Send supplies to the troops
For American troops recuperating abroad, basic supplies can be scarce.
To fill the gap, the Relief Society Women’s group of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is collecting supplies between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Saturday at Town & Country Market and Safeway.
The group will accept toiletries, socks, underwear, sweats, athletic shoes, black duffle bags, telephone calling cards, DVD’s and portable DVD players.
“Regardless of how anyone feels about the war, our troops over there need our help,” said event organizer Tami Mahnken.
Service men and women come off the fields in Iraq and Afghanistan and arrive in Germany dressed only in operating gowns, Mahnken said.
Along with the manned collection on Saturday, the group will place donation boxes at each Bainbridge public school office until March 2.
The Veterans of Foreign Wars Women’s group will ship the items next month.
Monetary donations will also be accepted. Checks should be made payable to the Wounded Warrior Ministry Center. Collection envelopes will be at the school offices and at the market collection site. For more information, call 842-2532.
Cabin effort in homestretch
The campaign save a Depression-era cabin at Yeomalt Point is nearing the final push.
“We’re in a sprint to the summit,” said local historian Jerry Elfendahl, who has led efforts to save the crumbling one-room cabin at Camp Yeomalt.
Elfendahl and other members of Team Yeomalt have raised about $170,000 of the $200,000 needed to fix the cabin’s sagging timbers and worn-out roof.
Built in the 1930s, the cabin has served much of its long life as a Boy Scout meeting place. The cabin, which boasts a large stone fire place, fell into disuse and was scheduled for dismantling by the park district in 2005.
Since then, Team Yeomalt has raised funds and organized work parties to save the cabin.
Elfendahl hopes to see a final flood of checks to help in the restoration effort.
“We see the light at the end of the tunnel,” he said. “There’s no reason to send just one check. One donor’s sent eight.”
Team Yeomalt is planning a work party this Saturday. Volunteers will peel timber poles and install a new roof tarp. The event begins at 9 a.m.
The cabin’s supporters are also planning a “show and tell” during the day-long Chilly Hilly bike ride set for Sunday. Volunteers will give cabin tours to riders and show exhibits about its history.
Contributions can be made to the Yeomalt Cabin Fund”, Bainbridge Island Parks Fund, P.O. Box 10010, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110.
-Tristan Baurick
Noodles on bikers’ menu
The Squeaky Wheels bicycle advocacy group is holding its fifth annual “Night Before Chilly Hilly Pasta Dinner and Auction” Saturday at Bainbridge High School.
It’s a way to get some kicks and fuel-up before the big ride.
Featured entertainment includes adventure cyclist and National Public Radio commentator Willie Weir. The Lowell Thomas travel writer’s award-winner will give a presentation on his latest adventure: cycling through Southeast Asia.
A full pasta dinner will be provided by Mon Elisa’s restaurant and “Beeks on Bikes.”
The auction will once again include a grand prize ride on the Bainbridge Island Police boat.
Adrian Mason will provide an update on the “Bikes for Africa” project while a representative from the city’s Non-motorized Transportation Committee will discuss efforts to bring more bike lanes to Bainbridge.
The event kicks-off at 5 p.m.
Boutique fetes hospital’s 100th
Children’s Hospital will seal its centennial with a smooch, as it teams with a Seattle radio station for a “One Big Kiss” radiothon.
Bainbridge Island’s Bargain Boutique, which raises money for Children’s Hospital, will the join KISS-FM radiothon’s final day, acting in concert with the five other area thrift stores to try to beat last year’s fund-raising record of over $1.1 million.
“Because of the 100th, we thought it would be great to do something special,” store manager Cynthia Van Buskirk said.
That something is a day-long celebration. Islanders can stop by between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. to shop, have a piece of cake and make a pledge, and the boutique will call in to KISS throughout Saturday to report its pledge totals.
The Bargain Boutique’s celebration will also include a raffle and a silent auction featuring donations from local businesses like Pastiche, the Iron Gate, Indulgence, Lindsleys and Magnolia’s on Madison.
“We wanted as many local people as possible,” says Van Buskirk of the auction donation effort. “I know everyone gives all year long, but since this is the special 100th year, it was very nice of everyone to donate.”
Van Buskirk has set a donation goal of $2,500 for the day.
The One Big Kiss radiothon, now in its sixth year, takes place 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. Feb. 21-23 and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 24. The KISS-FM morning show will broadcast live from Children’s Hospital and feature personal stories from patients, families and staff.
All proceeds go directly to the Children’s Centennial Project, which funds research, facilities and uncompensated patient care.
Bargain Boutique will commit all of the donation proceeds it raises this month to the Centennial Project.
“We welcome people to come in any time during the radiothon period to make donations,” Van Buskirk said. “They don’t have to just come on Saturday.”
To donate, call the boutique at 842-5567.
