario Resort and Spa will be lit up with Christmas trees this month, decorated by nonprofit organizations. Sponsored by the resort, the Festival of Trees is a holiday fundraiser for Friends of Moran State Park, the Funhouse, Kaleidoscope, Orcas Island Choral Society, Orcas Island Fire & Rescue, Farm to Cafeteria, Orcas Island Children’s House, Orcas Animal Protection Society, Orcas Montessori School and Orcas Center.
To place a vote you purchase a $1 per ticket. Each organization will receive the voting dollars, with the top three most voted trees winning additional cash prizes from Rosario Resort. All tickets will also be entered into a raffle to win prizes. Tickets may be purchased at the mansion front desk, open from 8 a.m. – 9 p.m.
The Giving Tree
Judy Lindgren, cashier at the Island Market, has helped with the Giving Tree for the last 12 years. And each year comes the joy of seeing a community come together and also some sad revelations.
“Some years it is hard to see the gift ideas,” said Lindgren, who works on this project with Erin O’Dell of Orcas Family Connections and Amber Paulsen of Kaleidoscope. “There was one year where everything asked for on the tree was out of necessity: underwear, socks, toothbrushes, deodorant and pajamas. That was the hardest year.”
Each year forms are sent out to schools for families in need. Donors are asked to not exceed $100 when making purchases. The forms are turned into anonymous tags or wish lists that adorn the Giving Tree at the market. Islanders can pluck a tag from a tree and will have until Dec. 19 to return the presents back to the market.
“There have been an increasing number of tags in the last couple of years,” said Lingren.
