Showing posts with label volunteers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label volunteers. Show all posts

Meeting our Neighbors at St. Margaret’s Place

Sunday, September 22, 2024

St. Margaret's on Aurora

Story and photos by Tamara Burdic

Frying an egg for breakfast brought Suzi Strain to tears – tears of gratitude. 

It was her first morning to wake up in her new apartment at St. Margaret’s Place

Residents Suzi Strain and Malcom Welch
 “For me it’s been survival for my whole life, since I was a little street kid in pigtails. This is the happiest I’ve ever been – I get to live. I don’t have to worry where I’m going to lay my head at night,” she says. 

Ms. Strain moved into her apartment last December. 

St. Margaret’s, at 198th and Aurora, is a designated permanent housing facility with 100 units, and serves tenants who are exiting homelessness, or are in danger of becoming unhoused.

The lobby is light and airy with a community gathering space featuring game tables.

Today, Suzi Strain relishes her newfound stability and community. At age 57 she aspires to write a book to help people by sharing her experiences. 

“Nobody knows the story– what it’s like to be us, until they become us. We are not ‘lesser than.’ Everyone is one step away from homelessness. I want Shoreline residents to know that St. Margaret’s is a great addition to the community – because it makes a lot of people stable, who might not have been stable before.”

Malcom Welch is a veteran who organized a support group for the other veterans at St. Margaret's

Malcolm Welch, one of the founding residents, agrees. “This place feels like home,” he says. “It’s like a beacon of hope for other people who want to change their lives.” 

Mr. Welch is a 67 year-old veteran who lives on the 5th floor, where all of the units are occupied by veterans. 

There is a community garden and a covered back patio for residents

He is the leader of an informal support group that he organized for fellow vets on-site. 

“We are a unique portion of society who understand each other and what we are going through.” 

Having stable housing gives Mr. Welch time to pursue his dream of becoming a counselor. He is working on his credentials through a workforce development program –  Aspiring Social Service Employee Training Program. (ASSET).

St. Margaret's has 100 units and sits on land donated by the City of Shoreline

In his downtime, Mr. Welch likes to relax in front of the apartment building, (which faces Aurora Avenue and 198th) and talk with people who walk by. He takes great pride in his building –”You have to take care of your place and it’s up to us residents.” 

He has no patience for those disrespecting his home. “It’s okay to dig through the garbage, but don’t dump your trash. I’ll tell them!” Around the back of the building there is a covered patio, a dog run, and a small community vegetable garden.

The building has a commercial kitchen

The lobby is light, airy and welcoming. There is a community kitchen and comfortable gathering areas to socialize and hang out. The front desk and office areas are staffed with four to five case managers at all times. 

“They have our backs here, 24/7. They go out of their way to support us and help us accomplish what we need done,” says Ms. Strain.

One of the Resident Staff Support workers, Justine, adds, “I’ve also been homeless and was in addiction recovery. I love coming to work every day and supporting the residents – letting them know that they are seen.”
Suzi Strain and volunteer Steve Polich

There are many ways for Shoreline residents to connect with members of the community living at St. Margaret’s, especially with the fall and winter holidays coming up quickly:

Volunteer:
  • Cook a meal in the on-site kitchen
  • Help with holiday parties, game nights and movie nights–a great way to mingle with the residents!
Donate:
  • Clothing
  • Food
  • Money
  • Hygiene products
  • Holiday gifts
Volunteer Pat Deagen talks with Suzi and Malcomb

If you would like to be involved, please contact Gina Fudacz, Program Manager at GinaFu@ccsw.org or 206-677-1359

St. Margaret’s Place was created through a collaboration with Catholic Housing Services and King County, with land provided by the City of Shoreline.


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Volunteer for the Richmond Beach Community Association Halloween Carnival on October 26, 2024

Thursday, September 19, 2024

The Richmond Beach Community Association (RBCA) is looking forward to celebrating Fall! 

See you at our Halloween Carnival on October 26, 2024 from 3-7pm, at Syre Elementary School, 19545 12th Ave NW, Shoreline WA 98177

For people with physical or sensory disabilities, we offer an early start at 2pm. 

Tickets are 2/$1 - food, games, cake walk, inflatables will all be available! 

