Happy Holidays, Sitka!
Dear Editor: Another year and the Sitka Cancer Survivor’s Society would like to express our gratitude to Sitka businesses, organizations and individuals who have given of their time, talent and treasures this last year.
Our mission statement is “To honor, educate, comfort and inspire individuals and families affected by cancer.” With your generosity we have completed our Path of Hope and continue to be able to give $500 mini-grants to individuals in Sitka in need of assistance who are dealing with cancer. The gift of the mini-grant makes a difference in their lives.
In 2013 to date, we have given out 30 mini-grants.
The Path of Hope Park is an inspirational park meant to give hope to any person facing life’s tough challenges. It is located above the Moller Park running track and if you have not visited it, we would encourage you to do so. The park is a gift to the community of Sitka from Cancer Survivors and a place to reflect, enjoy and think about our futures.
In addition we sponsor the Cancer Support Group which meets at the Pioneer home manager’s house once a month on a Sunday so a big Thank You to MaryBeth Palof for continuing to lead the group and provide refreshments.
The Ocean Wave Quilt Guild has again donated their beautiful quilt for the drawing on Dec. 12 and the lucky winner was Dave Miller, our Fire Chief!
To the Sitka Women’s Golf Association, Brenner’s Fine Clothing and Gifts, the Pioneer Bar, SEARHC WISEWOMAN’S Health program, Abby’s Reflection, the Ocean Wave Quilters Guild, Julie Hughes Triathlon, Baranof Swim Club, Sitka Emblem Club and plus so many individual donors – thank you!
Wishing everyone a beautiful Merry Christmas and Happy New Year blessings.
The Sitka Cancer Survivor’s Society Board of Directors
Susan Suarez, Deborah Lyons,
Debbie Owen, Bonnie Richards, Sarah Blue and Candi Barger
Boat Parade
Dear Editor: Sitka has always had some marvelous traditions, one of which is the way folks reach out to help others, either in fact or mind-set. When we lived here more full-time (in the 1980s) one of the favorites was the “boat parade.”
The kids would not allow us to ever discuss being anywhere that we might miss that event. In recent years it has been somewhat replaced by the “landlubber’s parade” and if there were boats our schedule (often making it home only just before Christmas Eve) and theirs didn’t coincide.
Saturday we discovered several boats decorated and on parade and we were overjoyed. My thanks to whoever it was that went to the trouble to give us this marvelous gift.
Suzi McClear, Sitka
Toys for Tots
Dear Editor: The Marine Corps League of Sitka Toys for Tots program collected 901 new toys or cash donations for Sitka kids this past Christmas season. This wonderful program’s success would not be possible without the generous contributions of the people of Sitka.
On behalf of the Marine Corps Reserve, who initiate the nationwide program, and the Marine Corps League of Sitka, Robert B. Johnstone Detachment, I wish to personally thank the community, businesses and schools who provided drop off and deposit boxes for donations: Sitka High, Blatchley Middle, Keet Gooshi Heen, Baranof Elementary and Mt. Edcumbe High schools, SEARHC Hospital, Stereo North, True Value, Harry Race Pharmacy, McDonald’s, The Cellar, Ben Franklin, A.C. Lakeside Grocery, Old Harbor Books and Sea Mart.
As an added note of generosity, after our official collection day on Dec. 14, I traversed about town to pick up the Toys for Tots boxes the next week to find many boxes with more toys again! Wow – thank you.
A special thank you is in order for the generous and superb efforts of Roger and Barbara Hames of Sea Mart who promoted the program from the store with a live radio broadcast co-hosted by Larry Schneider and Dan Belair. Thanks are in order for Capt. Turnie Wright and Major Evadne Wright and their staff of the Salvation Army who were instrumental to the toy drive’s success and also distributed the collected toys. This is a monumental task in itself. And, finally, thank you to Nels Lawson for upholding, with their personal efforts, this grand Marine Corps tradition of the Toys for Tots toy drive which will make many young children and their families very happy.
Although the donation tabulation is impressive, we wish to emphasize that each and every donation, be it big or small, from every child or adult, is sincerely appreciated.
Thank you, Sitka. Semper Fi (always Faithful).
Bernie P. Gurule, Commandant,
Nels Lawson, Adjutant Commander,
Marine Corps League of Sitka
Robert B. Johnstone Detachment
