Brighten Someone's Holiday Season!            

As many of you know, REIA uses every November Monthly Meeting as an opportunity to give back to our community.   Our 2008 collection drive was a HUGE success!  REIA collected more than750 pounds of food PLUS clothes, toys and gift cards that were distributed to Eastside Domestic Violence victims.  REIA donations allowed families to enjoy holiday baskets filled with enough food to make a proper holiday meal and their children to receive gifts that they would not have received without us.  Great job everyone; your donations meant so much to everyone who received benefit from them.

Now it’s time to do it again!  This year our collection will again be for the Eastside Domestic Violence Program, or EDVP.  From their very humble beginnings in 1981, EDVP has grown to become the largest provider of services for domestic violence victims in Washington State.  A support group for battered women and two volunteer safe homes were the first services offered, followed a year later by a 24-hour crisis line.  Today, in addition to the crisis line, EDVP operates confidential shelters, offers safe housing in the community, runs support groups for women and children, provides extensive community education and trainings, and advocates on behalf of victims.

Victims exhibit an enormous amount of courage and personal strength as they learn to protect themselves and their children--but they need our help.  Many victims literally get away from their abuser with only the clothes on their backs.  As the holiday season approaches, that’s where we come in!

Bring your donations to the REIA Monthly Meeting on November 9th.  The needs are great but here are a few suggestions:

·        Non-perishable foods.  Canned meats, canned vegetables, french-fried onions, pumpkin, canned milk, yams, marshmallows, corn syrup, canned cranberries, flour, sugar, brown sugar, canned fruit, packaged gravy, jello, pudding, powdered milk, instant potatoes, muffin mixes, cake mixes, frosting, baby food (formula, jars and cereals).  Think about your own holiday meals and try to include foods so the families can have their own “normal” holiday meal! A few post-holiday foods, including rice, soup, chili, spaghetti sauce, pasta, tuna, etc. would help too.

·        New unwrapped toys for any age, including the mothers.  Please don’t forget the teens!

·        New clothes for children of all ages, and their mothers.

·        REALLY important stuff:  coats, shoes, socks, hats, scarves gloves/mittens and DIAPERS.

·        Gift cards.  Stores that carry food (think turkeys and hams!), household goods, toys or clothing.  Gas cards would be a big help.

·        Cell phones.  Phones will be reprogrammed to call 911 and can save lives!

·        Cash, check and credit card donations.  If you use your credit card, REIA will process it and donate the fee.  Donations are used for temporary emergency housing and other needs, and are GREATLY appreciated.

If you would like to help, contact REIA at info@REIAwa.com or 425.454.1922.  You are also welcome to donate to EDVP directly through their website at http://www.edvp.org.

Thank you for your support of both REIA and the Eastside Domestic Violence Program!