Our community has come together to support the families impacted by the Santiam Canyon fires. St. Anthony Council 2439, along with the Shaw Council, Santiam Hospital, Santiam Service Integration Team, United Way, Red Cross, Elks Club, Lions Club, Marion and Linn Counties, and a host of other individuals and organizations have come together to support these families. Santiam Hospital has set up the Santiam Canyon Wildfire Relief Fund (SCWRF) and is accepting donations, 100% of which will go to canyon families impacted by the wildfires.
We have also set up a massive donation and distribution operation which is 100% staffed by volunteers and stocked to the brim with donated items. We have a store operating at Anthony Hall, and another in Gates in coordination with the Gates Community Church.
FEMA now has staff on site at Anthony Hall, and on Monday the county and the SIT Mobile office will be moved to Anthony Hall. Anthony Hall is now considered a Multi-Agency Resource Center, and is the hub of the canyon relief effort.
Also, on Monday, we will be moving donation reception from Anthony Hall to the new Sublimity Public Works building at 542 NE Berry St in Sublimity.
This first phase of the relief effort is all about providing families the basic necessities they need to get back on their feet – food, clothing, personal hygiene supplies, cleaning supplies, and baby supplies. We also have camping gear, bedding, kids toys & books, cooking supplies, and a host of other items. With the Red Cross on board, we also have wildfire cleanup kits available.
What we need now more than anything, are volunteers to staff the stores at Anthony Hall and Gates as well as the new Donation Center at the Sublimity Public Works. And while we are no longer accepting general material donations, we are asking for specific items need by our stores.
To volunteer or to sign up to deliver donated items, please go to https://tinyurl.com/scwrf. You will find several tabs for volunteering and donating.
Thanks for everything you have contributed so far. The outpouring has been inspirational and humbling.
