Vancouver, WA – Share’s annual ‘Seats & Feets’ drive invites the community to donate new underwear, diapers and socks for men, women, teens and children. The drive will be held throughout the month of October; donations will be given to clients in Share’s outreach, shelter and housing programs.

“New this year, we are asking donors to remember our community’s ‘wee seats’ by adding diapers and pull-ups to our annual donation drive,” said Diane McWithey, executive director. “For those that donate underwear, we ask that you keep in mind that a range of sizes is needed, from small to 3XL.”

Share is asking for new underwear (all sizes, for men, women, teens and children), diapers (all sizes, including pull-ups) and athletic-style socks ((all sizes, for men, women, teens and children). Donations can be dropped off at the Share Fromhold Service Center, 2306 NE Andresen Road (M-F, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.). Financial donations to support the drive can also be made on-line at sharevancouver.org.

About Share

Share was founded in 1979 with the goal of caring for the homeless and hungry in the greater Vancouver area. Share operates three shelters for the homeless, a transitional housing program, Lincoln Place (a 30-unit Housing First model apartment complex), a street outreach program, including a Day Center, a Housing & Essential Needs (HEN) program, provides case management to clients and provides daily meals for the homeless and low-income members of our community. Share also operates a summer meals program for low-income children and a backpack program benefitting 1,535+ children at 95 schools to provide food for weekends to children receiving free or reduced-fee lunches. Additionally, Share offers financial programs that incorporate financial education and matched dollars for savings; these programs are designed to assist in the improvement of credit scores and financial management. For more information on Share, visit our Web site at www.sharevancouver.org.

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Vancouver, WA – More than 800 guests and volunteers at Soup’s On! Celebrity Chefs Compete for Share on Sun., Sept. 30 at ilani Casino Resort helped to raise a record-breaking $150,462, with $45,000 of that total raised during the special appeal alone. The event was presented by Davidson & Associates Insurance and supported by Fred Meyer and Pacific Premier Bank.

A major highlight of the event was the awards for best soup with the coveted Golden Ladle People’s Choice Award for Soup-er Chef awarded to Bob Rasaphangthong of Nom Nom Restaurant & Grill. Rasaphangthong was also awarded the Chef’s Choice Award for Best Soup.  Rasaphangthong prepared Kaopoon Nam Gai, featuring red curry paste, coconut milk, stewing chicken, vegetables, rice noodles and herbs.

The Presenting Sponsor’s Choice for Best Soup by Davidson & Associates Insurance was presented to Tim Conklin of Line & Lure at the ilani Casino Resort; Conklin prepared Coconut Curry Chicken.

A total of 13 local celebrity chefs participated in the ‘Chef Battle,’ with guests sampling each soup and casting a ballot. Representatives from Davidson & Associates Insurance cast a vote for the Presenting Sponsor’s Choice and each chef cast a vote for the Chef’s Choice. Additional restaurants included: Beaches Restaurant & Bar, Bleu Door Bakery, Eatery at the Grant House, Frontier Public House, Legacy Medical Center Salmon Creek, Mill Creek Pub, New Season’s Market, Simply Thyme Catering, 3 Sheets at the Harbor, Tommy O’s Pacific Rim Bistro and Warehouse ’23.

The evening’s program included the presentation of the 2018 Emily Marshall Volunteer of the Year Award to Kathy Sluznis, the 2018 Youth Volunteer of the Year Award to Audrey Chang and the 2018 Community Partnership Award to Community Services Northwest, accepted by executive director Bunk Moren.

Guests were asked to ‘Drop Their Drawers’ by bringing a donation of new underwear; guests who donated were entered into the door prize drawing for a one-night stay at the Hallmark Resort in Newport, OR. An amazing total of 1,468 new pairs of adult underwear and 1,332 new pairs of children’s underwear were donated. These donations will be given to clients in Share’s outreach, shelter and housing programs.

Each guest also took home an artisan soup bowl created by local artists Pat Brame, Nick Molatore, Kelly Kegwin, Sam Mackenzie, Stephen Mickey and Honna Sheffield.

About Share

Share was founded in 1979 with the goal of caring for the homeless and hungry in the greater Vancouver area. Share operates three shelters for the homeless, a transitional housing program, Lincoln Place (a 30-unit Housing First model apartment complex), a street outreach program, including a Day Center, a Housing & Essential Needs (HEN) program, provides case management to clients and provides daily meals for the homeless and low-income members of our community. Share also operates a summer meals program for low-income children and a backpack program benefitting 1,535+ children at 95 schools to provide food for weekends to children receiving free or reduced-fee lunches. Additionally, Share offers financial programs that incorporate financial education and matched dollars for savings; these programs are designed to assist in the improvement of credit scores and financial management. For more information on Share, visit our Web site at www.sharevancouver.org.

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