Shoreline Holiday Baskets program receives Community Recognition Award

From left, Shoreline Schools Superintendent Rebecca Miner, Ellen Kaje, Director of Categorical Programs and Academic Support, Shoreline Holiday Baskets team members Mary Mehlert, Jenny Farnam and Margie Jorgensen; and City of Shoreline Community Services Manager Rob Beem.

The Shoreline Holiday Baskets team received a Community Recognition Award Friday, May 15 from the Washington Association of School Administrators at its annual luncheon held at Emerald Downs. Each year the Shoreline School District nominates a community group or individual to receive this recognition.

A tradition for 30 years, the Holiday Baskets team of 150 community volunteers served more than 500 Shoreline School District families in 2014, providing needed food, toys and teen gifts support during the holiday season.

The Shoreline PTA Council, along with community partners from the Shoreline Fire Department, Hopelink, Rotary Club of Lake Forest Park, Shoreline Rotary, the City of Shoreline, and Dale Turner Family YMCA, collected food, toys and teen gifts for distribution at a community-wide event at Kellogg Middle School.

Each school in the District was assigned a food item for collection and brought their donations to the site on the Friday afternoon before Winter Break. Volunteers sorted the items into boxes for distribution to families the next day. Families were able to shop the toy and teen gift rooms as well. 

The Holiday Baskets team has established a community giving effort that truly reflects the message that giving begins with our own.