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Thursday, December 31, 2009

Welcome to the New Year


According to Maya Angelou, when you wish someone joy, you wish them peace, love, prosperity, happiness...all the good things.  Add in a little optimism and some laughter and all the bases are covered. 

Everyone needs good things in their lives.  May you find joy in 2010. 

Monday, December 28, 2009

Anniversary celebration to benefit Childhood Cancer Campaign and BC Cancer Foundation


The Optimist Club of Abbotsford, British Columbia is making plans to celebrate their 25th Anniversary on March 13, 2010.  The event will also help raise funds for the Childhood Cancer Campaign. 

There will be dinner, dancing, a silent auction and door prizes. 

Find out more or purchase tickets from Gerry Morrison at 604-852-2860.

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Eagle Optimist Club completes Christmas project

The Pacific Northwest District's newest Optimist Club completed their first Christmas project today. The Eagle Optimist Club assembled and delivered ten food baskets to a small, low-income apartment complex where every resident received a basket with a turkey and all the trimmings. There were even extra canned goods, stuffing and more to share with the Eagle Food Bank at the Landing. Here's a quick video of the baskets being put together.

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Gresham Optimist Club hosts two Shop with a Cop days

Sgt. Rick Wilson of the Gresham Police Department shared some information about one of the Gresham Optimist Club's favorite events on the Gresham community information net today.  He wrote:
On Saturday December 12, 2009 at 10:00 am Gresham Police, Fire and the Gresham Optimist Club brought some Holiday cheer to ten under privileged area children. Ten members of the Gresham Police Department, ten members of the Gresham Fire Department and ten members of the Gresham Optimist Club volunteered their Saturday to shop with these kids. Each child received $100 dollars and was escorted through the Gresham Fred Meyer by one GPD member, one GFD member and one Optimist Club member in search of that perfect gift. After the shopping was done the kids were treated to lunch at Burgerville then taken to the Salvation Army to wrap their gifts. This program relies solely on contributions. If you would like to contribute to next year's event contact the Gresham Optimist Club.

Thanks to a donation from WalMart, the Gresham Optimist Club and their law enforcement partners are heading out again this weekend to do it all over again with a new group of young shoppers.  And that's one way that Optimist Clubs help put the merry in Christmas.  Thank you!

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Salem Optimist Club sponsors D.A.R.E.

Nice!  I didn't know that any of our Optimist Clubs were still sponsoring the D.A.R.E program.  Thank you to the Optimist Club of Salem, Oregon for keeping it alive and well in your community.

Led by Senior Officer Craig Seibel, the Salem Police Department interacts with students in the Salem-Keizer School District to teach responsibility, how to resist peer pressure and avoid alcohol, tobacco and subtance abuse.  They also practice the updated program keepin it Real (kiR) to reach students in grades 6-9. 

Monday, December 14, 2009

Snap a picture of Santa for us

We are looking for pictures of Santa Claus!  When Santa visits your Optimist Club or holiday event this year, please snap a picture and then send it to the PNW District.  Many thanks for your help. 

Friday, December 11, 2009

Twin Falls Optimist Club makes headlines with Coats for Kids program


The Twin Falls Optimist Club has been really busy!  They hosted the Head Start children and families to Christmas dinner with Santa and they helped Santa buy all the presents for the event.  This weekend they are heading out to help the Salvation Army as bell ringers and before Thanksgiving they held a Youth Appreciation activity and sponsored a Turkey Shoot.  And last weekend, many members were also on hand to help their neighbors, the Jerome Optimist Club, with Breakfast with Santa and a Lost Wages fund raiser. 

But the reason for this post is to highlight one of their premier ongoing projects: Coats for Kids.  Intuitively, we know that through this program the Optimist Club collects coats and then redistributes them to children who need them.  What we might not know is what goes on behind the scenes of this awesome project.  Thanks to an interview in the Magic Valley Times, you can learn just what it takes to put this program on in your community.   Please read the article "Coats for Kids bundles up on donations" here. 

You can alsow watch a video with Coats for Kids Chairperson Patsy Bland where Patsy discusses the compassionate community during our difficult economic times. 

The Optimist Clubs in Twin Falls, Jerome and Eagle, Idaho hold Coats for Kids programs.

Friday, December 4, 2009

Christmas tree sales help Sandy Optimist Club reach more students


Cruise on over to the Safeway in Sandy, Oregon to pick up your fresh Christmas tree from the Sandy Optimist Club. 

The hours are 12 to 7 every day until all of the trees have found their Christmas home.  Christmas tree sales allow the Sandy Optimist Club to perform community service and youth projects such as scholarships and bikes for kids, plus they also take special requests to provide assistance to students in the Oregon Trail School District.

Your support is needed and appreciated!

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