Sign up now to volunteer or donate - it takes over 200 people to make this event a success!


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North Helpline has a critical need for food bank volunteers

Sunday, September 1, 2024

Photo courtesy North Helpline
This labor day weekend, many of us are giving summer one last hurrah.

September can be a challenging time for North Helpline's volunteer team. Busy families are prepping kiddos to return to school, with less time to volunteer.

This year is looking especially rough, says our Food Bank Manager, Claire.

"Every day that our food bank opens is thanks to the collective efforts of over 20 volunteers. We're currently looking at half of that or less for most of our shifts in September."

When we don't have enough volunteers for our food bank at Lake City, it can mean we have to close one of our two lines that neighbors go through to select their food. This makes getting through the foodbank takes more time, a challenge for folks that have limited funds for childcare or hours outside of work to stop by.

If you have a spare afternoon this summer, or know some highschoolers looking to get their required volunteer hours, stop by North Helpline!

You'll be making a huge difference in keeping our food access and homelessness prevention programs reliable for all our neighbors.

Learn About VolunteeringVisit our Website

The food bank in Lake City is located at 12736 33rd Ave NE, Seattle WA 98125


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Volunteer for Labor Day weekend park restoration projects

Friday, August 30, 2024

Do some restoration work this Labor Day weekend in Shoreline's city parks!

On Saturday, 8/31 we will be in

On Labor Day we will be in Hamlin Park meadow all day long!

Invest in the future of our city’s urban forest! Please join us for upcoming restoration work party events in Shoreline parks with the city-sponsored Green Shoreline Partnership!

No experience necessary! Just bring your enthusiasm.

Contact Joy Wood at stewardship@restorationad.com with any inquiries about the Green Shoreline Partnership.


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Five Acre Woods Volunteer Work Party September 7, 2024

Saturday, August 24, 2024

Volunteers at Five Acre Woods
Photo courtesy LFPSF
Five Acre Woods Volunteer Work Party Saturday September 7, 2024, 9am - 12noon

Join us, rain or shine, on the first Saturday of the month.

Restoration volunteers are busy improving your local forest park, Five Acre Woods.

Volunteers of all ages are welcome, children will need adult supervision and permission. Please sign in when you arrive. Dress for the weather. 

Bring your own gloves & tools if you prefer, we will have some to lend as well. Beverages and treats provided to volunteers.

Come & out and enjoy the forest

Questions? contact volunteer coordinator Polly Saunders at polly@gaiaict.com

Location:


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July / August Accomplishments at Ching Community Gardens

Wednesday, August 14, 2024

By Londa Jacques

Even though our teams have been smaller lately due to the hot summer, vacations and family visits, significant progress is still being made at the garden every Saturday. 

Here's what our dedicated volunteers have accomplished at the Ching Community Gardens in the last few weeks...

July Highlights

On July 26, 32 14 and 15 year old students in the Lakeside Educational Enrichment Program (LEEP) came out to volunteer. They were a force to be reckoned with! 

The group had been well prepared and knew exactly what to expect when they arrived, thanks to the teachers, counselors, and Kathleen Lumiere's presentation at the school the day before. 

The teens formed six separate groups that tackled various projects. Two crews tackled the blackberries along the south fence, determined not to quit until they broke through to the property line. Maryn Wynne led the tire team on a trek to the northeast corner to pull out several tires and haul them 300 feet to the dumpster. 

Two more crews focused on cutting a wide swath of re-emerging weeds and blackberries for the new path. 

An eight-person crew dubbed the "tarp team" grabbed the tarps full of brambles and branches and hauled them up the driveway, calling out to their fellow team members as they went to avoid trip hazards along the way. It was clear that this was not their first team-building exercise of the summer.

When the crews broke for lunch they made a beeline for the cool, shady shed, planted themselves on their Dunn buckets, and dove into their backpacks and sack lunches. In 20 minutes, recharged, the crews were ready to go again! 

The teams had each set their own goals, and they were determined to achieve them. 

Special thanks to Mike Dunn and Dunn Lumber for donating the 40 new 5-gallon buckets.

After lunch about a dozen kids formed a bucket brigade, laying down the new wood chip path all the way to the clearing just before the bamboo clumps at the back of the property. They took turns carefully pitch-forking chips into their buckets, spreading them, raking, and stomping down the high spots, and filling in the low spots.

