TWELVE DAYS OF GIVING BACK 2018

There are many charitable organization within our surrounding communities who dedicate a lot of time and resources to helping those in the greatest need. As a company and our agents and staff within it, we’re committed and compassionate about giving back to the people and those organizations who rely on support.

For 12 days throughout the rest of December, we hope to inspire you to give back to the companies listed below in our community. Our 12 Days of Giving Back will teach you about theses charities. Our hope is to inform and educate you to make a donation or reach out for volunteer opportunities.

In the fall of 2017 Anne Jones spoke to local teachers and admins at high needs schools if she could assist them with buying school supplies. They told her what they really needed were snacks to feed the students who are hungry.

We have 18 elementary schools in Tacoma with free and reduced lunch rates of more than 60 percent. For many of those students, school is the only place where a meal is guaranteed. Teachers at high need schools are regularly buying snacks for their hungry students.Our effort with this program is to support both teachers & students by letting them know that Tacoma cares about their success and well being.

Moving forward, the hope for Snacks for Schools is that it will: 1. Bring our community together in support of our teachers & students 2. Familiarize Tacoma residents with all of our schools and the unique programs they offer 3. Allow individuals to give when and how they can -- and know that those small donations make a BIG impact!

How You Can Help

Individually wrapped and preferably nut free snacks can be dropped off at the Windermere Abode office Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM - 5 PM. We can also pick up donations & accept monetary donations too. Please reach out through the Facebook page in the link above.

We also have a NEW Amazon Wishlist, making it convenient for donors to select an item(s) and have the snacks shipped directly to our office!

Tacoma Area Coalition of Individuals with Disabilities’ (TACID) mission is to promote the independence of individuals with disabilities through peer support, advocacy, and self-sufficiency programs. They empower people with disabilities to utilize their strengths and abilities to create and enhance the lives the choose through programs, community and volunteering. Last year, nearly 2,500 individuals participated in programs and services.

They provide wellness and recovery for people with both visible and invisible disabilities with peer support for building hope, empowerment and social connection. Behavioral health services to resolve grievances with their behavioral health provider and provide community resources to people with disabilities, their family members, friends and providers. They also provide a number of peer groups.

How You Can Help

You can make a monetary donation directly through their website. Donations help make it possible for them to keep lights on, purchase supplies, train volunteers along with providing engaging group activities. They also have a few volunteer opportunities.

The Hilltop Artists Program uses glass art to connect young people from diverse cultural and economic backgrounds to better futures. The Abode team attended their annual Better Futures Luncheon in October to learn more about how they’re serving the youth in our community and support their efforts by purchasing hand blown glass pumpkins.

This program provides tuition-free instruction to youth who face obstacles to success - never refusing services based on past behavior, grades, disabilities, or artistic talent and resides at Jason Lee Middle School. Due to demand to help youth, two additional hot shops have opened up and now include Wilson High School and Ford Middle School. This organization is a positive force in increasing students’ academic and interpersonal success - serving 650 students a year. 96% of students between 2007 & 2014 graduated from high school and 100% between 2013-2015.

How You Can Help

Every year over 80 volunteers give over 500 hours to this organization and make everything happen happen at events and their offices. If you or someone know you is looking for volunteer opportunities they need help at events, office help, providing a meal and student mentors.

They accept one-time and recurring monetary donations by joining the Murrini Club, you can set up workplace giving through your paycheck or even just shop their student made glass art. Their Last Chance Glass Art Sale is December 20th from 5-7 PM at Jason Lee Middle School.

Check out their Facebook page to keep up on all their events and student success!

One in five women and one in 71 men will be raped at some point in their lives. 63% of sexual assaults are not reported to the police. The Windermere Abode team spent the day at Rebuilding HOPE! for community service day in June, where we not help spruce up their office, but also got to know more about how they are serving Pierce County. They have been providing services to the community since 1972, and their prevention education program seeks to prevent sexual violence before it starts, by educating young people in public schools and college campuses on issues of sexual harassment, risks of technology and more. Read the full blog here.

How You Can Help

Rebuilding HOPE! accepts monetary donations directly through their website.

If you shop at Fred Meyer, they are enrolled in the Community Rewards Program where you can link your rewards card and it helps them earn a donation. Their organizational number is IQ304.

They also accept a list of items in new condition or gently used and washed items. Full list here.

Holiday fundraiser on 12/20 from 6-9 PM in partnership with The Common Theory - all proceeds benefit Rebuilding HOPE!

Rebuilding HOPE! also works closely with Washington Trafficking Prevention. Rebuilding HOPE was there and ready to accept people when local law enforcement took down a gang/drug/sex trafficking group a couple years ago. And they continue to be there when someone needs help immediately.

How You Can Help

Washington Trafficking Prevention is hosting a web-based volunteer orientation in February 1 and are seeking people in a variety of skills that would be willing to donate a few hours a week to work with them.

Did you know that Pierce County does not have a diaper bank to support the efforts of the food banks and shelters that deal directly with families in need of help? Also, diapers and wipes are not covered by EBT, WIC or other aid programs. Young babies often go through 10-12 diapers per day, and most schools & daycare’s require disposable diapers and wipes.

