United Way
Dear Editor: Most of the people I meet or know in Southeast Alaska are passionate about living in nice communities where they can work, recreate and happily raise their families. Many of these same folks want to help contribute toward building their strong communities but may not have the time or know how to contribute. That is where United Way can help. United Way of Southeast Alaska advances the common good by directing efforts to three cornerstone building blocks for a good life by focusing on improving health, education and income stability.
As the umbrella organization for 34 non-profit agencies across Southeast Alaska, United Way helps match up individual needs with agencies that can help and acts as the conduit to easily and dependably donate to these local charities in your neighborhoods. Your donations help fund the worthwhile non-profits of your choice that directly contribute to improving lives for our family, friends and neighbors.
In the current fiscally austere environment, now more than ever United Way and its partner agencies need your support to continue providing essential services to those in need. These worthy social support agencies can be only effective if they have the resources to focus on their core missions.
United Way not only raises funds for our partner agencies, but also organizes activities that directly benefit individuals and groups. A few notable examples include how United Way helped to facilitate the annual Day of Caring in Sitka. United Way orchestrated local businesses and volunteers to complete much needed projects for local non-profit organizations Southeast Alaska Independent Living, the Fortress of the Bear, Alaska Fine Arts Camp and Sitkans Against Family Violence that could not achieve these results on their own. This year we hosted five days of Caring events in four communities. Combined, we had over 100 volunteers work on 18 projects across Southeast Alaska donating over 450 hours of volunteer time.
Please consider giving to United Way so together can build better communities and enhance the quality of life of everyone in Southeast Alaska. We all want to live in safe, healthy and stable communities where we can work, recreate and raise families. The United Way helps ensure this goal through your valuable donation. Give today!
Please call 907-463-5530 or visit www.UnitedWaySEAK.org for more information.
Warren Russell,
Chairman of the Board,
United Way of Southeast Alaska
St. Peter’s Celebration
Dear Editor: I would like to extend my thanks and gratitude for all who came out in support of St. Peter’s 120th Anniversary celebration on Dec. 1. It was a wonderful community celebration of music, gifts and dinner.
Nancy Ricketts presented to St. Peter’s her fifth “Last Project” that was an embroidered gift made by her, and designed, matted and framed by Norm Campbell. Nancy described the inspiration behind her gift as ‘‘Hands, the strong and capable hands of a fisherman mending a net.’’ Thank you to John Straley for assisting Nancy with her presentation to St. Peter’s.
I would like to thank the Right Reverend Mark Lattime, the Eighth Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Alaska, for his welcome and opening words for the program in the church. Many thanks to all who presented a musical offering – St. Peter’s choir, Kathi Jones, Kristin and Justin Hames, Mina Brooks-Schmidt, Tiffany Pearson and Kris and John Fulton. Thank you to Gail Peterson for opening the archives building for people to view some of St. Peter’s old photos and other historical documents. Thank you to all of those from St. Peter’s and their family and friends who made the salmon chowder, baked breads and donated cookies, and helped to set up, serve and clean up after the delicious dinner and fellowship in the See House.
And a big thank you to all of you who made donations to assist us with our recent emergency roof repair on the See House. We appreciate your generosity and support for this place, the church and the See House, that we love to share with the community.
Nancy’s Ricketts’ gift to the church is hanging in the dining hall of the See House for all to enjoy.
Thank you, again, I look forward to seeing everyone at the next community gathering at St. Peter’s.
Peace and gratitude,
The Rev. Julie Platson, Rector,
St. Peter’s by-the-Sea
Episcopal Church
Christmas Bazaar
Dear Editor: The 2019 annual Christmas Bazaar was our biggest and best in its 39-year history. Sitka Counseling would like to say a big “thank you” to all Sitkans for showing their tremendous support for our organization and the bazaar. We could not have completed this year successfully without our wonderful vendors, staff and especially the community.
The day was filled with smiling faces; it was obvious you enjoyed yourselves as much as we did. We would like to David Goulette at AC Lakeside and Roger Hames at the Hames Corporation for their generous donations which made this event a huge success. All of us at Sitka Counseling look forward to next year. Happy Holidays!
The Sitka Counseling staff
Al-Anon Community
Dear Editor: With the holidays upon us, stress and tension can increase exponentially, especially for those living with friends and family who suffer from the diseases of alcoholism and addiction. Has your life been affected by someone’s drinking? Sitka is fortunate to have an Al-Anon community, with a meeting available each week. Al-Anon is a program for friends and families of alcoholics helping members to learn how to live a rich and happy life with the tools of the program, regardless of whether the alcoholic or addict is still using or not.
Sometimes, by getting the help you need by accepting the realities of the disease, and by focusing attention on improving your own life and character challenges, the Al-Anon tools can somehow also aid those suffering from the cunning and baffling disease of alcoholism.
If you would like some information about this truly remarkable program of self-help and self-improvement, that you work at your own pace and comfort level, please go to al-anon-ak.org for a schedule of local meetings and an introduction to this free, non-religious program. Forty percent of Al-Anon’s members are referred to Al-Anon by local professionals, and many have found peace and contentment, one day at a time.
Denise Roselle, Juneau