They quickly caught onto the "food forest" concept shared with them during their orientation. Branches of ripening blackberries were carried up to the table, the berries picked, washed and shared. 

The hundreds of apples that had fallen from the trees were picked up, put in buckets, and hauled to the dumpster, but not until many kids had sampled them, taken large bites, and declared them good! 

At the end of the day, the last group of teens waiting for transport returned to the back of the garden to the ripening Shiro plum tree, and gathered the golden delicacies to take home to share with their families, stuffing their backpacks or cradling them in slings made from their T-shirts.

Although these teenagers had been together in their summer program for only three weeks, it was clear they had bonded and formed close, inclusive, respectful relationships. With the day's work concluded, several students promised to return to help again.

August Triumphs and Challenges
  • True to their promise, seven of our LEEP student volunteers have returned to volunteer!
  • After months of searching, the water main has been found! 
  • A new hose bib has been installed, and with the help of 250 feet of hose, we were finally able to get water to most of the parched fruit trees.
We also discovered a 9th rose among the brambles, and have the outlines of the original rose garden that we plan to mulch and feed with bone meal to strengthen their root system as they go dormant for winter. 

Although spindly, having reached for sunlight through their weedy prison, all appear to be relatively disease free, and some have put out a bloom or two.

Alas, in early August, we arrived at the garden to find our tool storage unit cut and some of our pruning loppers, a bucket of safety goggles and other hand tools stolen. Disappointed, but undeterred, the work continues... with more security and sturdier locks.
 
Permitting on the house demolition is getting closer to completion, and with fingers crossed for a September - October demolition that is expected to take 3-4 weeks. At that point, fences will go up, and volunteer work will stop until the work is complete and the site is safe. 


Volunteer

Until then, the big push is underway to get as much done as possible every Saturday morning from 9am to Noon.

Our focus this week will be to complete clearing of the rose garden area and finally reach the persimmon tree that is still surrounded by invasives. 

Work parties have a capacity of up to 15 volunteers. Private weekday work parties and tours are also being booked now. Special requests should be made via email to info@digginshoreline.org

Sign up for a work party here  https://volunteersignup.org/T97CF. Parking is available in the nearby Shoreline Community College visitor lot at the south end of the campus.

Donate

Not able to volunteer? Donating to the garden is a great way to participate. 

Donate to Ching Community Gardens here
All donations received are exclusively for the support of Ching, managed by our fiscal sponsor, GROW.

With immense gratitude to our loyal volunteers and supporters,

Londa Jacques
on behalf of Diggin' Shoreline and the Ching Community Gardens Leadership Team

email: info@digginshoreline.org
Website: www.digginshoreline.org
Texts and messages: 206-437-9118


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Help is needed to make sure every Shoreline School District student is back to school ready

Tuesday, August 13, 2024


Shoreline PTA Council and Shoreline Public Schools Foundation are collecting backpacks and financial donations to support students this year.

Donations of large backpacks for middle and high schoolers are low this year. And we need several more volunteers on Wednesday, August 21, 2024 to help sort supplies and deliver them to the schools.

Financial contributions can be  made to the Foundation

Backpacks can be dropped off at the Foundation offices, located in the Shoreline Center at 18560 1st Ave, or shop from our wish list

Volunteers can sign up here

Thank you for being such a supportive community.


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Come join your neighbors at Midvale Gardens this weekend between 11am - 2pm

Thursday, August 8, 2024

Piles of mulch ready to be distributed
Photo by Derek Creisler

Midvale Gardens Update
Saturday and Sunday, July 20-21, 2024 from 11am - 2pm

Come join your neighbors at Midvale Gardens this weekend between 11am - 2pm

We have been gifted with free wood chips from the Shoreline Parks Department and we still have several piles to distribute. Your volunteer help is requested. We have 5 gallon buckets and cardboard (we can always use more). Dress for uneven ground - no sandals.

Following this weekend we will break for the summer and make plans to rent the Earthcraft Services goat herd again in September to clear away any remaining invasive brush.

Thanks for your support and hopefully you, your family, and friends can stop by and continue the process of turning this once overgrown Seattle City Light parcel into a shady summertime community asset.

