Volunteer opportunities abound with food pantry

News from Naselle:

Sports calendar for the Naselle Comet teams this week: Today (Thursday), high school boys and girls basketball at WSD at 5:30 p.m., middle school boys basketball in Naselle with Ocosta at 5:45 p.m .; Monday, middle school boys basketball in Naselle with North Beach at 5:45 p.m .; Tuesday, high school boys and girls basketball at Columbia Adv. at 5:30 p.m .; Wednesday, middle school boys basketball at Willapa Valley at 5:45 p.m., JV girls basketball in Naselle with Ilwaco at 7 p.m. Go Comets!

Wednesday, the 23rd, is an early release day for students and they will be out of class at 12:30 p.m.

Westend news:

Tickets are still available for the annual Crab and Oyster Feed sponsored by the American Legion Deep River Post #111, being held on January 27. The ticket price is $28 per person and they can be purchased from Ken Elliott 465-2274, Nick Nikkila 465-2595 or Dale Rose 465-2234. The price for the dance only is $5 per person.

This annual event is always a great draw for families, so brush up on your “chicken dance” and come have a fun evening with proceeds from the event supporting our veterans, youth and local charities.

The West End Food Pantry needs your help, please! During the holidays and even before, the pantry has grown in its efforts to help out our community and the expanding needs found right here in our neighborhoods. That said, they really need a few more committed volunteers that would be willing to help out two or three Thursday afternoons each month 1-5 p.m. The job would entail taking in donations, stocking shelves, assisting clients with food choices and carrying out to their cars if necessary.

If you’re interested, you can contact Shonda at the Pantry during our hours of operation (Thursdays from 1-5 p.m. or by calling her at 465-2722, or Suzie at 465-2312. We always need extra hands and youths are welcome to volunteer as well.

Any hours worked can be counted as community service hours, so students can also pick up some volunteer credits for graduation.

There are currently several openings on the Pantry’s board of directors which meets once a month. If you can’t spare the time to volunteer at the pantry, then why not help out by sitting on the board as a member?

As the needs grow in the community, so do the ideas for solutions to help out those who can use a hand up. Not only is food needed for the clients but laundry and dish soap, hygiene products such as toothpaste, feminine products, deodorant, lotions, etc. Many of these items are taken for granted for most of us, but we all need them.

Many families also have pets that have become a part of their family, and may not be able to afford food for them when it is needed. If you happen to have a bag of food that your pet didn’t like, or you no longer have your animal, why not donate it to the pantry, just in case it can be used by someone else. Or better yet, if you are out shopping and pet food is on sale, pick up an extra bag and donate it. I know my dogs and cat are a huge part of my family, and would hate to give them up if I couldn’t feed them properly.

Every once in a while an overabundance of items, such as rice or oats comes in as a donation. Some folks don’t really have the wherewithal to prepare it in a manner palatable to their family. So, if you happen to have a rice cooker, a crock pot/slow cooker or pressure cooker that is clean and in good working order but not being used by you, why not donate it to the pantry to pass on to a family who can use it?

The West End Food Pantry is now a 501(c)3 and all donations are tax deductible.

Happy Birthday to the following celebrants this week: Linda Gollersrud, Greg Nelson, Crystal Gardner, Debbie Saari, Shelby Leeland, Alexa Benedict, Stacy Katyryniuk, Shelly Pitts, Dave Leeland, Stephanie Gudmundsen, Bobbi Jo Bighill and Amber Eaton. Wishing each of you a perfect day.

Happy Anniversary to Garth and Darla Ullakko. Here’s to many more celebrations together.