LUTHERAN QUILTERS – Members of the Quilts for Comfort Group stand between pews draped with some of the 205 quilts they made, in the Sitka Lutheran Church Tuesday. The group made the quilts for five local non-profits and one in Anchorage. The remaining quilts are sent to Lutheran World Relief which  distributes them to places around the world in need, such as Ukraine, as part of Personal Care Kits. Pictured are, from left, Helen Cunningham, Kathleen Brandt,Vicki Swanson, Paulla Hardy, Kim Hunter, Linda Swanson and Sue Fleming.  (Sentinel Photo by James Poulson)

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Daily Sitka Sentinel

May 13, 2020, Letters to the Editor

Tongass

Dear Editor: At Sitka Conservation Society we are committed to protecting the Tongass and building socially, ecologically and economically sustainable communities. This work looks different depending on the opportunities and pressures facing our region, but it always means valuing our relationships with people and place. It is with this mindset that on March 18 we launched the Sitka Mutual Aid Network, a new initiative meant to build Sitka’s resilience and culture of health in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Through this network, we match requests for assistance with offers of support, connecting Sitkans who can be of service to one another. Our primary activities are doing errands for those with health risks or who are self-isolating and working to improve food security by providing grocery assistance. We know that many folks are experiencing economic hardships and uncertainty due to the pandemic, and we are committed to showing up for one another as best we can.

We wanted to share some of the outcomes that we – local individuals, organizations and businesses – have achieved together so far. In the two months since we started the Network, 80 volunteers and over 100 households have signed up; we have fulfilled 148 requests for assistance, including 71 grocery gift cards, 68 custom grocery deliveries and five requests for information or other needs; and we have completed eight special bulk distributions and facilitated a few others, getting the following goods out to folks via no-contact, doorstep deliveries: 320 bags of groceries;190 wild salmon dinners; 60 loaves of fresh baked bread; 18 bags of coffee; 12 packages of sweet treats; 6 custom family dinners; and 6 children’s books.

All told, the network has provided over $15,000 in grocery assistance. The majority of this aid benefited both the households who received the goods and the businesses who supplied them. We are happy for this opportunity to support the local economy.

Thank you to the 82 individuals who have made a financial contribution. Thank you to the many businesses that have donated money or goods, including AC Lakeside, Sitka Salmon Shares, Trinity Business Services, Sitka Food Coop, Southeast Dough Co., Highliner Coffee Co., Old Harbor Books, Mean Queen, Graceful Pastries, Woven in the Waves, Hook, Line and Bobbin, and Alaska Tokens. Your generosity is appreciated.

Our sincere gratitude to local artist Jerrod Galanin who ran a benefit raffle on our behalf and donated a gorgeous killer whale cuff, two sets of earrings and two gratitude bracelets. This effort raised $8,000 for our grocery assistance fund.

Thank you to all of the Sitka Mutual Aid volunteers, Our Town Catering, Sea Mart Quality Foods, Backdoor Cafe, Sitka Youth Advocates and Sitka Bulk Goods for your support and collaboration.

Thank you to the households who have reached out for assistance and openly communicated with us. We are grateful to be in community with you.

Special thanks to the Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association for creating a seafood donation program that has already delivered more than 500 pounds of local seafood to folks experiencing food insecurity. Sixty-eight mutual aid households and counting have been enrolled in this program.

In short, thank you Sitka for making this network come alive. It has been an honor seeing neighbors stand in solidarity with one another. To get involved or to learn more, please visit sitkamutualaid.com, text 907-738-0357 or check out @SitkaMutualAid on Facebook.

Chandler O’Connell and 

Sitka Conservation Society

 

Assembly Vote

Dear Editor: I’m saddened that a super majority of the Assembly doesn’t think enough residents are dying.

Pete Roddy, Sitka

 

SSD Principals

Dear Editor: “Children and teens may respond more strongly to the stress of a crisis” (cdc.gov). 

And, change always comes with a cost. 

The entire world is dealing with these two truths. Our community here is dealing with these two truths.

Our children, pre-kindergarten to grade 12, and the entire staff of the school district, as well as all parents and families, are experiencing varying levels of stress right now, as they deal with learning and teaching online, something very new for the vast majority of them. Classrooms that are often seen as havens to children of all ages are empty now, but it is hoped that they will be open this fall, yet it is certain that our students and staff will still be suffering some form of stress because of this world pandemic. 

So why would Sitka’s lame-duck superintendent choose now to throw names of school principals and vice-principals into a blender, and let it spit out new assignments/schools for those administrators, for a school year she will not be part of? This is supposed to raise achievement levels on standardized tests? And now is the best time to do this? I am not buying it.

Common sense tells us that our children and staff will need stability and familiarity upon their return to the schools this fall. This latest move by our current superintendent makes no educational nor professional sense. 

Please share your concerns with members of the School Board. And allow Mr. Holst, incoming superintendent, and our administrators, teachers, staff, and children a chance at some form of familiarity to have a good start to a school year that already will have enough pitfalls and challenges to keep them very busy for the entire year. 

G. L. Hammons, Sitka

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20 YEARS AGO

March 2004

Advertisement: Tea-Licious Tea House & Bakery 315 Lincoln Street Grand Opening! Freshly Baked Scones, Cakes & Pastries Innovative Salads, Soups & Sandwiches Harney & Sons Tea. Lunch * Afternoon Tea * Supper.

50 YEARS AGO

March 1974

Photo caption: National Republican Chairman George Bush takes a drink of water offered by Jan Craddick, Sitka delegate, during the Republican convention held here. Mrs. Craddick explained to Bush that the water was from Indian River, which means, according to local legend, that he will return.

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