--Derek Creisler Midvalegardens@gmail.com


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Invasive plant removal at Richmond Beach Community Park on July 24, 2024

Tuesday, July 16, 2024


Join us again as we continue to clear away invasive plants from Richmond Beach Community Park (adjacent to the Richmond Beach Library) on Wednesday, July 24th from 10am to 12pm.

This work party will be our last until fall - so please join us if you can! It shouldn’t get too hot, as the area we will be working in is shady. Please bring a water bottle, and work gloves. All other tools will be provided.

This is our fourth work party at Richmond Beach Community Park, coordinated through the City of Shoreline Forest Steward Program. Since April, we have gained a solid foothold on the slope alongside the staircase. Thank you volunteers!

Please RSVP through the Green Shoreline Partnership webpage or you can contact Rachel with questions by emailing rachelmiller811@gmail.com


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Volunteer in Shoreline parks


Upcoming restoration work party events with the Green Shoreline Partnership!

On Wednesday, 7/17 we will be in Hamlin Park near the meadow.
and
On Saturday, 7/20 we will be at
Contact Joy Wood at stewardship@restorationad.com with any inquiries about the Green Shoreline Partnership.


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Reminder: get Wet and Wild this Saturday at Sunset Park

Wednesday, July 10, 2024

Richmond Highlands Neighborhood Wet N’ Wild Splash Party THIS SATURDAY!

July 13. 2024 from 3-5pm at Sunset School Park (17800 10th Ave. NW, Shoreline, WA 98177)
  • Free event!
  • Lots of water activities for kiddos!
  • Tons of fun!
  • Popsicles!!!!
We're also still looking for additional volunteers to:
  • help us set up
  • help us pack up (just stick around afterwards)
  • and to help out at different water stations
Please email if you're able to volunteer. Even 20 minutes will help us make this event successful for the kiddos and community.

Feel free to bring chairs / blankets to chill out on. 

 PLEASE NO DOGS! Even though we love them all very much.


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Making a Difference: Volunteer opportunities at North Helpline

Monday, July 8, 2024

Washington Summer is in full swing and with folks traveling and kids out of school means we have lots of opportunities for you to get involved at the North Helpline. 

No better time to get started than this week! 

They have a high need for volunteers this Wednesday and Saturday at Lake City and Bitter Lake food banks.

Learn more about our volunteer positions here


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Strawberry Festival returns June 8, 2024

Saturday, June 1, 2024

2023 Strawberry Festival
The 2024 Strawberry Festival will be held on Saturday, June 8, 2024 from 12 to 5pm at Richmond Beach Community Park. Last year’s festival was a huge success, and we are thrilled to bring back this beloved annual tradition to Richmond Beach.

Enjoy live bands, food trucks, kids' activities, a library book sale, and much more. The Shorewood High School drumline and children’s parade will kick off the festival again and of course, strawberry shortcake will be for sale throughout the day.

The Strawberry Festival is a great way to meet neighbors, have fun with your family, and connect with local businesses. We hope to see you there!

Volunteer Opportunities

We need your help making this event a success! If interested in volunteering, sign up here, or contact us at strawberryfestival@richmondbeachwa.org.


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A WARM Legacy: The story of Mickey LeClair

Monday, May 27, 2024

So, how are those New Year’s resolutions coming along? 

Since we are nearing the midpoint of 2024, maybe the following volunteer achievements will bolster your resolve to make the world a better place or your corner of the universe. 

Any time during a year is a good time to reflect and improve.

While most of us cannot achieve the breadth of this lady’s volunteer experience, we can try to give back or pay it forward. 

Here is the story of a woman’s dedication to reunite families and fulfill any other position needed within WARM – Washington Adoption Reunion Movement.

I was fortunate to be the Confidential Intermediary (CI) in the early 1980s for Mickey’s husband, an adoptee. Through the process her talents and her desire to use them were obvious. Over the decades, WARM has been the recipient of her sharing of time, talent, and treasure. She has decided to retire……..for the most part. 

The following is an excerpt from the latest WARM newsletter and was written by Michelle Meeker.

