I would like to thank my cousin Dianna for getting me to move to the Bonney Lake area in the mid-1980s. Her mother-in-law had taken ill and the family did not want her house to sit empty. So I moved from a condo in north Seattle to Ponderosa Estates.  This was before Janice Harrison and others took up the crusade to get the streets of Ponderosa paved. There was a huge lake that formed in front of the mobile home where I lived during the rainy season. During better weather, the gravel roads were rough and rutted. Much has changed for the better in Ponderosa over the years.

The time came to find a home of my own.  I was expecting my daughter.  On a clear day we followed the road towards looming Mount Rainier to the southeast in search of a home with a view of the mountain.  We ended up with a vacant lot on the ridge and added a new mobile home. We lived there on the ridge during my daughter’s early childhood. The view of the foothills, trees and South Prairie in the valley were stunning. The greenbelt was a fun place to play, the neighbors friendly.  It is a tight knit, affordable community. As previously discussed in an earlier column, Prairie Ridge is served by three school districts: White River, Sumner and Orting.  Students in the Prairie Ridge community attend 10 different schools.

I would also like to thank cousin Dianna for teaching me how to shop. Buy holiday items the day after the holiday or seasonal items at the end of the season when they are marked down and put them away for next year. Yes, David Wells, I already have bags of toys and eggs for the 2014 egg hunt at Allan Yorke. My extreme couponing partner on food drives at work, Cheryl, taught me everything I know about working the rewards cards, coupons and sales.  I pour through the coupons on Sunday as well as the ads. I buy things when they are on sale, not when I need them, to stretch my dollars.  I store them away and then I have them. Food, toiletries, school supplies, gifts, holiday supplies, etc. I am very proud to use my senior citizen discounts the first Tuesday of the month and my AARP card when I shop, eat, travel. I have store credit cards that give me an extra 5 percent discount and free shipping.

Lately, I have been shopping Bonney Lake first for all kinds of school supplies.  Yes, school is a month away and summer is just getting started.  But there are some great deals. Buy now and stock up. As the first day of school draws closer, the sales and school supplies grow less plentiful.

And while you are buying supplies for your kids, how about picking up a few extras for your neighbors who could use a helping hand?

There are several opportunities to make student’s return to school brighter. I have mentioned White River Communities Families First Coalition and Sumner’s Communities for Families before in my columns. Among the many other projects they work on within school districts, they are active in putting together school supplies to make sure the school year gets off to a good start for all students.

I start with Prairie Ridge.  The need is great and you can drop off your donations at Prairie Ridge Maintenance Company office at 14205 215th Ave E.  Phone (360)897-8378 or contact Monica Gaub at gaublins@msn.com.  This distribution is for Prairie Ridge residents only due to limited supplies.  Distribution is August 27 from 5-7:00 PM at the Prairie Ridge Rec Hall.  Little Red Dress Salon will provided back to school haircuts for students.

So what if you don’t live in Prairie Ridge?  Do you live in Eastown, in the White River School District?  White River Family Center will be doing their distribution on Tuesday, August 20 from 5-6:30 PM at Wickersham Campus Gym.  You must pre-register to participate in this distribution.  Call Leah at 360-829-5883 or Klara at 253-845-9177 X112 to donate or register.

In Bonney Lake, we have the wonderful Lions 4 Kids House (L4K), a labor of love spearheaded by Carol Wells-Reed and just keeps getting better under the loving care of many volunteers.  They will have their event August 28 from 3-6:00 PM.  Students with last year’s or a 2013-2014 free/reduced lunch card are eligible to receive a back pack full of school supplies.  There will be haircuts for school age children only, refreshments and a representative from the Bonney Lake library will be there to hand out membership cards and books for the kids.   L4K is looking for donations of elementary style back packs and name brand supplies as this is what schools request as they last longer.  There is a drop box right next to the L4K building to conveniently make your donations and receipts are available. The L4K clothing bank is located in a city owned building at 9004 184th Ave E. in the Downtown area.

And last, but certainly not least, Sumner Family Center has free school supplies, haircuts and more for families in the Sumner School District. Their back to school fair will be at the Family Center, 1503 Valley Avenue in Sumner (Daffodil Valley Elementary Gymnasium 4-7 p.m. Aug. 26.  Call LuAnn at 253-891-6535 about making donations or participating.

Every little bit helps that you can give.  And if you don’t have a spare dime, give your time.  All these non-profits would be pleased to have you help set up, distribute and then cleanup after these events.  Make some kid’s first day of school great.  Thank you for your consideration and all you do for youth on the plateau.