Shelter Spruce-Up
Dear Editor: I would like to send a very hearty ‘‘thank you!’’ to Fire Chief Dave Miller and the Sitka Fire Department for the assistance they provided in sprucing up the Crescent Harbor shelter recently.
In this virus time the shelter has provided a haven and meeting spot for many – individuals and groups – in our community. Reclaiming the spot from the birds and getting it ready for outdoor activities is very much appreciated.
Gayle Young for
Sitka Homeless Coalition
GOTR Thank You
Dear Editor: Thanks to the support of many individuals and agencies throughout Sitka, our 12th season of Girls on the Run got off to a great start in early March and shifted to a virtual presence following school closures due to COVID-19. GOTR is designed to instill strength and resilience in third- through fifth-grade girls to prepare them for a lifetime of self-respect and healthy living. Once teams could no longer meet in person, our 30 participants received two GOTR at Home activity plans each week to keep them active and engaged with the program’s empowering messages through fun games and thought-provoking questions. Over the weekend of May 23 and 24, GOTR girls, family members, coaches and community members participated in a virtual 5K to celebrate the end of the season!
Over the years, the Sitka community has shown incredible support for Girls on the Run and this year was no exception. Supported by the Pathways to a Safer Sitka community coalition, SAFV partners with the Sitka School District, Sitka Tribe of Alaska, and Youth Advocates of Sitka to bring GOTR to Sitka. Additionally, Sitka Counseling and the Sitka Conservation Society encourage their staff to coach for the program.
Thanks to Raven Radio for airing our weekly PSAs, the Sitka Sentinel for publishing summaries of each lesson, and to Harrigan Centennial Hall for giving us a space to hold our coach training. We can’t thank our phenomenal coaches enough for all they have done to uplift and empower Sitka’s girls: Missy Mongiovi, Jill Hayden, Grace Greenwald, Reid Wiegleb, Ray Reichl, Sydney Carter, Margaret Heftler, Heather Chandler, Alec Duncan, Hillary Nutting, Carolyn Rice and Cyrus Unvala. Even after our in-person season was canceled, they continued to brainstorm and find new ways to support their teams from a distance.
We recognize the power of Girls on the Run in Sitka to help our community’s girls reach their limitless potential. Thank you to all who have supported this program in any way throughout the past 12 years. If you’d like to get involved with GOTR or its partner program, Boys Run I toowú klatseen, please email ethompson@safv.org!
Emma Thompson,
AmeriCorps Prevention Specialist
Sitkans Against Family Violence
