NEW! Rainier Saturday Market Facebook Page

Rainier Saturday Market

The Rainier Saturday Market has a new Facebook Page:

You can get all of your updates and Saturday Market 

information there.  You can look it up by name, or go directly 

to their page by following the link below:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1355512853005728

The Saturday Market had a wonderful turnout for the

Rainier Round-Up Days and Bluegrass Festival events.

Thank you Cindee Day and all of her volunteers for 

making this a successful event.

We had a lot of help with the Bluegrass event, too.  

A special "Thank you" to all of the Volunteers from:

1. the Rainier Marching Band and Band Booster Club for providing a Burger Den 
2. Senior Center of Rainier 
3. We Love Rainier WA  
4. The Rainier Community Gardens 
5. The Well Rainier.
6. Rainier Public Works Crew
7. David Wuller and Crew
   
8. The City of Rainier WA
9. Valley Heart Church for their Bake Sale

The Bluegrass Festival wouldn't have happened without everyone's help.

Have a great day!  (

All the best,

Linda

If I forgot someone, it wasn't intentional.)

https://www.chronline.com/stories/rainiers-32nd-annual-bluegrass-festival-draws-large-crowd-for-weekend-long-event,407236

Bluegrass Raffles August 22, 2026

Dear Seniors & Friends,

RAFFLE ITEMS BELOW:

There will be several wonderful raffle litems during the Bluegrass Festival.  You can buy your tickets at the booth by the enterance to Wilkowski Park.  $1.00 each or 6 for $5.00.  Most of the raffles take a single ticket.

FREE DRAWINGS BELOW:

There are 3 drawings for free gift certificates.  You have 1 ticket per person for that raffle, so you need to choose which one of the three raffles you want to put your ticket into.  This is  separate from the fundraising raffles listed above. Everyone receives one special ticket to fill out.  Choose which raffle you want to enter.  The entry containers will be at the booth at the Wilkowski Park enterance. 

September 2026 Lunch Menu

 Dear Seniors & Friends,  The lunch menu is ready.  We're serving Baked Chicken Breasts and legs for the chicken dinner on September 21st.  We will announce what we're serving for the Chef's Choice meal on the 28th, closer to the date of service.  Thanks, Linda

Menu Change August 26, 2026

 

Dear Seniors & Friends,

The menu for the Wednesday after Bluegrass has changed.  We will be serving

Tater Tot Casserole instead of Enchiladas.  I apologize for the inconvience.

Linda 

Grocery Outlet 80th Anniversary Celebration

Dear Seniors & Friends,

The Grocery Outlet store in Yelm is holding a special 80th Anniversary 

eventat their store this coming weekend.  August 15, 2026.

Please read the attached flyer.

The Yelm Grocery Outlet store donates food every Monday to the 

Senior Center of Rainier.  We are all grateful and appreciate everything 

they do for our senior citizens and our local community.  

Please support the Grocery Outlet Store in Yelm WA!

Thank you,

Linda

Gold Star Dinner September 2026

 Dear Seniors & Friends,

John O'Callahan stopped in at the Senior Center today to invite everyone to the Gold Star Dinner at the Quarry House in Tenino on September 27, 2026 from 5:00pm - 7:00pm.

RSVP by September 1, 2026, so they know how much food to purchase for the meal.

The flyer is attached below with the details and contact information.  

There is no charge for the dinner.

Linda

August 2026 Lunch Menu

 Dear Seniors & Friends,

The August 2026 Lunch Menu is ready.  Remember, our menu items are subject to change.

Linda

Rainier Band Carwash July 11, 2026

 Rainier Band Carwash!!!

Rain or Shine!

July 2026 Lunch Menu

 Dear Seniors & Friends,

The Saturday Market will be closed on the Fourth of July, so families can celebrate our 250th Anniversary!  Happy July 4th!  1776-2026!

No Potluck this month.  There will be a BBQ at the end of summer.  

Food Pickup Monday May 25, 2026

Dear Seniors & Friends,

Although we will be closed for lunch on Monday, May 25, 2026 for Memorial Day,  we will be receiving food from Grocery Outlet and the Tenino Community Service Center.  

Food will start arriving around 9-9:30 am from the TCSC and from Grocery Outlet around 10:30-11 am.  We will start giving out food from 11 am - 1 pm.

Please feel free to come and help us put the food on the shelves and non-perishables in the dining room.

George and I plan on going upstairs and organizing the We Love Rainier WA decorations and supplies, if anyone wants to come help us with that as well.  

We appreciate everyone's help and contributions to the Senior Center of Rainier.  Thank you all for making this a "home away from home"!

Respectfully,

Linda J Johnson

June 2026 Lunch Menu

 

Mother's Day Lunch May 11, 2026

 Dear Seniors & Friends,

Today we celebrated Mother's Day at the Senior Center of Rainier.  Kathy Eide decorated the tables and made treats for a dessert bar.  Cherri Crafton helped Kathy decorate after The Well Rainier Church service on Sunday.  Cherri also bought geranium plants to give to mothers.

