“Three area grocery stores — Bailey’s Corner Store at Cultus Bay and the Ken’s Korner and Casey’s Red Apple stores — have agreed to serve as drop-off sites for donations of warm clothes and coats, boots and art supplies as part of the Coats and Crayons project. Tom and Katie French of Sandy Hook have organized the South Whidbey effort to collect items for a homeless children’s shelter in Kamchatka, Russia. Chef Tom French visited the shelter this past fall, and found an urgent need for warm coats and boots along with food supplies and sanitary items. At the same time, he noted that the children were delighted with the few crayons and colorful markers the visitors had available. So in addition to sending out a call for coats, the drive is collecting various types of art materials, not only to introduce them to the joy of creating but also to start a calendar project with their art work as a fund raiser.“Ken’s Korner Red Apple has already given me a $25 gift certificate to buy art supplies,” Katie French said.Groups such as churches, schools, offices, social clubs or civic and community organizations are also urged to take part.The Coats and Crayons drive is running now through Dec. 22, with a projected shipping date of Jan. 6. For more information call Katie French at 579-2715 or email Katie@tableauinc.com.”