Feeding Adna

In a small rural town near Chehalis, Wash, life revolves around the local high school – basketball games, fundraisers and parent-teacher conferences keep families and neighbors connected. And residents of Adna and the American Red Cross weren’t going to allow a flood to disrupt that tradition. Volunteers delivered warm meals to the Adna High School to give families a break from cleaning up their homes and property, visit with friends and learn about flood relief services available in the community. The more than 150 mud-caked boots that walked through the cafeteria doors symbolized this community’s resiliency and the tight-knit community the Red Cross is working so hard to restore.

Shelter Clowns

Shelter residents and Red Cross workers took a minute to clown around with comedic entertainers from Yakima, Wash., and relieve some stress caused by last week’s flooding. The troop lifted spirits, brought joy and laughter for the dozens of families staying at Red Cross shelter in the Westminster Presbyterian Church in Chehalis, Wash.

More Assistance Available from Volunteers

Beverly Patrick was the first person to visit with Red Cross caseworker, Jim Whitehouse, when he arrived at the Jesus Christ Church of Latter-day Saints in Centralia, Wash.

Red Cross Opens Service Delivery Sites

Distribution of financial assistance for Oregon flood victims begins

PORTLAND, Ore. – Beginning today at noon, the American Red Cross will open four service delivery sites to provide additional help to victims of the devastating floods that occurred along the northern Oregon coast.

At the sites, residents can meet directly with Red Cross caseworkers to discuss the possibility of financial assistance to meet disaster-caused emergency needs, including clothing, lost medicine, safe shelter and referrals. Assistance is based on each individual family’s needs. Due to high demand, service center visitors should be prepared for long lines. The service delivery sites are located at:

Vernonia – Cedar Ridge Camp
18962 Keasey Rd.
12/9: 12 – 5 p.m.

Astoria/Seaside – Camp Rilea
91204 Rilea Rd.
12/9: 12 – 5 p.m.

Tillamook – Oregon Dept. of Forestry
5005 3rd St.
12/9: 1 – 5 p.m.

Clatskanie – Clatskanie Middle School
555 SE Bryant St.
12/9: 1 – 5 p.m.
 
Starting Monday, Dec. 10, regular hours of operation will be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Red Cross will continue to distribute meals out of emergency response vehicles and at designated kitchens in these communities. For specific information, affected residents are urged to call 1-866-GET-INFO.

“We know that the families in these communities suffered tremendously from these storms,” said Thomas Bruner, CEO, Oregon Trail Chapter of the Red Cross. “We may be able to assist with a Red Cross debit card to shop for things their family needs such as diapers and baby formula, new clothing and shoes, and medical supplies.”

The Red Cross asks those who want to help the organization to make financial contributions. “When someone makes a gift to the Red Cross, we use that gift to get our assistance directly to the affected families,” said Bruner. “Without these gifts, we would not be able to open service centers like we’re doing today.” To make a financial contribution to the American Red Cross, please call 1-800-RED-CROSS or visit www.redcross.org.

Partnering with Southern Baptists to Deliver Meals and Clean Up Supplies

Convoys of Red Cross Emergency Response Vehicles and moving trucks bearing the Red Cross emblem are traveling throughout Lewis County distributing warm meals, bottled water and clean up supplies to residents affected by the flood. Bringing these essential items directly to individuals and families working to clean up and repair their homes allows them to stay focused and moving forward in the recovery process. 

Red Cross vehicles will be staging out of the following Southern Baptist-operated kitchen locations:

519 N. Second Street, Pe Ell, WA 98572 

Gray’s Harbor County Fairgrounds, 32 Elma-McCleary Road, Elma, WA 98541 

Additional supplies and vehicles are being staged at:

2821 Ocean Drive (Hwy 101) Raymond, WA 98577

Clean up supplies are also available to the public at:

American Red Cross Kitsap County Office, 811 Pacific Avenue, Bremerton, WA 98337

Office Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Youth lend a hand

Phi Vu and Bingli Zhang of the American Red Cross Oregon Trail Chapter youth council help load disaster supplies into a truck headed to flood-affected areas.

Use of Safe and Well website encouraged

The American Red Cross continues to provide relief to residents affected by the flooding throughout Western Washington and urges residents to register on the Safe and Well list. Concerned family and friends can search the list of those who have registered themselves as “safe and well” and obtain a much-needed peace of mind. The Chehalis Timberland Library and Techline, a technology company in Aberdeen, are allowing friends and family members without power to access the Safe and Well Web site from their computer terminals. If you are unable to travel call someone to register for you. To register visit www.redcross.org, call 1-800-REDCROSS (1-800-733-2767) for assistance from a Red Cross agent, or visit the following locations.

Chehalis Timberland Library
350 N. Market Blvd.
Chehalis, WA 98532-0419

Hours: Tuesday through Thursday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The library is located across the street from the Red Cross shelter at the Westminster Presbyterian Church in Chehalis.

Techline

914 E. Wishkah

Aberdeen, WA 98520

Hours: Thursday until 5 p.m., Friday & Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Techline is running on generator power so the available hours are subject to change.

The company is located across the street from Wal Mart in Aberdeen.

You can help with Red Cross recovery efforts in Pacific Northwest

Many Washington residents have inquired about where they can donate clothing and household goods so those affected by the flood can return to normalcy as soon as possible after the flood waters recede. Many community organizations, including the American Red Cross, are not accepting donations of individual items, such as food, clothing, furniture and cleaning supplies, because it is logistically impossible to distribute a wide variety of individual items in a meaningful and responsible way. Some donations, though well-intentioned, have hidden costs and pose many complications. You can, however, support your community by donating these items to an organization that is not participating in relief efforts and is equipped to put them to the best possible local use.

 

The best way to help those affected by this and other disasters is to make a financial contribution to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. Monetary contributions enable organizations, like the American Red Cross, to purchase the most urgently needed items as close to the disaster site as possible. Purchasing near the disaster site ensures supplies get to those affected as quickly as possible, without delay and hefty transportation costs. And because communities hit by disasters generally experience significant economic loss, buying goods locally also helps to stimulate a weakened economy and support area businesses.

 

Monetary contributions can be made to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund by calling 1-800-Red Cross or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). You can also make a secure online credit card contribution by visiting: www.redcross.org.

 

Serving the community

Ronette Brachert and Tim Davidson serve Luichesco Gomez at the Red Cross shelter in Shoreline, Wash., a hot meal following the floods that ravaged the Pacific Northwest.

Family meal

Herminia Gomez eats a meal at a Red Cross shelter in Shoreline, Wash. in King County, with her children Luichesco, 12, and Leslie, 11, Monday, Dec. 5.