Giving Tree fundraiser this Saturday

by Tara Nelson

The Stafholt Good Samaritan Center is looking for donations for its annual Giving Tree program that matches low-income children with gifts in the Blaine, Birch Bay and Point Roberts communities.

The center has scheduled a concert with Blaine jazz/rock band Crystal Tricycle to raise money for the program at 9 p.m., November 18 at the Pastime Tavern. Tickets are available for $5 at the Pastime, Goff’s Department Store, and Northern Meadows, as well as the Stafholt Good Samaritan Center.

Marsha Hawkins, program coordinator for the center, said volunteers are also still collecting tags for 251 children already signed up to receive gifts and she expects that number to at least double.

“That’s 753 gifts that we need to get and we still have more applications coming.”

The program accepts applications for families with children under 18 to receive up to three gifts per child, for which, Hawkins suggests one toy and two articles of clothing kept under $30. Last year, the center collected more than 1,500 gifts for approximately 500 children.
“Of course, if donors call ahead and want to sponsor a family, than we can do it that way, too,” she said.

Gift tags are available at most Blaine businesses including Cost Cutter, Goff’s Department Store, Whatcom Educational Credit Union (WECU) and Northern Meadows specialty gift and wine store. Donations may also be mailed to the Stafholt Good Samaritan Center 456 C Street. Checks should be made out to “Stafholt Giving Tree.” For more information, call 332-8733.