A 17-year-old artist just received the "Giving Back" award from the Kirkland Downtown Association and Amazon for his work giving back to his community. Austin Picinich first caught the attention of the City of Kirkland when he organized hundreds of volunteers to assist in his project, called Save our Salmon Through Art (SOS). He led the painting of multiple "Save our Salmon" murals which called attention to salmon restoration projects in north Lake Washington creeks. The city reached out for his services painting a local staple this holiday. Santa’s North Pole Mail Box has been a holiday tradition since 2016 and after many harsh winters, the mailbox was looking a bit worn. “The city reached out to me so I could come give the mailbox a fresh coat of paint and make sure it looks great for all the kids who are sending letters to Santa,” said Picinich. Read the full story here: https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/teen-giving-back-award-kirkland-santas-mailbox-amazon/281-a4ef9838-1bd5-4431-a79d-96eea8cc0004