Stars program brings a little light this Christmas

Wahkiakum Health and Human Services is accepting referrals for the Stars program. Children up to age 17 whose families need a little extra help with Christmas gifts this year due to job loss or other difficult circumstances are eligible for the program. All names will be held confidential.

A couple of suggestions for anyone wishing to help:

• Pick a Star: Look for the special "star trees" at the Bank of America, the Bank of the Pacific, and the Rosburg Store. Each star has the age and sex of a local needy child with two or three of the child's Christmas gift wishes, such as toys or clothing. You may purchase one or more of the desired gifts. All gifts may be wrapped and brought to the location where the star was picked up or delivered to Janelle Kerstetter at the Sheriff's Office, along with original star by December 17. Unwrapped gifts may be donated to fill in. Stars program workers will deliver gifts on December 18-19.

• Make a donation: Financial contributions to the Stars program may be sent to the Stars Coordinator Mary Watkins, 60 Douglas Street, Cathlamet, WA 98612. Food bank donations may be sent to Wahkiakum Food Bank, PO Box 516, Cathlamet or Helping Hand, c/o Bernace Wolcott, 196 Jacobson Road #24, Cathlamet. Donations to Health & Human Services Emergency Fund which provides emergency help with medications, utility bills, gas vouchers, etc. may be sent to Wahkiakum Health & Human Services, 42 Elochoman Valley Road, Cathlamet. All donations are tax deductible.

To refer needy families or for further information about assitance programs, contact Kerstetter at the Wahkiakum Sheriff's Office, 795-3243; Watkins at 795-3341; or Mary Vik at Health and Human Services at 795-8630.