The Senior Center of Rainier Needs Kitchen Helpers

Dear Seniors & Friends,

The Senior Center of Rainier needs volunteers to help in our kitchen.

We are a 501(c)3 organization that works with an all volunteer staff.

We opened in 1976 and moved to our present location in 1977.

The Senior Center of Rainier is looking for volunteers to help in our kitchen. Three of our regular kitchen helpers are currently out due to health issues, and another one is a “snowbird.” We need at least three people to join us so we can continue preparing and serving our weekday lunches.

We serve soup at 11:30 a.m. and lunch promptly at noon on Mondays and Wednesdays. On a typical day we feed between 45 and 50 people. Kitchen volunteers usually arrive around 9:00 a.m. and finish by about 2:00 p.m. Tasks include food preparation, serving, and light cleanup.

You can view our current menu at:
https://seniorcenterofrainier.org

Our Mission
The Senior Center of Rainier is a warm, welcoming gathering place where older adults thrive—staying healthy, connected, and proudly independent. We nourish body and spirit with wholesome meals, vibrant activities, and meaningful learning opportunities in a safe, inclusive space that celebrates cultural diversity and bridges generations. Through our programs, we help prevent isolation, strengthen self-reliance, and foster lasting friendships that enrich our entire community.

If you can help in the kitchen on Mondays or Wednesdays, please call the Senior Center at (360) 446-2258 or email seniorcenterofrainier@gmail.com. Your time and effort will make a direct difference for the seniors who count on these meals.

Thank you for supporting the Senior Center of Rainier.

Linda Johnson

Secretary, Senior Center of Rainier WA

https://seniorcenterofrainier.org

seniorcenterofrainier@gmail.com

(360) 292-5364  Linda Cell

(360) 446-2258  Senior Center Landline

Important Update from We Love Rainier WA

 

Important Update from We Love Rainier WA

After many wonderful years of bringing our community together, the volunteers who have organized the We Love Rainier WA events have reached a difficult but necessary decision. Most of us are aging out of the work required to plan and host these events, and many of our members are now in their late 70s and 80s. With gratitude for every volunteer hour and every smiling face along the way, we will be ending our regular community events after the SMART Drive in January 2027.

The following events will conclude:

• Easter Egg Hunt
• Halloween in the Park
• Christmas Tree Lighting
• SMART Drive
• Dictionaries for Third Graders
• HUGS Drive

We are hopeful that the Boosters Club may be able to help continue the Bluegrass Festival, and we welcome any interest from groups who might wish to carry any of these traditions forward.

Thank you to everyone who has supported, volunteered for, and enjoyed these events over the years. It has been a joy to serve Rainier together.

With appreciation,
We Love Rainier WA

Celebration of Life Service for Chris Schneider

 

                                              17525 WA-507, Yelm, WA 98597  (360) 458-9222

It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of Christine “Chris” Schneider, beloved daughter of our longtime Senior Center member Shirley Rodgers. Chris passed away peacefully in her sleep on October 17, 2026, after a courageous battle with Alzheimer’s.

Shirley is being lovingly supported by her wonderful friends Valeeta and Ernie, who are handling the arrangements, and by her dear circle of Christian sisters at Rosemont, who have been such a blessing to her during this time.

A Celebration of Life honoring Chris will be held on
Saturday, November 7, 2026, at 1:00 PM
at Prairie Baptist Fellowship.

Shirley has been a cherished part of the Senior Center of Rainier for many years and is known to all of us as our “Sunshine Gal,” faithfully sending birthday cards to our members. Please keep Shirley and her family in your thoughts and prayers as they walk through this difficult season.

With love and sympathy,
The Senior Center of Rainier

Thank You for Your Donations of Books & Supplies

Dear Seniors & Friends,

Thank you for all of your donations of books and adult personal care products like Depends.  

Right now we have enough books, etc., and are running out of room for books and adult

diapers.  

BOOKS:

If you have any extra books, please consider donating them to "A Novel Bookstore" in 

Yelm.  They will give you credit for your books, so you can purchase more books, or you

can simply donate them to the store.  They are open most days of the week

A Novel Bookstore

• Address:   305 1st St S, Yelm, WA 98597

• Phone:   (360) 458-4722

• Contact email:  anovelbookstore@mac.com

ADULT DIAPERS:

If you have any extra adult diapers, our food banks in Rainier have a need for these.

They are expensive and many people need them.

Valley Heart Food Pantry

• Address:   11318 Vail Cutoff Road SE, Rainier, WA 98576

• Phone:   (360) 446-2626

• 9:30 AM to 12:00 PM Wednesdays & Saturdays

Christ's Cupboard Food Pantry

• Address: 204 Binghampton St, Rainier, WA 98576
• Phone: (360) 446-2614
• 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM Thursdays

Thank you for your love and support for the Senior Center of Rainier WA

Veterans Resource & Job Fair

JBLM Training Alert

 

Linda Johnson	11:22 AM (11 hours ago)
to me

TRAINING ALERT:

Joint Base Lewis-McChord will conduct demolitions, mortar and artillery training throughout October. JBLM’s normal firing hours are 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. The following training includes approved activity outside those hours and may be heard in surrounding communities.

Training is scheduled for the following periods:
• Demolitions training: Oct. 1-2, 6 p.m. to 11:59 p.m. daily.
• Mortar training: Begins at 6 a.m. Oct. 16 and continues through 6 a.m. Oct. 18.
• Artillery training: Begins at 8 a.m. Oct. 19 and continues through 5 p.m. Oct. 23.
• Demolitions training: Oct. 20, 1 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
• Artillery training: Begins at 8 a.m. Oct. 26 and continues through 5 p.m. Oct. 30.

Public queries or comments about noise may be directed to JBLM Public Affairs at the following URL:

https://home.army.mil/lewis-mcchord/index.php/contact/noise-and-public-disturbances.

Nancy Bay Obituary 2026