Anticipating a crowd for lunch.  The decorations are out.  The kitchen staff is preparing lunch. George, Vaughn and I are putting out the food for our mini-foodbank.  Kevin and Diane Pettit picked up food from the Grocery Outlet Store in Yelm and put it out a little later on.  Daniel Bryan picked up cookies from a different food bank and put them out on the food bank shelves.

Cindee Day, our receptionist, at the front desk with the geraniums.

Dessert bar settings.

Dessert Bar Decorations

Dessert Bar Trays

Plants for Mothers.

Place Settings with fairy lights and electric candles

Kathy's Decorations.

Celebrate with candles and dimmed lights.

Lunch was Chicken Cordon Bleu, Dilly Macaroni Salad, Oven Roasted Potatoes, Green salad and a dinner roll.  There was a huge assortments of beverages and desserts!

We had our mini-food bank, which served dozens of people today.  We also had several "to go" meals.  

The Chicken Cordon Bleu was purchased from Sysco Foods.  It was delicious!  

Holidays are special times at the Senior Center.  

Everyone works hard to get everything ready to celebrate.  

Thank you all for your hard work and contributions! 

                                We appreciate you all!

Left to right:  Angela Denman, Jane Taylor, Vaughn Kidder
and Judy Langworthy waiting for lunch to be served.

Waiting for lunch to be served.  Front table:  

Kathy & Bill Willette visiting with Valeen Trujillo.

The long lunch line!

Check out the dessert bar!  

Pictures from Today's Potluck May 6, 2026

The potluck at the Senior Center's was a huge success.  Bill Koutrouba BBQ'd burgers and dogs today.  They were served with all of the trimmings, including grilled onions with bacon bits...sliced onions and tomatoes, wedges of avocado and many yummy side dishes!  

The Potlucks are Bill Koutrouba's idea.  He wants to give the kitchen staff a day off once a month during the good weather.  He did this last year, and the staff really enjoys taking time off with their families.  Thank you for cooking, Bill!

• Kathy Eide came early to make coffee, slice tomatoes and onions, as well as prepare other food for our lunch.  
• Captain Bill brought his BBQ, smoked pork and got started his prep work.  He grilled hot dogs, hamburgers, warmed buns Kellen made dill potato salad. 
• Nancy Bay brought homemade broccoli salad. 
• Evie and Ken Arnold brough deviled eggs.  
• Valeen Trujillo made her wonderful orange fruit salad.  
• Kevin and Diane brough coleslaw... 
• Cindee Day brough cheese sauce... 
• Sue and Dave Velasco brought their Seven Layer Taco dip...  

There was so much more food that was brought by our many wonderful members.  Thank you all for your contributions!  The food was very tasty!  

A special "Thank You" to Pastor Pat & Tina Cooley, Kellen Moore, Kathy Eide, Kevin & Diane Pettit for all helping in the kitchen.  Also, thank Cherri Crafton and Pattie Williams for helping with cleaning up after our lunch crowd left.  

We appreciate everyone who contributed today!  You made this event a success!  

Have a wonderful weekend.

We had a full house for our potluck today.  New faces, new members, great food and lots of wonderful help!  A special thank you to Kathy Eide and Kellen Moore for setting everything up in the kitchen this morning!

Kevin and Diane Pettit helping serve food in the kitchen.  Pat and Tina Cooley helped serve and do dishes.  What a great team.

Left to Right:  Tina Cooley, Pat Cooley, Kevin Pettit, Diane Pettit, Evie Arnold working in the kitchen. 

 

Rainier Schools Leaders and Students Share Lunch with Seniors at Senior Center of Rainier

On Wednesday, April 22, 2026, Rainier Public Schools Superintendent Bryon Bahr, Rainier High School Principal John Beckman, and members of the Superintendent Student Advisory Committee paid a special visit to the Senior Center of Rainier for lunch.

The gathering brought together district leadership, student representatives, and local seniors for a meaningful afternoon of conversation, connection, and community. Students from the Superintendent Student Advisory Committee had the opportunity to sit with seniors, listen to their stories, and share about school life in Rainier.

Superintendent Bryon Bahr and Principal John Beckman joined the students in greeting attendees and participating in the meal, emphasizing the importance of bridging generational gaps and strengthening ties between the schools and the broader Rainier community.

Events like this highlight the district’s commitment to building relationships beyond the classroom. Students gained valuable perspectives from older community members, while seniors enjoyed hearing directly from the young people shaping Rainier’s future.

The Senior Center of Rainier provided a welcoming space for the lunch, fostering an atmosphere of warmth and mutual respect. Many attendees expressed appreciation for the chance to connect in such a personal way.