Mickey LeClair
It’s Time to Tell the story of Mickey LeClair, the organization’s hidden Treasure who is a Thorough Trustworthy Teacher of Truthfulness while being a Tenderhearted Tenacious WARM volunteer who Thoughtfully Tackles Terrific Tantalizing Tireless hours of Time to Transcend Togetherness for Totally everyone! 

After 40 years, she has decided to put down her pen, turn off her computer, and spend more time with family. She will retire, although will continue to be on the WARM advisory board.

Let’s go back in time and acknowledge all she has contributed, and the changes that she has experienced during her tenure. Her career at WARM started in 1983 helping the organization by working in the office, doing cases, and all while raising nine children. 

She was first drawn to WARM as her husband Earl is an adoptee, so this was her deep-seated motivation. He has been her inspiration and support all these years.

Looking through the eyes of Mickey, with her 40 years of service to WARM, we would see a long list of duties. Some of these include working in the office, board member, support group facilitator, advisory board member, editor, and CI liaison. 

 However, her primary focus was always on her clients. When we asked how many searches she was involved with, she reviewed her five crates of closed files and counted over 1100 cases.

All the reunion stores are told in our quarterly Warm Journeys newsletter. Mickey is the queen of this quarterly task, which is an adventure all on its own. She has created special editions, flyers, book reviews, WARM Readers Write, News and Notes, but most of all Mickey is the editor! 

Counting over 400+ volumes, means that she has edited over 2,800 issues, plus she reads the last version out loud for that final check. In 1995 Warm Journeys had a mailing list of 350 addresses and twelve pages. It slowly reduced in size and by 2015 the newsletter was eight pages, 2018 four pages and it is now 100% electronic in 2023. 

No more trips to the print shop, or stuffing envelopes. Mickey, we thank you immensely and without your efforts the WARM organization would not have the beloved WARM Journeys newsletters.

Another duty that Mickey voluntarily does is helping other CI’s. She trained the new CI’s, created the training materials, taught the class, and reviewed many exam papers. As the CI liaison and leader, she guided and advised the most complex and complicated cases.

One evening every month she facilitated the Sumner support group at the local Library. Back in the 80’s she had nearly 25-30 attendees which included adoptees, birth mothers, adoptive parents, siblings, and other family members touched by adoption. 

Mickey always had books, flyers, spare newsletters and lots of good articles for those attendees. She also delivered a multitude of WARM brochures to the many libraries and public offices in Pierce County. Sadly, the support group meeting stopped like lots of other things during the pandemic and has not resumed.

The reunions Mickey has made happen for WARM clients is the largest and most unmeasurable contribution. The multitude of emotions that came directly from the heart of so many. In reflecting back, Mickeys says she learns something from each case whether there is a reunion or not, and even learns more about herself.

Are you up for the challenge to volunteer? Provide some organization with your legacy?

In 2026, WARM will celebrate 50 years of community service as Washington's premier search and reunion resource.

Pam Queen
WARM Confidential Intermediary/Treasurer/30-year volunteer
Shoreline Resident


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Be a part of the garden restoration at the Ching Community Gardens

Thursday, May 23, 2024

We have had great turnouts at our work parties and much progress has already been made. Work parties are now limited to 15 participants per week. Through an arrangement with Shoreline Community College, parking lots nearest the garden are now being used by volunteers.

Neighbors will have noticed a large dumpster being brought on site to get rid of the growing piles of blackberry canes and to facilitate asbestos abatement removal at the house. An excavator will also aid in some of the invasive removal.

The house cannot be saved and will be dismantled, and removed.

The many fruit trees at the back of the property have been pruned, and we are working on getting water onsite, so as to preserve the plantings and trees we've unearthed.

Stay tuned for a time when we will offer tours of the site! In the meantime, click here to sign up for volunteer work parties on Saturdays from 9 - 11am.


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Volunteer in local parks with Green Shoreline Partnership

Friday, April 26, 2024


Join us to improve our parks by volunteering to do ecological restoration! 

We have work parties planned for the rest of the month and into May in 
  • Boeing Creek (near the Shoreview dog park), 
  • Hamlin, 
  • Echo Lake, 
  • North City, 
  • Shoreline, 
  • Twin Ponds
  • Richmond Beach Saltwater Parks. 
 Look for news coming soon of new parks being added!

