Bonney Lake toy and food drive starts Monday

Bonney Lake is not immune to the recession, but the city has organizations and a community which bands together to help.

Sarting Monday the Bonney Lake police department is accepting donations for a toy drive and a food drive is about to be under way. The police department sponsors the giving tree and works in conjuncion with the U.S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots Program.

A quilt will soon be in the police department featuring names of children in the community and people are invited to select a child's name to provide gifts for.

"There's just a lot of families out there that are hurting this year," Wigton said.

She said some parents come in with their children to select a name from the quilt.

"They're teaching their young children to help out others," she said.

Others who donate used to be on the receiving end and came full-circle, Wigton said.

Volunteers help wrap gifts and donations of wrapping paper and bags with handles are welcome.

Wigton said the event is not just the Christmas drive for food, but the winter drive. People can't garden because of the weather, so food is more limited.

"The community here is a very giving community but some of those givers have also lost jobs now, so some of those donations may be down," she said.

Drop boxes for donations are in the lobby of the Bonney Lake police station located at 18421 Old Buckley Highway. Other drop boxes are at the Grocery Outlet, Pro Build and Key Bank.

The annual Bonney Lake citywide food drive starts Monday and donations may be dropped off at the boxes in the lobby of the public safety building between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Items go to the Bonney Lake Food Bank, the Bread of Life Food Bankd and to seniors in the community.

Other drop boxes are at the Grocery Outlet, Pro Build and Key Bank.