My name is Sarah Stanley, I am a 2012 graduate of Lopez Island High School. Jon Franklin and I will be putting together a Thai Dinner and Silent Auction on March 1 at Woodmen Hall, from 5-7 p.m., to help fundraise a volunteer abroad trip to Thailand I will be taking in July.

We will be making chicken satay with peanut sauce, beef currie, salad and mango shortcake with coconut ice cream for desert.

Be sure to try and buy your tickets early because capacity of Woodmen Hall is limited. You can purchase tickets at Paper Scissors on the Rock for $20 ages 13 and up and $10 ages 12 and under.

The organization I am going through is called International Student Volunteers, and the program is four weeks long.

The type of volunteer work I will be doing includes teaching English to children, animal conservation and building/maintenance work. I have always dreamed of volunteering in a different country and helping those less fortunate than myself and I plan to keep volunteering and traveling as much as I can after this trip as well.

This organization does volunteer trips all around the world but I chose Thailand because I have heard many great things about Thailand. I know a lot of people that have traveled there and I want to learn more about the Thai culture too.

I want to thank everyone for contributing and supporting me every step of the way. I couldn’t achieve this goal of mine without each and every one of you. I hope to see you there.