Carnation center seeks soldier cards, presents

The Sno-Valley Senior Center in Carnation is looking for donations for comfort packages to be sent to reservists from Fort Lewis stationed in Iraq.

Requested donations include fleece throws, black wool stocking caps, 16-ounce thermal water bottles and candy. Troops also need “add boiling water” foods, ground coffee, disinfectant spray, wipes, tooth brushes and tooth paste.

The center is also accepting donations to help with postage. Each soldier box costs $10.50 to mail.

The Sno-Valley Center is also spreading word of the American Red Cross “Holiday Mail Call” to send cards to soldiers overseas.

Writers should make sure all cards are signed. Do not insert photos, money, religious articles, glitter, ‘snow’ or like items in cards, as these items will be removed during the reviewing process.

All cards must be postmarked no later than Wednesday, Dec. 10. Cards should be mailed to Red Cross Holiday Mail Call, P.O. Box 5456, Capitol Heights, MD 20791-5456.

For more information, call the Sno-Valley Senior Center at (425) 333-4152.

Scouts to recycle Christmas trees

Boy Scouts from Troops 425, 466, 701 and 706 will be canvassing neighborhoods in Snoqualmie and North Bend later this holiday season, collecting trees on Saturday, Jan. 10, and delivering them to North Fork Enterprises off of Millpond Road for recycling.

“Last year there were hundreds of trees dropped off for chipping,” said Kirsten Weinmeister, Snoqualmie Recycling Coordinator and manager of the city of Snoqualmie’s tree recycling program. “More than 800 trees were delivered to be recycled by the Scouts and residents early this year. This year we expect even more, as folks learn of the program we have.”

Tree recycling has a three-fold benefit: it keeps trees out of the landfill; North Fork Enterprise uses the chips for fuel for energy at a nearby industrial plant; and the donations to the Scouts make it possible for higher participation and better programs for Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts ages 5 to 18.

Recycling a tree is easy. Scouts will deliver flyers to homes in mid-December. Residents should attach the flyer to a tree with a rubber band and leave it in the driveway by 8 a.m on Jan. 10. A donation of $10 is suggested. Checks should be made out to Troop 425.

This program is sponsored by the Snoqualmie Parks Department, the Boy Scouts of America, North Fork Enterprises and the King County Solid Waste Reduction and Recycling Program.

For more information, call (425) 831-4919, ext. 23.