We are sixteen, going on seventeen …

Published 1:30 am Wednesday, October 25, 2017

By Showandah Terrill

…years of doing this, and we have a job for you! Cherish Our Children is once again collecting both items and helpers for our big night at the Akalat Center in La Push on Dec. 8 beginning with dinner at 5 p.m. As always there will be a live auction with items such as Native artwork, hand-made toys, trips, stays and beautiful baskets of goodies, and silent auction tables where you can bid on less expensive things like small appliances, games, toys, collectibles, DVDs and CDs – whatever gently used items the good people of Forks and LaPush have donated to the cause.

The cause, of course, is the purchase of warm clothing and gifts for the children of Forks and La Push, who otherwise might go without this holiday season. And how do we do that? Much of the money raised the year before, becomes seed money for the year following, because many of the best bargains come around before the auction ever happens! We are very careful with that money; it is always treated with respect and gratitude. Volunteers within our group take on the task of deciding what to buy, pricing, shopping, wrapping and distributing, and it’s a lot of work.

Ah ha, you knew this was coming. People make this extravaganza happen, and if you’re reading this, chances are you’re a person – a potential helper. We have big jobs that take days, and smaller jobs that can be done in a day, or a few hours. There are very specific jobs in case you like knowing exactly what you’re supposed to do. There are more creative jobs, in case your bent is in that direction. Just remember, no job is unimportant.

If you have gently used items, (no clothing) to donate for the silent auction tables, let us know. Dig around. How many hand mixers does one person need? Do you make birdhouses, or knit cozy hats while you watch the Seahawks? Is your passion quilting, or painting, or carving beautiful canoe paddles? Please consider donating something to the cause of the kids. We have storage areas in both Forks and LaPush, in case you just want your donation out of your way. Call Sharon Penn at 360-374-3197, and she will get someone to you.

And please, do come to our next meeting, Oct. 30, at noon at Three Rivers Restaurant.