Four years ago, knowledge of those facts led Joe Barrentine to start the “Tacoma Diaper Drive” to benefit The Food Connection at St. Leo’s Catholic Church.https://www.stleoparish.org/food-connection/

The diaper drive began on Thanksgiving and runs through the end of the year. This year’s drive goal is to collect more than 35,000 diapers and 50,000 baby wipes. Please bring size 3, 4, 5 or 6 to our office at 2200 N 30th Street, Suite 102 in Old Town Tacoma or you can or call Joe at 253-988-1870 to arrange pickup. (HINT: if you haven’t bought diapers recently, Target.com is a great place to order them and they can be shipped direct!)

How You Can Help

Those interested in making a donation can do so through the Tacoma Diaper Drive website:https://tacomadiaperdrive.wordpress.com/ or through Facebook.

Several businesses and churches in the area have also agreed to host collection bins this year. An updated list of collection sites are posted here: https://tacomadiaperdrive.wordpress.com/dropping-off-diapers/

We have a collection bin at our office too and can find us at Windermere Abode on the corner of N. 30th Street next to Columbia Bank. Our office is open Monday - Friday from 8:30 AM - 5 PM.

Ali’s Prom Project is committed to ensuring the opportunity for each teen to attend prom and other memorable events feeling confident, empowered and beautiful regardless of financial and personal circumstances.

For it’s first two years in operation, the project served primarily youth in foster care. In 2018, Ali’s Prom Project partnered with The Ruby Room and expanded to serve all low-income, foster and homeless youth in need of assistance.

Their Tacoma WA based boutique is staffed by volunteers and the inventory is 100% donation based of new and used formal wear. Clients schedule an appointment ahead of time. At their appointment a personal stylist will assist them in picking out the perfect gown, shoes and accessories (as available) for the event.

How You Can Help

You can make donations to their boutique and accept the following donations: formal gowns and cocktail dresses, dress shoes, jewelry, accessories including clutches, new makeup, strapless bras and shapewear, men’s suits and tuxedos and shoes. Click for drop off sites. They have an upcoming donation drive on Saturday, January 5, 2019 in Bellevue.

They also have an Amazon Wish List. You can make monetary donations through their Facebook page and keep up with all the work that they’re doing.

Feed 253 helps fill the gap for folks dealing with food insecurity. Their mission is to make it as easy as possible for donors to give - they accept & will collect any food or monetary donations. Feed 253 is now a year-round operation, serving as part of the YWCA’s twice-weekly meal program. They continue to work to fill the gap for local charities that serve our community every day.

How You Can Help

You can make a monetary donation directly to the Feed 253 website. They often host donation events and list where they will be on Facebook too.

The Humane Society for Tacoma & Pierce County has grown into the state’s largest animal welfare agency. They find loving homes for more than 6,000 pets a year, reunite thousands of lost pets with their owners, provide medical care for ill and injured shelter pets, and offer comprehensive low-cost spay-neuter programs.

The Humane Society for Tacoma & Pierce County is striving to create a compassionate community where every pet has a loving home. We invite you to support our mission through volunteering, donating, adopting, and advocating for the welfare of pets in our community.

How You Can Help

You can also make a monthly donation as well as a one time donation and set up donations through your employer. They also have an Amazon Prime list you can donate to that will send the donation right to their facility or if you’d like to give personally, thay have a list of donated items that they accept.

Did you know that:

• $200 buys vaccines for 50 dogs and cats
• $150 provides medical treatment for an ill pet
• $100 vaccinates, feeds, and cares for a shelter dog or cat for a week
• $75 pays for diagnostic x-rays for an injured animal
• $50 buys a special PVC and canvas kennel bed for the dogs to lay on

Click here to make a donation. Follow them on Facebook. They are located at 2608 Center St in Tacoma.

Don’t forget the Northwest Spay & Neuter Center too! They work closely with the Humane Society and are always in need of donations and volunteers. Find them on Facebook.

This organization started when founder Sharon Chambers - Gordon’s mother Mary taught her how to care about people at a very young age by taking supplies in a basket to neighbors homes. Working in a small community, Sharon learned about challenges and triumphs of people in need.

There are many girls in our community who do not have access to daily care products to refresh themselves with as they go to school and being outside of their homes. She writes, “ Imagine the stigma attached to “not smelling good” and being told so to your face regularly.

Raising Girls aims to help ensure that all girls feel pride in who they are and understand the power they have to be unique individuals, who can make a difference. We intend to provide necessary hygiene products to girls in the South Sound, while partnering with local organizations committed to serving our youth.

By donating items for Raising Girls to distribute, you make it possible to eliminate humiliation, promote pride and share love to thousands of girls in our community!

How You Can Help

Raising Girls partners with the Tacoma School District, Boys and Girls Clubs and other local orgs to get care bags into the hands of girls who need them. They are looking for community partners who can help with sponsorships to provide tangible items like sanitary pads, tampons, shampoo, body wash, toothbrushes and toothpaste. You can also help by sponsoring bags, provide cash donations to help with bag costs. Click here to make a donation. Contact them via email at info@raisinggirls.org or Facebook.