Thursday, December 31, 2020

Happy New Year! Welcome 2021!

Here's to the future of Rainier!

Last year was challenging for many of us.  COVID-19, lock-downs, masks, school closures and all of the heartache that went along during these challenging times.

Many of us were ill last year from the middle of December through February.  We've talked among ourselves wondering if we had that virus during that time.  That was the worst flu season I've ever experienced.  We had seniors with pneumonia, bronchitis, flu and URI's.  Those that were ill, were ill for several weeks.  Many went to their doctors for treatments several times.  

This year, we have few people who contracted colds or the flu.  I don't know if it's because of the "Stay Safe, Stay Home" orders with the accompanying guidelines.  It was nice to be free from the flu and colds, tho!

Seniors working with Students:

We have grandparents at our center who are helping their children and grandchildren as they struggle through these challenging times.  Our hearts break for parents and students that have been on the "virtual learning" programs.  Students need to interact with their friends and other people.  Being a parent is a tremendous responsibility.  That being said, parents can't be everything to their children.  This is a difficult situation for everyone involved.  

School helps children grow.  Besides academic learning, children need to develop fine motor skills, gross motor skills, emotional skills, social skills in addition to academic skills.  All of these skills are developed over time while interacting with other people their own age under the guidance of professionals.  

Parents are now struggling with not only providing for their children, they're also struggling to teach their children as well, with no compensation, as teachers struggle to help everyone online.  Distance learning is difficult under the best circumstances.  

The Senior Center of Rainier helped our young parents host an outdoor Halloween Parade.  We had "Halloween In Quarantine" coloring and pumpkin carving contests, as well as a parade.  Over 200 kids got treats, while social distancing with their parents in the parade.  You can see pictures of the parade in the Nisqually Valley News on their November 5, 2020 edition.  Look at www.yelmonline.com.

The Kids Christmas Store was cancelled in Yelm, by the Yelm Lions and Rainier Booster Club couldn't host their store because of the school closure, so the Senior Center partnered with the Rainier Chapel and held a Kids Christmas Store on Friday, December 4, 2020 from 4 - 7 PM.  Children and parents wore masks and practiced social distancing.  All gifts were under $10.00.  Many local businesses came with special gifts for children to buy for their friends and family.  Free gift wrapping was provided by Trish & Bruce from Rossi Boots.  

The Rainier Quilting Guild made special, patchwork Christmas Stockings.  The Senior Center of Rainier filled the stockings and Santa came by ambulance, gave out the stockings to the kids.  We gave out all 80 stockings as well as a few extras.  Santa and the kids glanced elbows.

Tonight We Love Rainier WA, a local grassroots civic organization, hosted a "Lantern Walk" for our kids and their families.  It started at around 5:30 behind the Chevron Station and everyone walked to Wilkowski Park.  This is where there were treats, beverages and  a small fire pit where kids could burn their notes about things they didn't like about 2020 as well as hopes and dreams for 2021.  Rachele Stephenson's video of the 2020 Lantern Walk.

As County Commissioner Gary Edwards says "Kids may be 30% of our population, but they are 100% of our future".  

 Wishing everyone a wonderful & prosperous 2021!




Sunday, December 20, 2020

2020 Updates & Roof Fundraising

 Dear Seniors and Friends,

This has been a difficult year for many people in our area.  With the schools being closed, this has been particularily hard for students and their parents, so We Love Rainier WA is hosting a "Lantern Walk" on New Year's Eve.  You can read more about it on their Facebook page: We Love Rainier WA .

We have a couple of fundraisers to help earn money for a new roof and gutters.

1. "Pepper Jelly" that's made by Cindy Amidon.  We have a few jars left at $7.00 each. 

2.  Pie sale.  Pies range in price from $8.00 - $12.00

  •   15 - 8" Apple pies  $8.00
      7 - 8" Strawberry Rhubarb pies  $8.00
      8 - 9" Strawberry Rhubarb pies  $9.00
      3 - 8" Cherry pies  $8.00
      3 - 8" Peach pies  $8.00
      2 - 8" Guava pies $8.00
      1 - 9" Mixed Berry $9.00
      4 - 9" Apple Pie  $9.00

    We have the following pies for $12.00

    1 - 9" Pumpkin Pie
    2 - 9" Pecan Pies
  • 5 - 9" Dutch Apple pies  $8.00

Due to grant funds we've received, we now have almost $15,000 in our building fund towards a new roof.  I have written and sent out donation request letters and another grant for our roof.  The cost of a new roof is in the mid $40,000 range.  The cost for gutters runs between $4,000 - $6,000.  We'really appreciate everyone's donation & support towards getting a new roof!

We just received a grant of $5,000 this week for a natural gas generator with an auto transfer switch.  We had Ron Gibson, from Rainier Public Works, research and recommend a generator for our center.  We now have 5 freezers, a commercial 2-door fridge and a side-by-side fridge.  In an emergency, we could loose all of our food, so an emergency generator is important to have in the event of a power outtage.  










Tuesday, December 8, 2020

Donations needed for a new roof

 The Senior Center of Rainier desperately needs a new roof and gutters.  We have the original 1911 cedar shake roof with skip sheeting, which is covered by 2 layers of composition roofing.

We've been fundraising since we reopened October 5th after the COVID-19 "Stay Safe, Stay Home" order Governor Inslee proclaimed last March.  This put quite a damper in our fundraising abilities.

Even though we were closed, we were still able to provide food to our seniors in need through the Farm to Families and 10 Weeks of Summer food distribution program.  We also provided reading materials and other items needed by members of our local community.

The bids for a new roof are $40,000, plus another $4,000 - $5,000 for gutters.  Our roof leaked so badly that some of our ceiling tiles are bent in the dining room.

