After last year’s season ended, community members were asked to evaluate Santa’s Workshop. They brought forward concerns from the community and because of their suggestions, we are changing some of Santa’s Workshop’s guidelines. Parents applying for the program will be asked for their child’s age, sex and interests. Community donors will then have an idea of the actual interests of the child verses a particular item such as an IPod, bicycle or Gameboy.  The range for gifts will be between $20-$40. Children’s interests may include such items as sports, dolls, art, movies, video games, reading or music. Santa’s Workshop will not be gifting or accepting bicycles this year.  We could not fulfill all bicycle requests, and even with a lottery, could not prevent three children in one family receiving bikes, while another child did not. 

It is the intent of the program to help as many children as possible, and while it isn’t possible to fulfill all wishes, we are hoping to give one gift to each child that qualifies.

Each month, Grassroots.org selects one member whose work best fulfills its mission: To serve as a catalyst for positive social change by leveraging modern technologies and best business practices.

Four main criteria are used to evaluate the Web sites: activity, growth, creativity and navigability. With its inviting Web design and effective use of Grassroots.org tools, the Del Norte County Library excelled in each of these categories.

“We want to see other nonprofits succeed and grow because of the services we provide,” said Shane Hankins, executive director of Grassroots.org. “The Del Norte County Web site is a great example of how small communities can utilize technology tools.”

Grassroots.org services let the library create a compelling and effective online community. One of the most valuable services is the World Lingo translation tool, said library manager Linda Kauffman.

“I love World Lingo,” Kauffman said. “We have a large Spanish-speaking population in Del Norte County, so this will make our Web site more accessible to anyone whose first language is Spanish.”

Before Grassroots.org volunteer Phil Schaming designed the Web site, the library paid a premium for limited Web capabilities. Now, the organization has saved enough money on technology tools to purchase a new server.

“That’s reason enough to love Grassroots.org,” Kauffman said. “Society is so tech-oriented now that almost everyone has access to a computer and the Internet. Now our community can ‘see’ us online. It’s just another tool for us to help the people of our community.”

This partnership is the result of a thorough plan by both boards on how to better serve the Humboldt/Del Norte region.  The new organization will dramatically streamline the United Way system in local communities for maximum efficiency, allowing more donor dollars to be spent directly on improving lives and strengthening communities.

With the addition of these counties, United Way of the Wine Country now serves five northern California counties: Sonoma, Mendo­cino, Lake, Humboldt and Del Norte.

United Way has maintained a presence in Humboldt and Del Norte for the past 25 years, but this transition to United Way of the Wine Country is expected to give the local operation a much more robust, impactful presence.

For more information to www.unitedwaywinecountry.org or call Kevin Nyland at 528-4485 ext. 120.

This well-attended community event is the only fundraiser for the countywide 4-H Program each year. It finances all of our local 4-H events, county awards, scholarships, travel programs and essential supplies for the 4-H office when county funds are depleted.

Would you like to be a part of this and help us keep our 4-H Program alive and well in Del Norte County? I hope so and that’s why I’m asking you to donate an item for our auction. The community loves our auction, but the key to its success is having a wide and interesting range of products and gift certificates for the public to bid on. Your donation of an item for our auction would help us have a great 4-H year.

Thank you for supporting 4-H in our community.