with a plan for their future by 2017. high school at the same rate as their peers Foster youth in King County will graduate holiday shopping information! Look inside for important Wearhouse , WA 98144-4643 2100 24th Avenue S. / Suite 200 roots NeWS FOr CAreGIVerS VOLUMe 3, NO 7. NOVeMBer - MID JAN TreeHOUSeFOrKIDS.OrG In thIs Issue Free FAMILY MOVIe DAY 1 HOLIDAY FAMILY eVeNTS 2 STAFF BIO 3 CALeNDAr 4 ACTIVITY OF THe MONTH 4

Free dAy At the movIes Saturday, December 20, 10am-2pm Cinemark Lincoln Square 700 Bellevue Way Ne Bellevue, WA 98004

Please join Treehouse families for Cinematique, a great family event featuring a private screening of the Registration for this event is required, new movie, Night at the Museum: so make sure to register early! Tickets Secret of the Tomb, sponsored by the are limited so please only request Jack and Jill of America Foundation. tickets if you are sure you can attend. Enjoy this free private movie

To register, please contact Treehouse NON PROFIT ORG. PERMIT NO.6100

screening with complimentary snacks U.S. POSTAGE with the number of tickets you SEATTLE, WA and free parking! Prior to the movie,

are requesting at 206.267.5140 PAID families will have the chance to or email us at familywelcome@ participate in fun activities for kids treehouseforkids.org. and also learn about educational opportunities in our community. We hope to see you there!

STAFF BIO holIdAy events AdAm WolotIrA For FAmIlIes lIttle WIshes CoordInAtor

The holidays can be an each year, Treehouse’s Little Wishes expensive time of the year. program grants more than 4,000 Celebrate the season with your “wishes” for youth in care in King loved ones by enjoying some of County. As part of the Little Wishes team, Adam Wolotira connects youth these free and low-cost holiday with funding and resources to participate events in King County. in important childhood experiences. After graduating from St. Edwards ride into the Holidays event University in Texas, Adam began his Friday, 11/28, 3pm-6pm career supporting technology based Seattle Monorail Platform and start-ups in the Seattle area, but his During this time of year, however, Holiday Carousel at growing passion for non-profit work led Adam’s role takes a big shift as he Holidays in Seattle him to Treehouse. focuses on managing Treehouse’s Join us for our exclusive annual Holiday Magic Program, which On a typical day, Adam helps fulfill Seattle Center Monorail and 11/1-1/11 distributes holiday gifts to youth in wish requests for youth of all ages downtown Holiday Carousel event! holidaysinseattle.com foster care across State. throughout King County. Sometimes, He’s responsible for ordering, Seattle Monorail Services has Check out the Holidays in Seattle website that means tracking down the perfect processing, and shipping, more generously offered to open its train for a complete list of free and seasonal pair of basketball shoes for a student than 5,000 holiday gifts each year! for a complimentary Treehouse- activities in downtown Seattle. joining their school’s team. Other days, only ride. Enjoy tasty treats and Holiday Carousel it means Adam is meeting with local On the weekends, Adam prefers to drinks on the platform before vendors to get Treehouse students spend time in the great outdoors. He’s boarding the holiday-themed 11/28-1/2, Daily hours vary discounts on summer camps and a passionate golfer, fisherman, and Monorail Express to Westlake Downtown Seattle, Westlake Center extracurricular classes. camper. Center. Suggested donation of $3 holidaysinseattle.com From there, you will be escorted to the VIP area of the Holiday Don’t miss the whirling, twirling holiday Seattle Festival of Trees Garden D’Lights Carousel at Westlake Center, where fun at the Holiday Carousel benefiting 11/30-1/4, Daily 4:30pm- you’ll watch the Westlake tree and Treehouse! Donations support Treehouse 11/22-12/2, Daily 9:30pm Bellevue B otanical G ardens Macy’s Star burst with light. After programs and the great work of the Fairmont Olympic Hotel $5 per person; children 10 & under free. the lighting, you’ll be invited to Downtown Seattle Association. seattlefestivaloftrees.com/ pick the perfect horse to spin on Free Nights: 12/2-12/4 & 12/8-12/11 Check out one of Seattle’s best displays gardenlights.org the Carousel as we welcome the Snowflake Lane of beautifully decorated Christmas holiday season. Over a ½ million lights transform 11/28-12/24, Nightly at 7pm trees, each with its own unique theme. the Bellevue Botanical Garden into a Please RSVP for this event by Between Bellevue Square, Lincoln blossoming winter wonderland. contacting Little Wishes at Square and Bellevue Place Gingerbread Village 206.267.5125. Please note that bellevuecollection.com/SnowflakeLane 11/25-1/5, Daily, 24 hours a Free Museum Days capacity is limited and spaces will day Seattle Sheraton go quickly as all festivities are free Each night, the Bellevue streets fill with sheratonseattle.com/gingerbread- freemuseumday.org/sea.html of charge. cheer for Snowflake Lane. See a display village-2014 of lights, music, and drumming by toy Over twenty museums throughout King soldiers, and watch magical “snow” fall! Visit the Sheraton Seattle’s annual County have various free days each Gingerbread Village. At this free month. Enjoy relaxing family outings display, you can see the impressive during the busy holiday time at your larger-than-life gingerbread creations! local museum. CAlendAr SUNDAY MONDAY TUeSDAY WeDNeSDAY THUrSDAY FrIDAY SATUrDAY

