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
Census Gets Help Of Sitka Volunteers
By ARIADNE WILL
Special to the Sentinel
In the midst of a pandemic, conducting the federal 2020 Census is proving difficult.
“Because of the ramifications of the pandemic it’s crucial... that each and every Sitkan respond,” Sitka City Clerk Sara Peterson said.
Peterson is chairwoman of Sitka’s Complete Count Committee, which the Assembly set up early last year. The committee reflects the importance of an accurate count to the city’s economic health and includes representatives from Sitka Tribe of Alaska, the Coast Guard, the Homeless Coalition, Sitka Counseling, the Camber of Commerce, and Sitka School District.
Heads of households who have not yet responded to the forms that have already been mailed out can fill out a form at 2020census.gov, or by calling 1 (844) 330-2020. Self-responses will be accepted through Sept. 30.
The Census Bureau also may send emails to households to request responses. Such emails will be sent by 2020census@subscriptions.census.gov.
Peterson said this morning that 54.9% of Sitkans have responded so far.
“(The census) determines how more than $3.2 billion is spent each year,” she said. “It might sound cliché, but every person counts. It’s really important.”
In-person enumeration – that is, door-to-door interviews conducted by census takers on foot – is scheduled to begin August 11, but officials say that self-reporting is the best response method.
“Because of the pandemic we’re asking people to self-respond if they’re able to because that will avoid having a census taker go to them,” said Jeanette Durán Pacheco, a media specialist at the Los Angeles Regional Office.
In a phone interview with the Sentinel, Durán Pacheco said that calling in by phone is a good option for people living on boats. Enumerators are unable to reach people living in harbors and marinas, which makes self-response in those areas crucial. The phone script of questions for people without traditional street addresses asks for GPS coordinates, Durán Pacheco said.
“Even if you don’t have a city-style address, we’ll know exactly where you are living,” she said.
Durán Pacheco said census workers around the country are presently delivering census questionnaires and materials to people’s doors, even to those living on remote islands.
Peterson said the pandemic put a brake on plans by the Sitka Counts Committee to put on events for boosting the census response.
“Prior to COVID-19, we were going to have census events in Sitka,” she said. “We were going to have one at the library and events at Harrigan (Centennial Hall). Because of the pandemic we haven’t been able to do those things.”
In the meantime Peterson has been getting the word out by delivering promotional census materials to downtown businesses, who have been handing the materials out to their customers.
“Alaska Counts sent me a lot of promotional materials, like bags and water bottles and pins,” she said. “We’ve been trying to be creative to hand out those things. It’s definitely been a lot more challenging than we had anticipated.”
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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.