This is the season. The holidays present both challenges and opportunities for community service organizations to put smiles on the faces of those who need them most. In Seattle, Rotarians formed a partnership with two local agencies to create a “synergy” of goodwill, holiday cheer, and smiles.

The Rotary Club of Seattle supported two worthy organizations, FareStart, and the Spruce Street Inn, to synergize a Holiday Gift Drive. Club members were asked to donate either gifts or gift cards, depending upon the needs within these local agencies.

Rotary partnerships for targeted giving allow community organizations to meet the needs of those they serve.

FareStart allows people to escape a cycle of poverty by offering them training in the food service industry. Locals receive hands-on job experience in FareStart restaurants, café’s and catering services. The organization claims that “90 percent of their graduates land good jobs within 90 days of completing the program.”

The Spruce Street Inn is a community program of Pioneer Human Services. The shelter offers safe harbor for at-risk youth (ages 12-17) who find themselves in crisis. It is one of the few select programs in the area that provides accommodations for “street youth,” such as chronic runaways. They also offer services to commercially sexually exploited children.

The Rotary Club of Seattle’s targeted giving of either gift tags or gift cards, provided both partner organizations the opportunity to meet the specific needs of their clients. The creative giving program ran from Nov 30th – Dec 13, 2017.

Holiday smiles will be distributed through Dec 25th.

Original Source: Totem Newsletter