Dear Editor: Sitkans Against Family Violence would like to extend a heartfelt thank-you to everyone who helped make our Fall Family Dinner and Dessert Auction such a success.
We are incredibly grateful to everyone who attended, donated desserts, contributed food and supplies, volunteered their time, and helped make the evening possible. A special thank you goes to local businesses, organizations, and individuals whose generosity supported this event. It takes a community to put together an evening like this, and we are continually reminded of how fortunate we are to live in a community that shows up for one another.
We would like to offer special recognition to SEARHC, Aramark, Costco in Juneau, Seafood Producers Cooperative and Sitka Sound Seafoods for donating ingredients for our dinner, with special thanks to Ted Kubacki for coordinating SEARHC’s food donation. We are especially grateful to our wonderful kitchen crew of Brian McNitt, Jim Claire, Joe D’Arienzo, Jamaal Floate, and Scott Brylinsky, and to our emcee Doug Osborne, for keeping the evening moving.
Thank you to our Outer Coast volunteers Ben Walton, Tikvah Barnes, Asher Glickman-Flora, Cedar Hertel, and Iris Segal; Sitka High School National Honor Society volunteer Alaina Becker; and longtime volunteers Mary Levesque and Karen Boyer, who graciously handled payments at the door. We also appreciate Fishing for Cats for sharing their music with us; Alaska Native Sisterhood and Alaska Native Brotherhood for allowing us to use ANB Founders Hall and the ANS kitchen; and community volunteers Emma Thompson, Brent Edwards, Lucas Opgennorth and Jean Swanson for pitching in. Finally, thank you to SAFV Board members Emma Bruhl, Brian McNitt, Dr. Valerie Edwards, Shauna Thornton and Dave Levesque for their time and hard work in making this event happen. We missed having board member Cheryl Vastola with us that evening and are grateful for her continued support of SAFV.
Events like this help SAFV continue providing emergency shelter, advocacy and primary prevention services. These efforts support survivors of interpersonal violence while also working toward a healthier, safer community for everyone.
Thank you, Sitka, for your generosity, kindness, and continued support of SAFV and the people we serve.
Gunalchéesh!
Natalie Wojcik, Executive Director
Sitkans Against Family Violence
