MARYSVILLE The local Soroptimist Club is partnering with the Snohomish County Sheriffs Office to gather clothing and personal items for children removed from homes due to drugs.
As the methamphetamine epidemic reaches all parts of the country, children are often caught in the snare because more than half of all homes busted for the drug have children present. Cooking meth creates all kinds of chemicals that contaminate clothing and other items and when the kids are taken from the home they literally leave with only the clothes on their back.
Thats more than enough trauma for these children according to local realtor Rietta Costa, who is leading Operation Backpack to gather personal hygiene items such as toothbrushes and toothpaste, hair brushes, combs, deodorant, lotion, shampoo, underwear, socks, shoes and other items a displaced person might need.
Because they dont have anything when they go, Costa explained.
She is chairperson of her community involvement committee at the MacPhersons Realty and this is the first time the Soroptimist International have held a collection drive. The drive will start at 1 p.m. on Jan. 31 at the Marysville YMCA and will run until March 3.
They were excited that we were going to pick it up because its an ongoing need, Costa said.
Collection bins will posted at many Marysville locations:
Key Bank at 1300 State Avenue.
Lets Dish at 11605 State Avenue.
MacPhersons Realty at 1333 State Avenue.
Marysville YMCA, 6420 60th Drive NE.
Marysville Printing, 1509 Sixth Street.
Phoenix Books, 1508 Third Street.
RV & Marine Supply, 1108 State Avenue.
Windermere Real Estate, 801 State Avenue.
Marysville School District Service Center, 4220 80th Street.
Gary Wright Realty 9323 State Avenue.
Golds Gym 1052 State Avenue.
Golds Gym 3131 Smokey Point Drive.
Fred Meyer, 9925 State Avenue.

For more information or to provide a drop off location, call Rietta Costa at 425-232-3387 or electronically at riettac13@hotmail.com by Jan. 26.