Register at this link

Questions? Contact Joy Wood at stewardship@restorationad.com


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Earth Day trail work in Hillwood April 20, 2024 - bring cardboard

Saturday, April 13, 2024

Help with the ongoing trail maintenance at Greenwood Ave N and 200th in Hillwood

Volunteers have worked for the past two years to reclaim the footpath connecting Greenwood Ave N and N 200th Street from overgrown blackberries, install artwork and a bench, and plant native plants to stabilize the hillside.

Please join us from 10am-12pm on Saturday April 20, 2024 in honor of Earth Day, to begin work on a new section of the hillside. We look forward to planting additional plants in this area later this year!

Questions? Contact Rachel at rachelmiller811@gmail.com


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Invasive plant removal at Richmond Beach Community Park April 19 and May 14, 2024

Invasive plant removal at Richmond Beach Community Park (adjacent to the Richmond Beach Library) on Friday, April 19, 2024 from 10am to 12pm.

This event is the first of its kind at Richmond Beach Community Park, and coordinated through the City of Shoreline Forest Steward Program. 

We are seeking volunteers to help us at our inaugural work party from 10am to 12pm on Friday, April 19th. We will begin clearing the ivy that runs alongside the stairway up to the park. 

Visitors will see work ongoing throughout the year, as we aim to remove invasive plants, mulch the area, and plant new native plants this fall! 

If you can't make it on April 19th, you will have a second opportunity at 10am on Tuesday May 14th.

Please RSVP to Rachel at rachelmiller811@gmail.com so we can provide tools for all volunteers.


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Work Parties begin at Ching Community Gardens

Tuesday, April 2, 2024

Ching front yard. Photo courtesy Diggin' Shoreline

Diggin’ Shoreline is thrilled to be part of the leadership on the development / restoration of this amazing garden in Shoreline. Diggin’s role in the project for the coming months is coordinating volunteers and volunteer work parties. 

We are honored to be part of the amazing team of community leaders, and GROW Northwest, which is the fiscal sponsor for the project.

For background and history of this project please check out this article that was published in Shoreline Area News.

Work parties are scheduled weekly on Saturdays from 9am – 11am through May. Sign up HERE

The initial work parties will mostly involve cutting back blackberries canes and removing debris.

Work Parties for the garden will be held onsite at 16034 Greenwood Avenue N. At this time work parties are limited to ADULTS and HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS needing community service credit.

You must be able to walk on unlevel ground, use pruning tools, and haul weeds and brush to a container bin. Long sleeves, leather gloves, and sturdy work shoes are required.

Parking space is tight, so parties are limited to 8 people outside of the leadership team. Carpooling is encouraged. There are no bathrooms on site.

As the garden work progresses, there will be other opportunities for families to engage. At no time should volunteers access the site on their own without the pre-arranged permission of Diggin' Shoreline or Grow NW.

If you want to be involved in this project in additional ways, visit the Digginshoreline.org website and click on the Ching Garden Project page.

If you wish to donate you may do so here!


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LFP Water District has openings on its advisory board

Monday, April 1, 2024

The advisory board members representing the district at a public event
Photo courtesy LFPWD

The Lake Forest Park Water District has openings on its Advisory Board (ADCOM) and welcomes applications from residents in the the district.

Our work consists of monthly meetings where we discuss opportunities to engage in educating the public about our Aquifer and the water it provides us without requiring treatment.

The ADCOM participants in local events
Photo courtesy LFPWD

We do events such as the Plant Exchange, STEM Festival, Picnic in the Park, and many other events all decided collaboratively with the Advisory Committee.

To become an ADCOM member is an incredible opportunity to learn about this resource, help to protect it, and bring this knowledge to the people of our city.

We’ve been operating the Advisory Committee (ADCOM) for about 9 years and have made a great deal of progress in learning about our water and aquifer.

ADCOM membership does not require any previous experience within public utilities. Residents 16 years or older within the District’s service area / corporate boundary or within the District’s Critical Aquifer Recharge Area (CARA) is all that’s needed. Terms are for one year.

To apply, please use the form HERE or found on our website under the “INFO” tab. 

Please email the completed application to: Office@lfpwd.org or drop it by the office during business hours.


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