Neighbor Aid fund drive kicks off this month

KCN partners with ShareNet to provide help for winter ahead

This month, ShareNet and the Kingston Community News kick off a fund drive, Neighbor Aid, with a goal to raise $50,000 between now and December to help provide assistance in the following year to our neighbors in need. This is community outreach with neighbors helping neighbors, and we need your generous support!

Neighbor Aid funds will be available to the communities of Kingston, Indianola, Hansville, Port Gamble, Suquamish and Little Boston. All funds collected will be carefully administered by ShareNet and tax-deductible.

With the high costs of food and fuel, and anticipated difficulties in paying for utilities, transportation and meals in coming months, we are appealing to individuals, community groups and businesses in North Kitsap to join together with us to create a substantial fund to ease the burden of those working hard to make ends meet and struggling to provide the basic necessities for their households.

ShareNet has seen an increase in clients asking for help at its food bank and hopes to allocate resources to provide a broader spectrum of assistance. In addition to keeping the food bank well stocked and offering special holiday meal baskets, personal and household care items, and gifts and clothing that can be given to family members – especially young children and teens – ShareNet will be able to provide additional emergency assistance to families for electricity, propane, heating oil, firewood, gas and public transportation to ease the burden of staying warm and getting to work and doctor appointments.

The aims of the Neighbor Aid drive are similar to the Bellringer fund drive that takes place during the holidays in Poulsbo, sponsored by the Poulsbo Noon Lions club and North Kitsap Herald. Those funds largely serve the Poulsbo area. Funds raised in our Neighbor Aid drive are specifically aimed at assisting those in the North End.

Community and school groups are encouraged to hold fundraising events to benefit the fund or offer matching-fund challenges. Individual and business donations are welcome, as are anonymous contributions and those made in memory of family members and friends. Each month, the Kingston Community News will track progress of the fund drive and in the January issue, recognize everyone who has contributed.

Please make checks payable to ShareNet and mail to ShareNet, P.O. Box 250, Kingston, WA, 98346. If you have questions or concerns, please contact ShareNet at (360) 297-2266 or sharenetdirector@centurytel.net.

Together we can help our neighbors through what may be a tough winter ahead. Thank you for your generous contributions to Neighbor Aid!

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