Everyone in Kirkland is getting into the act, from the Kirkland Youth Council to the Senior Council to neighborhood associations.  Everyone is helping to raise food to stock Hopelink and The Kirkland Food Bank shelves.  You can do your part with a cash donation or drop off some food at Albertson’s in Juanita on the 15th of November.  The Youth Council and The Senior Council will be working together at the food drive on that day.

Karen Story, from the Highlands, is in charge of the HIghlands’ neighborhood effort and we will be hearing from her soon.  The Kirkland City Council is offering a summer party at Peter Kirk Pool for the winning neighborhood.    The Kirkland Highlands is a pretty cohesive neighborhood, so we should be able to win this!  (Who wants to be first off the diving board?)

For full details of the events, please read a copy of the joint news release from Marie Stake, Communications Program Manager for the city and  Denise Stephens, Public Relations Specialist from Hopelink and click on the links below:

Joint News Release

November 6, 2008

Kirkland Community Rallies for Food Drive

Kick-off Event November 15

Kirkland, WA – Since July 2007, Kirkland residents have made nearly 18,000 visits to Hopelink’s Kirkland food bank.  Hopelink, a social service agency that serves families in north and east King County, reports experiencing a 25 percent increase of visits to its Kirkland center in September 2008 compared to September 2007.  As the holiday season approaches and the economy remains uncertain, the need for food and other emergency services will increase.  Hopelink has turned to the City of Kirkland and the Kirkland community for help.  A community-wide food drive officially launches on Saturday, November 15 with a kick-off collection event sponsored by the Kirkland Youth Council at the Juanita Albertson’s, 9826 NE 132^nd Street from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

The neighborhood associations are challenging one another to a food drive contest and City of Kirkland employees are currently donating food items.  Collection bins will be made available at several community events through December 18.  For collection and donation information, go to the city website  or Hopelink.

The Youth Council, with support from the Kirkland Senior Council, will be accepting non-perishable food items at the November 15 kick-off event.  Anahita Nakhjiri, Kirkland Youth Council Community Service Coordinator and member of the City’s Human Services Advisory Board hopes to fill two emergency medical services aid cars during the drive. 

“There is such a great need in this community and Kirkland is a giving community,” notes Nakjiri.  “I hope to be busy all day loading the cars with food donations.”  This is the 2^nd annual food drive hosted by the Youth Council.

 The Kirkland City Council sought the help from neighborhood associations; challenging them to a food drive among themselves.  “I knew they would rise to the occasion and get right to work,” notes Mayor James Lauinger. 

The neighborhood that collects the most pounds of food per person living in that neighborhood will be rewarded with a summer party at the Peter Kirk Pool, compliments of the City. Residents are encouraged to attend November and December association meetings and bring donated items.  Meeting information is posted to the City’s website and on its government access channel, KLIFE Channel 75. 

Cash donations are gladly welcomed by Hopelink.  “A $10.60 donation can buy food to make 12 meals for one person,” notes Shona Koester, Kirkland Center Manager.  Cash donations can be made at any one of the six Hopelink centers or online at www.hope-link.org.