Lake Washington School District’s LINKS (Looking Into the Needs of Kids and Schools) program honored many of its 275 volunteers at the annual volunteer reception on June 7.

Guests were welcomed by the sound of Redmond Elementary students singing Dr. Seuss and volunteer-related songs with the guidance of music teacher Laurie Moody. Lake Washington School District Associate Superintendent Heather Sinclair spoke about the value of volunteers in schools and emphasized how each volunteer contributes in their own special way.

Volunteers were treated to lunch and had the opportunity to share their experiences with others who have the same passion for helping student succeed.

Local businesses generously donated gift certificates and product for a raffle drawing as a way to show appreciation to LINKS volunteers. They were: Agave Restaurant, Brown Bear Car Wash, Heavy Restaurant Group, JJ Mahoney’s Irish Pub, Mod Pizza, QFC, Redmond Bar and Grill, Tech City Bowl, Trader Joes and Trellis Restaurant.

Combined, volunteers shared 6,649 hours of their time to make a difference in students’ overall experience in school. While some volunteers helped in a classroom, others were academic mentors, tutors and Lunch Buddies. Each assignment helps a student academically or socially and can often boost their self esteem and confidence. In many cases it also improves their overall attitude about school.

LINKS is a volunteer program of Lake Washington School District with generous funding provided by the Lake Washington Schools Foundation.

To learn more about LINKS, call LINKS Program Coordinator Nanci Wehr at (425) 936-1410.