Around the Island, Dec. 2

Published 11:27 am Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Windermere to host bike drive

Have an old bike collecting dust in the garage? Donate it on Dec. 6 from 12-3 p.m. at Windermere Real Estate Mercer Island, 2737 77th Ave. S.E. #100.

The donation benefits Bike Works – a local nonprofit that supports youth through bicycle education. Go to bikeworks.org for more information.

Lions Club Christmas tree sale benefits local organizations

The Mercer Island Lions Club is hosting its annual Christmas tree sale starting Nov. 28 in the lower parking lot of Farmers New World Life Insurance.

Buying a tree from the Lions Club supports Mercer Island Boys & Girls Clubs, Youth and Family Services, senior citizen programs, community events and Lions Club sight and hearing projects.

The sale is from Wednesdays to Fridays from 2-7 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Fresh mixed green wreaths and cedar garlands are available too.

MI Directory ending fiscal year

The 2015 Mercer Island Directory, the Island’s private phonebook, has once again generated more than $100,000 for uncompensated care and research at the hospital. This is the 20th year that the Mercer Island Guild of Seattle Children’s Hospital has reached this goal.

There is still time to add your gift in support of the many families in need of assistance. The MI Guild, publishers of the MI Directory, depends on revenue from business ad sponsorships and individual donations to maintain this level of support.

Using the blue envelope tucked into the Directory is the easiest way to donate, but checks made out to Mercer Island Directory and sent to PO Box 442, Mercer Island, WA 98040, are equally welcome.

If you didn’t receive a copy in the mail, the Directory is available at Island Books and the MI Chamber of Commerce. To get on the residential mailing list or to advertise in the March 2016 issue, send an email to miphonebook@gmail.com.

Giving tree helps families in need

The Mercer Island Community and Event Center (MICEC) and Mercer Island’s Youth and Family Services (MIYFS) are asking the community to help provide some of life’s necessities to low-income Island families this holiday season with the Giving Tree program.

The Giving Tree is displayed at the MICEC. Hanging on the tree are tags for grocery gift cards, health care items and family products.

Participants may remove a Giving Tree tag and return these new, unopened items starting Monday, Nov. 30, to the MICEC’s Giving Tree Collection Box. Items will be accepted as late as Friday, Dec. 18.

“Low-income families often struggle to provide for basic household necessities that are not easily found at the Food Pantry. These include soap, toothpaste, shampoo/conditioner, Band-Aids, laundry detergent, cleaning solutions and paper towels,” said Cheryl Manriquez, YFS Family Assistance Coordinator.

For more information about MIYFS Services, please visit www.miyfs.org.