It's been a busy year!

The GNO's have been doing good deeds all year long. In January (2012) we established our Sharity Calendar for the year. It went a little like this...In February, we donated household goods and toiletries to 'The Other Bank' YWCA of Olympia (http://ywcaofolympia.org/?page_id=1534) where Mischell was our project leader and organizer. In March, we helped out the Ruby Room by stuffing envelopes with posters to send out to the high schools for prom season. We may have had a little bit of wine to keep our assembly line moving along. April was the Shelter Helper where we collected dog and cat food for Cascade Animal Protection Society (http://www.animalshelter.org/shelters/Cascade_Animal_Protection_Society_rId5628_rS_pC.html). Jen Block was our mighty leader for that one. In May, Patrice & Michelle organized our annual NW Harvest (http://www.northwestharvest.org/) collection where we donated 428 lbs of food to their Kent warehouse. Our June/July Sharity was for Free Cakes for Kids. We pre-baked and then decorated 32 cakes for Camp to Belong (http://www.ctbnorthwest.org/) in Oregon where foster kids get to go meet up with their birth siblings and celebrate their birthdays together.

July & August we take a break since it's difficult to pull everyone together with vacations and summer activities. So for August/September, we collected back to school items for Tree House for Kids (http://www.treehouseforkids.org/). Kylene was kind enough to make the drop off. We didn't get a volunteer event pulled together... not for a lack of trying by Kathryn & Teri. Hopefully next year we'll be able to work out a schedule.

October was a fun one. Jennie Lee organized the 'Thank you' card making and collection for the Pin-up Angels (http://www.thepinupangels.com/pinupangelshome.html) to include in their care packages for the troops over seas. We also helped the Ruby Room (http://www.rubyroomseattle.org/) stuff their swag bags for their annual fashion show fund raiser. A lot was accomplished that night and we rewarded ourselves with some tasty snacks and wine.

November is always our hat making extravaganza. This year we made 157 fleece hats along with some scarves that will be taken over to the Union Gospel Mission in downtown Seattle (http://www.ugm.org/site/PageServer?pagename=default). Next month will be our 3rd annual Toys for Tots party where the admission fee is (unwrapped) toys. It's a family event and the kids love it! We will have two Marines in attendance representing the Toys for Tots organization (http://fort-lewis-wa.toysfortots.org/local-coordinator-sites/lco-sites/default.aspx) and they will distribute the gifts to needy families in our community.

Well, that about sums up 2012 for the GNO's. In January, we will convene again and develop our sharity schedule for the year. Thanks to everyone for your support!

Best to you and yours in the new year,
Doreen Harper