NOV 2 3 4 2-7pm 5 6 10am-4pm 7 8

9 10 11 2-7pm 12 13 10am-4pm 14 15 10am-2pm

16 17 18 2-7pm 19 20 10am-4pm 21 22

23 24 25 2-7pm 26 27 28 29 Wearhouse Closed for Thanksgiving DeC 30 1 2 10-7pm 3 4 10-7pm 5 6 10am-3pm

Wearhouse Closed

7 8 9 10-7pm 10 11 10-7pm 12 13 10am-3pm

14 15 16 10-7pm 17 18 10-7pm 19 20 10am-3pm

21 22 10am-2pm 23 10am-2pm 24 25 26 27

Wearhouse Closed for the Holidays

28 29 30 31 1 2 3

Wearhouse Closed for the Holidays JAN 4 5 6 2-7pm 7 8 10am-4pm 9 10

Wearhouse Closed

The Wearhouse: You can shop for each youth up to 5 December Shopping: Only one visit per eligible youth in ride into the Holidays event: Fri, 11/28, 3pm-6pm times per school year (with one “freebie”holiday-themed December. A December visit does not count towards the Join us for a complimentary ride aboard the Seattle Center visit in December, details to the right). Please wait at five allowed visits per year. Shoppers do not need to wait Monorail and a spin on the Holiday Carousel at Westlake Park. least 30 days between visits, and arrive at least one hour the 30 days for December visits. Questions? Please call the Contact Little Wishes at 206.267.5125 for details and ticket before closing time. Please bring a photo ID (for caregiver Wearhouse at 206.267.5185. availability. or child) to show at check-in. Wearhouse Closures: The Wearhouse will be closed Cinematique Movie Day: Sat, 12/20,10am-2pm 11/27-11/30 and 12/24-1/4 for the holidays. Please plan Enjoy a free day at the movies at Cinemark Lincoln Square in your shopping trips accordingly. Bellevue. See page 1 for details and to RSVP.

ACtIvIty oF the month: vIsuAl Arts Participating in an extracurricular activity is a great way for youth to find a creative outlet and learn a new skill they can be proud of. Little Wishes is highlighting visual arts as the November Activity of the Month. Whether it’s through photography, painting, ceramics, sculpture, film making, drawing, or collaging, there are plenty of ways that youth can express themselves in a healthy and creative way. When youth are provided with a safe space to explore and celebrate their unique abilities, it can have healing and therapeutic benefits. Art can help youth overcome trauma, open up in a new way, and create a bridge across cultural differences. Recently, a Treehouse caregiver shared with us that her daughter’s drawing class has really boosted her self-esteem. She is able to create pieces that help her express her feelings and takes great pride in her work. She has enjoyed it so much that she recently brought one of her drawings to Treehouse to share it with our staff! Art has plenty of educational benefits, as well. Studies show that participating in art improves memory and boosts critical thinking skills. Little Wishes can help pay for visual arts classes and other extra-curricular activities for Treehouse youth! Contact us at 206.267.5125 to request assistance getting set up with an activity.

CAreGIver resourCe: holIdAy meAls Providing meals for a growing family can be difficult, especially during the holidays! Luckily, there are many programs available to help. Check out the following websites for specific information based on where you live. 2-1-1 provides a comprehensive list of holiday food resources within Washington State. stAy ConneCted win211.org/uncategorized/holiday-assistance-programs/ Northwest Harvest provides food assistance through more than 370 partner programs. northwestharvest.org/statewide-network Like us! Subscribe to us! Hopelink has five emergency food centers in the East King County area. facebook.com/ youtube.com/treehouseforkids hope-link.org/get_help/food/ or 425.869.6000 TreehouseResource Link South King County Food Coalition has a database of food services in south King County. Follow us! Pin with us! NeW! skcfc.org/ twitter.com/TreehouseTweets pinterest.com/treehouseSEA