Bright lights

||| FROM LINDSAY JENNINGS for ORCAS ISLAND COMMUNITY FOUNDATION |||

Lindsay Jennings, Orcas Island Community Foundation

Wow, what a shining display of auroras last night – I hope you stepped outside to see the northern lights! What a treat!

I brought some treats to the public school 6th-grade class yesterday. I was a bit nervous that they wouldn’t be very interested in learning about nonprofit organizations when their teacher asked me to come talk with them. Turns out they didn’t need the sugary motivation, but of course, they appreciated it.

The class was happily engaged, asked great questions, and was interested in learning what OICF does to help amplify the work of island nonprofits. Many were excited to learn and share about the organizations that have touched them, or ones they have volunteered for. They were even more enthusiastic about working together to plan a class service project. I’m so excited to find out what these bright kids decide to do – I’m sure it will make a big impact! I’ll keep you posted.

Several fun kid-oriented activities are going on this weekend, all led by nonprofits. Salmonberry’s annual Fall Festival is on Saturday from 1-4pm, and Kids Got Talent! is sure to dazzle with two shows at the Orcas Center. For the grown-ups among us, the Orcas Island Film Festival starts next week!   

On a dimmer note, my heart goes out to the communities in the southeastern U.S. that have been devastated by recent hurricanes Milton and Helene. They have a long road ahead rebuilding and recovering. If you would like to help your neighbors afar, you might consider a donation to the Tampa Bay Community Foundation, the North Carolina Community Foundation, or the Red Cross.

There are just a few more days for nonprofits to apply for the Holiday GiveOrcas Campaign! Please reach out if you have any questions about your application, due on October 15. Get all the details here.

P.S. Applications for nonprofit organizations to be included in the Holiday GiveOrcas Campaign are now open! Get all the details here.