Aid-to-Member Support
Dear Editor: The 14th Annual Sitka Fire Department Volunteers Aid-to-Member fund-raiser was once again a GREAT success thanks to the support of the community and the donations from our generous businesses.
Thank you to CHARR for their generous cash donation. Thank you to the merchants who generously donated to our event: Alaska Computer Center, Alaska Raptor Center, Russell’s, Harry Race Pharmacy, Videl Video, True Value, Old Harbor Books, Foreign Auto, Stereo North, Sitka Rose Gallery, Bill Greer, Howie Pitts, Goldsmith Gallery, Big Blue Fisheries, Baranof Island Brewing Company, Dave Miller, Sitka Flowers and Chocolate Moose, Horan and Company, and Sherri Fahey.
Thank you to the Sentinel for running the picture and our PSAs. KIFW and Raven Radio for announcing our PSAs. Thanks to Dan Etulain for filming the event. Thank you to Roger Hames and Sea Mart, Scott Bob and Calhoun and Sitka Bottling, Bob Burnett and AC Lakeside, and Dave Simpson and Market Center for the contributions of food, refreshments and storage space.
Thank you, Toni McGraw, for once again creating one of your special quilts. They are always an awesome addition to our silent auction.
Louise Olmstead for ‘‘enticing’’ our dunkees to participate. A big thank you to the good-hearted participants of our dunk tank: Scott Calhoun, Joey Winger, Richard Holden, Justin Albee, Parker White, Josh Wang and Hillary Martin. We appreciate your contribution of time. Thanks to Nick McGraw for manning the castle, John McCrehin, Buzz Brown, Ashley Eisenbeizs and Dani Snyder for serving food and cashiering, Bob Reid for assisting Grace with her fry bread and to those various volunteers who helped with the dunk tank.
Thanks to the community and department members who rented tables to sell their ‘‘stuff.’’ Don Kluting and the Centennial Hall staff for use of the tables for the rummage treasures, crafts and jewelry.
Grace Larsen, thank you for sharing your wonderful fry bread with us once again. Your support of the fire department and our Super Saturday fund-raiser over the years is greatly appreciated. We really hope to see you next year, although we know that retirement is in your future.
A BIG thank you goes to the volunteers and staff who showed up on the event day to help set up and take down.
See you next year.
Cathy Watson and the
Fire Department
Volunteer Association
Generous Donations
Dear Editor: Brave Heart Volunteers would like to thank Cheryl Vastola, owner of Sewing Solutions, for the generous donation of her time and materials to create an activity pillow prototype for people with dementia. The activity pillow was shared at a recent C:ARE luncheon led by Occupational Therapist Mo McBride of Oceanside Therapy Center, which explored how dementia impacts the sense of touch.
Cheryl’s activity pillow can be placed in a loved one’s lap to offer their busy hands an engaging and soothing tactile experience with zippers, buttons, and ties that can be manipulated. We are incredibly fortunate to have these amazing community members to aid in understanding how dementia impacts the senses and we are especially thankful to Cheryl, Mo and Oceanside for their gifts last week.
The fourth luncheon in the six-part Senses Series focuses on taste and is set for Sept. 17 at noon at the Pioneer Home Manager’s House.
Please contact Erin Matthes at 747-4600 for more information regarding the activity pillow or the Senses Series.
With deep appreciation,
Brave Heart Volunteers staff