Rainier School District continues to look for opportunities to engage students in community service and intergenerational dialogue. This visit to the Senior Center served as a wonderful reminder that strong communities are built when all generations come together.

A big thank you to the staff and volunteers at the Senior Center of Rainier for hosting this special event, and to all the students and staff who made the afternoon memorable.

FFA Plant Sale 2026

 Dear Seniors & Friends,

The Rainier FFA is hosting their Annual Plant Sale.

The kids are dedicated to their plants and our

community!  Support the kids!

Saturday Market Opens May 2, 2026

 

Rainier Saturday Market Opens:

May 2, 2026

New Vendors! 

We are open this Saturday 10-3pm!!!

We will have some amazing vendors including starter plants, 

Flowers, Bird houses and soooo much more!

May 2026 Lunch Menu

Dear Seniors and Friends,

Attached is the Lunch Menu for May 2026.  Remember, our menu's are subject to change.

Church in the Park will be held in Wilkowski Park starting on the third Saturday of May.

Contact Tom Arnbrister to get information about the time their service starts.

Linda

Thank You for Grants for New Kitchen Vents

 Dear Seniors & Friends,

The Senior Center of Rainier received 2 grants that helped us replace the vent over one stove, which quit working, with 2 new commercial recessed vents.  We now have vents over both kitchen ranges.  

A special "Thank You" to the Community Foundation of South Puget Sound and the Rotary Club of Olympia.  We couldn't have done this without the help of our grants and the contractor who installed our vents.  

The Senior Center of Rainier is a non-profit charity.  We serve lunch on Mondays and Wednesdays.  Soup &/or Salad is served at 11:30 am and lunch at noon.  The cost is $7.00 for members & $9.00 for non-members.

The Senior Center of Rainier opened in 1976.  Moved to it's present location in 1977 and continues to operate with an all-volunteer staff (100%).  We do all of this with an annual income that is below $35,000, including the grants we receive.

The grants we receive help us get the equipment and make the improvements that keep our volunteers and members.  We couldn't do this without everyone's cooperation and support.

Thank you ALL!

Before Image:

Student Advisory Committee Lunch This Wednesday April 22, 2026

 Dear Seniors & Friends,

We are excited to invite you to join us for a special lunch this Wednesday with students from Rainier High School!

Bryon Bahr, Superintendent of Rainier Schools, reached out to us last month to arrange our annual Student Advisory Committee Lunch. He, along with RHS Principal John Beckman and a group of students, will be joining us for lunch at the Senior Center.

This is a wonderful opportunity to meet and chat with the next generation of local leaders, hear what’s happening in our schools, and enjoy a delicious meal together.

Date: This Wednesday Time: 11:301 AM] Location: Senior Center Dining Room

We hope you’ll come and help make our young visitors feel welcome! No RSVP is required — just come and enjoy the conversation and good company.

If you have any questions, feel free to call us at the front desk.

Thank you, Linda

(360) 446-2258 Senior Center Landline

FREE Prom Dinner @ the Senior Center of Rainier WA

 Dear RHS Parents & Students: Free Prom Dinner, sponsored by WLRW on April 25th starting at 5 PM at the Senior Center of Rainier.

April 2026 Lunch Menu

 Dear Seniors & Friends,

We're serving spiral cut ham and scalloped potatoes for our Easter Lunch on April 6th.

Our Breakfast, the Wednesday before we will be serving blueberry waffles.

The Pastrami Sandwiches will be Reubens.

Remember, our menu items are subject to change.

Please feel free to sign up for the Living Well Thurston classes which are being held in the Senior Center dining room starting on March 31 from 10 AM - 12:30 PM.  These classes will be held for six weeks.  Snacks and beverages will be provided by the Senior Center.

The Well Rainier will be holding 2 Easter Sunday Service at 9 AM & 11 AM.

We Love Rainier WA will be meeting on the first Tuesday evening at 5:30 PM.

All my best,

Linda

Valley Heart Church Holy Week

 

Thurston County Health Department Classes Start in March 2026

Dear Seniors & Friends,

Leslie, from the Thurston County Health Department, came out Wednesday and made a presentation about classes they are going to offer senior citizens starting Tuesday, March 31st.

Theses are free classes, which will be held on Tuesdays for 6 weeks starting March 31st and ending on May 5, 2026.  

Leslie will be bringing registration forms with her on Monday, March 16th.  Please feel free to come and sign up for these free classes.  The flyer is below.  (I corrected the dates on the flyer.)

UPDATE:  This is the first class that has been presented to the public.  The other classes have only been presented to the State of Washington employees before.  We left the handwritten lists of the topics we discussed today (with everyone's permission).  We all enjoyed the class.  We were each given our own copy of the book on Living a Healthy Life.  

Next week will be the last time we can add people to this class, so if you're interested in taking this class, please join us next week!!!