Project Santa, operated each holiday season for the last 29 years under the auspices of the Whatcom Co. Sheriff’s Dept. and other local agencies, urgently needs volunteer Elves to help with:

• Donation collection and pickup
• Picking/Boxing donations/gifts
• Wrapping gifts
• Delivery of gifts

More than 300 families and 1200 children are helped during the holiday season by Project Santa, and much remains to be done between now and delivery day, December 21st! Drop-in volunteers are needed, as well. All the information you need to volunteer may be found right here.

• What: Seattle’s Greenwood-Phinney District, already well-known for such major Northwest events as The Greenwood Car Show and The Greenwood Seafair Parade,  now adds another event to list of annual goings-on. This Friday, Dec. 12, the Greenwood-Phinney Chamber of Commerce sponsors the first Snowmen on Parade fundraiser at the debut of the new “Art Up/Open Up” monthly art walk. The Snowmen, decorated by local artists and Boys & Girls Club members, will be displayed along Greenwood Avenue and sold through a silent auction.  Any art walk visitor can select their favorite snowman and go to the adjacent business to bid on the one-of-a-kind holiday masterpiece.  Bidding will close at 9:00pm. All proceeds from the auction go to support Seattle Boys and Girls club programs.

• Where: Greenwood Avenue North, between N. 67th -  N. 87th street, Seattle [map]

• When: December 12, 2008, 6:00-9:00pm. Thereafter, the “Art Up/Open Up” Art Walk will take place on the second Friday of each month, from 6:00pm-9:00pm. For your convenience, future dates have been scheduled on the Western Washington Events Calendar.

ABOUT THE ART WALK:

The “Art Up/Open Up,” Art Walk  is designed to encourage businesses to open their doors to local artists, to add to the enrichment of the increasingly popular Greenwood Avenue, while spreading art, culture and goodwill. Each month the Art Walk will feature visual art, music and performances as well as special discounts and promotions from local restaurants, bars and shops.

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A phenomenal array of holiday events are taking place this weekend, not only in Whatcom County, but throughout Western Washington - just a few are listed below. Be sure to check the Christmas calendar, or you’ll never know what you might be missing!

• Lynden Washington: Sinterklaas and Lighted Christmas Parade

• Bellingham Holiday Port Festival & Lighted Boat Parade

• Friends of the Bellingham Public Library Booksale, December 3-6

• Festival of Trees, Leopold Crystal Ballroom, Bellingham, Dec. 5-6

• BHS Jazz Ensemble Concert, “The Dark of December,” December 5-6, Bellingham

• “Celebrate the Joy,” Seasonal Music for Choirs & Brass @ First Congregational Church, Bellingham

• Ferndale Olde Fashioned Christmas Celebration, December 5-7

• Semiahmoo Yacht Club Lighted Boat Parade, Blaine, Dec. 6

• A Victorian Country Christmas, Puyallup, December 3-7

There’s a lot going on this weekend, both here in Whatcom County and throughout Western Washington. Below are some highlights, and you can discover a whole lot more on the Holiday Events page.

• Historic Fairhaven Holiday, Nov. 28-29, Bellingham

• Macy’s Seattle Holiday Parade, Friday, Nov. 28

• Tree Lighting, Lighting of Macy’s Star, + Fireworks, Seattle, Nov. 28

• West Coast Christmas Show & Marketplace, Abbotsford BC, Nov. 28-30

• “Magic in the Market,” @ Pike Place, Seattle, Nov. 29

• Many Whatcom County Christmas tree farms open on Nov. 28

• Don’t forget the local holiday bazaars and holiday gift shows!

Click on graphic to visit the official website.

For two holiday seasons passing I rang the bell and attended the red kettle for the Salvation Army, and despite cold weather and tired feet, it was worth every minute, because I knew that the funds going into my kettle would go towards helping those in need. More importantly, I knew that the organization I was representing helps those in need not only at Christmas, but all throughout the year.

This year I again pick up the bell, figuratively, in this technological medium - but with the same purpose in mind: helping those less fortunate than myself. Please, give whatever you can spare. But if you can’t spare anything - and I do realize that times are hard - let me still wish you the merriest of holiday seasons.

This post will remain here, at the top of my front page, from now until Christmas. New posts will appear below.