Community Newsletter | June 2020
|
|
This is a challenging time for many in our community and we offer resources that can help!
Click here to visit our COVID-19 Resource webpage
with information on food assistance, parenting tips & activities for little ones, recipes and cooking videos, free medication lock bags, and more!
Along with, and amplified by, COVID-19, our country and communities are grappling with the social and health impacts of systemic racism and inequities. Reflecting on our mission of a “commitment to improving the health and quality of life for the residents of the communities we serve” w
e continually strive to listen, learn, and take action to create a healthier and more just world.
|
|
Math Anywhere -
June 9
from 9-11 am
or
1-3 pm.
Register here
.
Invite Math Play into Every Day. Early learning professionals and caregivers discover the relationship between play and mathematics, what grownups can do to foster math learning, and different math prompts to use anywhere. STARS hours now available for this
free
training.
Learn more.
|
The Incredible Years – starts
July 7.
Parents of preschoolers can take part in a
free
online version of our successful Incredible Years program this summer! Together with trained facilitators, caregivers practice nurturing, coaching, and playing with their children to help them grow, all over Zoom!
Register now.
|
|
Strengthening Families Program for Parents and Youth 10-14 – starts June 11.
Learn as a family about managing stress, improving communication, and having fun together. This
free
online program will be held on Tuesday & Thursday evenings for seven weeks! Class size is limited to 10 families, so
sign up here today
.
|
Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR): Suicide Prevention – New dates added in June.
Learn how to recognize the warning signs for suicide and be there for the people in your life by participating in a
free
one-hour, online Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) training.
Enroll here.
|
|
|
Math Anywhere helps children and their grown-ups experience the creative and playful side of mathematics. From
How Many?
to
Which One Doesn’t Belong?
explore the world of
mathematical thinking and get inspired to play with math at home and on the go! Check out more awesome ideas and download materials in English and Spanish at
www.mathanywhere.org
|
|
|
|
|
Stay Safe, Stay Healthy, Stay Vaccinated
|
First Lady Trudi Inslee issued an important reminder for Washington families
to keep children up to date on vaccinations during COVID-19
. Well-child visits and vaccines protect everyone and prevent additional outbreaks of disease. Clinics and hospitals are taking extra care to keep adults and little ones safe, so don't delay!
Call your healthcare provider today or call the Help Me Grow Washington Hotline at 1-800-322-2588 to find a clinic.
|
|
Register Now for Trek for Treasure
|
Suffering from a touch of cabin-fever? Join us for an abbreviated version of our annual outdoor hiking adventure. Trek for Treasure is a great opportunity to get outside, reconnect with nature, and be more active, while still practicing social distancing!
This year's theme climbs back in time, revisiting four of our most legendary themes and hikes in the last 10 years. Long lost legends of pirate treasure, ghost tales, alien conspiracies, and the search for Sasquatch never die. Visit
trekfortreasure.org
.
|
|
|
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)
in Skagit County
|
CSAs are a great way to get the freshest local produce all summer long, without setting foot in a store! By signing up for a CSA box, you support local farmers and get to try all kinds of seasonal fruits and vegetables. This post from the
Skagit Valley Food Co-op blog
details the many CSA options in Skagit County this year and how to get started. And now, Viva Farms is offering a 50% discount on weekly boxes of produce with an EBT card. Go to www
.
vivafarms.org/csa
to learn more.
|
|
|
|
|
Want to stretch your EBT dollars? Farmer’s Markets in Anacortes, Concrete, Mount Vernon, and Sedro-Woolley will match $10 or more per day on produce from May through October.
Learn how to make Market Match work for you!
And did you know that EBT cards can now be used to order groceries online? Take advantage of the safety and convenience of contact-less pickup while using your Basic Food benefits at places like Amazon, Walmart, and Fred Meyer.
Apply for Basic Food by calling 360-854-0435.
|
|
|
|
Concrete students got a head start on a home garden with help from Farm to School. All 285 elementary students were given a seed kit or veggie start along with instructions for planting and care. Growing favorites like basil and cherry tomatoes will really help students enjoy the fruits of their labor! Read more about how Farm to School is helping Concrete families get their fruits and veggies in this recent
Skagit Valley Herald article.
|
|
 |
Student Volunteers Make a Difference!
|
Youth United: Varsity in Volunteerism (ViV) students across five Skagit high schools served
7,700 hours
during the 2019-2020 school year! By volunteering their time with schools, churches, food banks, assisted living facilities, and many more organizations that make up the fabric of our communities, students learn valuable skills and connect with positive adult role models. A total of 51 students earned a varsity letter for their outstanding number of service hours and will be recognized this June!
|
|
|
|
Debra Lancaster, current Executive Director of the United Way of Skagit County, has been instrumental in Youth United: ViV since the beginning. Under her leadership, the United Way has supported ViV coaches, clubs, and students as they make a difference through service. This June, Debra is retiring from her position, but will remain a Champion for Youth Volunteerism in our community. Thank you, Debra for your dedication and partnership!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Washington State recently secured funding to start a crisis counseling program for anyone experiencing increased stress during COVID-19. Washington Listens will be operational soon to provide support via call, message, text, or video to anyone in Washington who needs it. You can look over the
Washington Listens Fact Sheet
for more information about this vital service.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
