To the editor:

The Island County Readiness to Learn Foundation and the South Whidbey Family Resource Center would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank all those who contributed to the success of this year’s Back to School Project in the South Whidbey School District.

Through your generous assistance and donations, we were once again able to provide more than 200 students from local families with new backpacks, school supplies and clothing vouchers.

As always, this year’s Back To School Project was truly a community-wide effort, and would not have been possible without local service clubs, churches, donors and volunteers. We would like to extend our utmost appreciation to organizations and businesses such as the South Whidbey Kiwanis, The Christian Life Center, The Clyde Theatre in Langley, and countless individual and small business donors. Monetary donations were used to provide clothing vouchers for new back-to- school outfits and shoes.

Also, a big thank you to the local establishments who allowed us to put our collection boxes in their establishments: Coldwell Banker, US Bank, Whidbey Island Bank, Sno-Isle Library, CMA Church Family, St. Hubert Catholic Church, United Methodist Church, and House of Prayer in Langley, Curves, Casey’s Crafts, Neil’s Clover Patch, the Senior Center and the American Legion in the Bayview area, Christian life Center, Coastal Community Bank, Building Source, US Bank, Wells Fargo Bank, Whidbey Island Bank, Book Bay, Chase Bank, Sound Business Center, Trinity Lutheran Church,

St. Augustine’s Episcopal and Sno-Isle Library in Freeland, and Island Drug, Whidbey Island Bank, Well’s Fargo Bank and Boomerang in Clinton. The extra supplies collected will allow us to provide for school-based needs throughout the year.

Last but not least, we need to take a moment to thank all of our wonderful volunteers who did everything from pick up collection boxes full of supplies, to setting up and cleaning up after the event. They are a talented group of individuals from all experiences and walks of life, and Island County Readiness to Learn projects are successful because of that diversity and dedication.

To learn more about our projects, or how to donate or volunteer for future projects, please contact Readiness to Learn at the South Whidbey Family Resource Center by calling us at 221-6808, ext. 4322.

The Family Resource Center Staff