MARYSVILLE – The outpouring of donations that launched the All City Food and Toy Drive on Saturday is the stuff that dreams are made of, especially for families in need during the holidays.

In sum, the annual holiday food drive season opener raised 4,588 pounds of food and $2,000 in just over six hours with help from a decidedly more international and baseball-minded core of volunteers stationed at entrances at seven participating grocers.

Marysville Kiwanis Club and young Key Club members were among those who helped gather food at Albertsons and deliver it to the food bank.

Two foreign exchange students attending Marysville Getchell High School stepped in to help Key Club. Aiche Danioko, a sophomore from the Republic of Mali in West Africa, and Goda Katkute, a senior from the Baltic country of Lithuania, did an exceptional job amassing both food and money donations, Kiwanis leaders said.

While both teens enjoyed the opportunity to help their host community, Danioko said, “We have nothing like this (food drive) that I know of in Mali.”

Katkute said she has helped out at similar events before in her country, so the process was familiar.

MG Select Basketball, Snohomish County Express Fastpitch and Venom Fast-Pitch Softball and Baseball members also went to bat to volunteer for the food drive.

Venom coordinator Olivia Green said this was the first year for participation from the girls teams of 12- and 10-year-olds, and second year for the boys. In groups of chaperoned fours, they greeted shoppers at the door with a list of food items to consider purchasing for donation.

Green said giving back to the community is a good lesson for the young players to learn beyond playing in organized team sports.

“It’s always good to be able to tell the players that ‘you were a part of this,’ and the work paid off,” she said. “We’re just trying to help out any way we can.”

The food drive got a pre-Saturday boost from volunteers with The Grove Church, who collected more than 3,000 pounds of food the night before at their Fred Meyer Rush night.

From now through the holidays, shoppers can donate anytime on trips to Fred Meyer, Albertsons, Grocery Outlet, Haggen, Wal-Mart and Safeway stores in Marysville and Smokey Point. Just drop items in the red barrels.

Barrels are also placed throughout the community now, where you can drop off non-perishable food, unwrapped toys, and new books throughout the holiday season. In addition, donations can be dropped off at the Marysville Food Bank at 4150 88th St NE or at any city government building.

“You are helping make a real difference in lives of children and families knowing that your donations and gifts will go directly to families in the community,” food bank director Dell Deierling said, adding the number of families needing help is up.

Scouts help out

MARYSVILLE – Local Girl Scouts got an early start with Thanksgiving just around the corner to accept food donations for families in need in Marysville and Tulalip.

Over two days, 36 girl scouts from 11 Marysville troops collected more than 2,500 pounds of food for the Marysville Food Bank as part of their 2nd annual volunteerfood drive, Trick or Treat So Others Can Eat.

The scouts really outdid themselves, said leader Michelle Wright, more than doubling this year’s goal to raise 1,000 pounds. Volunteers delivered 2,100 pounds to theMarysville food bank for holiday dinners and the Food for Thought backpack program, and about 400 pounds to the Tulalip food bank.

Wright said older teen girls have amassed countless volunteer hours helping out while setting a great example for younger girls about the value of community service.

Kids and parents with Venom youth fastpitch sofball and baseball collected donations at Fred Meyer for the Marysville Community Food Bank at the All City Food Drive Saturday.

Girl Scouts from 11 Marysville troops collected more than 2,500 pounds of food at Fred Meyer for the food bank as part of their 2nd annual volunteer food drive, Trick or Treat So Others Can Eat. Pictured from left, Morgan Wright, Cricket Absher, Grace Studyvin, Shelby Crosby, Molly Wright, Kailin O’Neal, Samantha Crosby and Alex Studyvin.