Volunteers needed for weekend food drive

MARYSVILLE — Across the country, the U.S. Postal Service has set aside May 10 for their latest postal food drive.

To support the drive, community members are asked to leave bags of nonperishable food items near their mailboxes. Letter carriers will pick up the bags as they make their regular rounds.

Locally, the food gathered helps support the Marysville Food Bank. Food bank volunteer Alonna Chatburn said the annual event helps stock the food bank shelves for months to come.

On the day of the collection, volunteers are needed noon-6 p.m. to transport collected foodstuffs from the local post office to the food bank. Help also is needed to unload and sort food at the pantry 1-6 p.m.

If you can help, please call the food bank at 360-658-1054.

Goodwill offers job training, education program

MARYSVILLE — The Marysville Goodwill is enrolling those interested in free classes for their summer programs, which run May 27 to July 17.

According to Goodwill, the classes are designed to teach those with significant barriers to employment skills to find and keep jobs.

Several classes will be offered this session. The retail and customer service program is a three month program including four weeks of on-the-job training. Participants will learn how to use computers in a retail environment, maintain the appearance of a store and sell items.

The course meets 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Mon.-Thurs.

Other classes available include:

n English for Speakers of Other Languages, offered 1:30-3 p.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays.

n Basic Computer Fundamentals aimed at those with little or no computer experience, available 2:30-4 p.m., Mondays and Wednesdays.

n Microsoft Excel Fundamentals will be taught 9:30-11:30 a.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays.

For more information, call 360-657-4058 or send an e-mail to gusti.clark@seattlegoodwill.org.

Local grocer offers to stretch stimulus checks

MARYSVILLE — Local households receiving federal economic stimulus checks this spring can stretch those dollars 15 percent further at Haggen Food and Pharmacy and TOP Food and Drug Stores.

The 15 percent bonus is believed to be the largest announced in Washington by a retail company, according to Haggen spokesperson Becky Skaggs.

For example, according to Skaggs, a customer who brings a $600 stimulus check to Haggen or TOP, will receive a store gift card valued at $690.

Customers who receive their stimulus money by direct deposit may use a debit or credit card accompanied by an IRS letter verifying the direct deposit.

“This is like an individual receiving $90 in free groceries,” Skaggs said. “We know families are trying to stretch their food dollars as far as possible and this is one way we can help them.”

The program is in effect at Haggen and TOP stores now through July 31. Customers may bring their checks or other documentation to the guest services counter or any primary register at the stores.

Many taxpayers are supposed to be receiving a one-time stimulus check from the IRS, standard amounts being $600 per adult and $300 per qualifying child.