IN BRIEF

Olympian staff

Originally published Monday, April 1, 2002

11 agencies join food, book drive

An effort by state agencies to collect food and children's books for two South Sound charities kicks off today.

The "Well Fed, Well Read" interagency drive has a goal of collecting 30,000 pounds of food and 1,000 new or slightly used children's books for South Sound families. The donations will be routed through the Thurston County Food Bank and the South Sound Reading Foundation.

So far, 11 state agencies have joined to compete with each other in who can gather the most donations: the Attorney General's Office, the Department of Corrections, the Department of Ecology, the Office of Financial Management, General Administration, the Liquor Control Board, the Washington State Lottery, the Department of Personnel, the Department of Printing, the Department of Retirement Systems, and the Sentencing Guidelines Commission.

Other agencies can still join in the monthlong effort. Monetary donations also are accepted. For more information, call D. Eric Jones at the Washington State Lottery at 360-664-4723.

Agency winners will be honored at a May 8 Public Service Recognition Week celebration at Heritage Park. Awards will be given for most food collected, most books collected, highest participation and most improved level of participation.

Class covers state's retirement plans

State workers are invited to attend a free class Tuesday night to discuss deferred compensation and retirement plans.

Certified financial planner Michael Weinand of Lacey is leading the class.

He will discuss recent legislative changes to deferred compensation, the funds that state workers can pick from, and choices after retirement.

The session is for state employees with deferred compensation and those who already have retired with a deferred compensation account. The class is from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Lacey Timberland Library. Register by calling 360-459-4847.

Fund-raiser will help fire victims

Co-workers of state employee Steve Kenney, who lost his Tumwater home in a March 26 fire, will hold a benefit breakfast for the family Wednesday morning in the Town Square Office complex.

The event will be held in the lobby of Building 5, the southernmost building in the office park. Building 5 is at the intersection of Plum Street and Union Avenue.

The breakfast, which is open to the public, begins at 7 a.m. The cost is $2 per person.

Kenney works for the Medical Assistance Administration of the Department of Social and Health Services.

The Olympian Copyright 2002

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