A copy of our donation letter is below.  We appreciate any help given to the Senior Center of Rainier as we work to get funding for a new roof.  Thank you.





Saturday, October 24, 2020

Senior Center of Rainier Apple Sale

 The Senior Center of Rainier Fuji Apples are ready to be picked up in the Rainier Chapel Parking lot by the Saturday Market.  Rachele Stephenson and George Johnson are there to help you.

Monday, October 5, 2020

Senior Center of Rainier Reopens October 5, 2020

WELCOME BACK!

We reconfigured tables and made changes to meet social distancing guidelines. Tiffany Ann offered to clean and sanitize after every lunch. Thank you all for coming today!

We had a wonderful turnout today!  We'll be open again on Wednesday.  Please come and join us for lunch and social time!  

















Monday, March 23, 2020

Senior Center of Rainier COVID-19 Closure

Dear Seniors & Friends,


The Senior Center of Rainier is temporarily closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.  Our primary concern is for the safety and well-being of the people we serve.  
We are unsure of when we will re-open.  

Over the last few days we've emailed & called our people in the area, asking if anyone would like meals "to go" or for "delivery".  We received many offeres to help seniors, but very little other interest in meals right now.  

Most of the seniors we communicated with were concerned about being exposed to the virus and didn't want to take any chances.  We understand completely.  

To get updates on the COVID-19 virus in Thurston County, please visit their website at: 
https://www.thurstoncountywa.gov/phss/Pages/coronavirus.aspx

We miss socializing with our friends at the center tremendously.  Today I sent out a contact list to people on our mailing list, so our members can keep in touch with each other.  We will continue to check on everyone on a regular basis.  

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to call:

(360) 292-5363  George Cell
(360) 292-5364  Linda Cell


Remember, the COVID-19 virus is deadly.  Please take good care of yourself.   Be safe and stay well!  We look forward to seeing everyone when this health crisis is over.  

Linda & George Johnson




Friday, March 13, 2020

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT - CORONAVIRUS


Dear Friends,  This is my latest input — from a friend whose brother is on the Stanford hospital board and sent this: 

The new Coronavirus may not show sign of infection for many days. How can you know if you are infected?  By the time you have fever and/or cough and go to the hospital, the lung is usually 50% fibrosis.   

Taiwan experts provide a simple self-check that we can do every morning:  Take a deep breath and hold it for more than 10 seconds. If you do this successfully without coughing, without discomfort, stiffness or tightness, there is no fibrosis in the lungs; it basically indicates no infection. In critical times, please self-check every morning in an environment with clean air. 

Serious excellent advice by Japanese doctors treating COVID-19 cases: Everyone should ensure your mouth & throat are moist, never dry. Take a few sips of water every 15 minutes at least. Why?  Even if the virus gets into your mouth, drinking water or other liquids will wash them down through your throat and into the stomach. Once there, your stomach acid will kill all the virus. If you don't drink enough water regularly, the virus can enter your windpipe and then the lungs. That's very dangerous. 

Please send and share this with family and friends. Take care everyone and may the world recover from this Coronavirus soon. 



IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT - CORONAVIRUS: 

  1. If you have a runny nose and sputum, you have a common cold. 
  2. Coronavirus pneumonia is a dry cough with no runny nose. 
  3. This new virus is not heat-resistant and will be killed by a temperature of just 26/27 degrees C.  (About 77 degrees F.)  It hates the Sun. 
  4. If someone sneezes with it, it goes about 10 feet before it drops to the ground and is no longer airborne. 
  5. If it drops on a metal surface it will live for at least 12 hours - so if you come into contact with any metal surface, wash your hands as soon as you can with a bacterial soap.
  6. On fabric it can survive for 6-12 hours. normal laundry detergent will kill it. 
  7. Drinking warm water is effective for all viruses. Try not to drink liquids with ice.
  8. Wash your hands frequently as the virus can only live on your hands for 5-10 minutes, but - a lot can happen during that time - you can rub your eyes, pick your nose unwittingly and so on. 
  9. You should also gargle as a prevention. A simple solution of salt in warm water will      suffice.  
  10. I can't emphasis enough - drink plenty of water! 



THE SYMPTOMS:

  • It will first infect the throat, so you'll have a sore throat lasting 3/4 days.
  • The virus then blends into a nasal fluid that enters the trachea and then the lungs, causing pneumonia.  This takes about 5/6 days further.
  • With the pneumonia comes high fever and difficulty in breathing.  
  • The nasal congestion is not like the normal kind.  You feel like you're drowning.  It's imperative you then seek immediate attention.

SPREAD THE WORD        PLEASE SHARE

Monday, February 24, 2020

Property Tax Relief for Seniors and Disabled 2019 - 2020

Senior citizens and the disabled can receive a substantial reduction on their property tax rates.

The information is below:

"Washington State offeres a property tax relief program to help low income senior citizens, disabled persons and disabled veterans.  Recent legislation increased the income limits, increased the occupancy requirements, and decreased the service-connected disability rating needed for veterans.

To qualify, a property owner must:

1.) Be 61 years or older or disabled and unable to pursue gainful employment or a Veteran with an 80%, or greater (previously 100%, or total disability ruling) service-connected disabnility rating.

2.) Be the owner of and ocup the property more than 9 months of the year. (previouslay more than 6 months).

3.) Have a total household income of $48,566 or less (previously $40,000 or less).  We include non-taxable income, such as Social Security, and cannot use losses to offset gains when calculating your income.

There are three different levels of exemption, eah providing a different level of tax relief.

Category A:  income $33,623 or less.
Category B:  income from $33,623 to $41,095.
Category C:  income from $41,095 to $48,566.

Citizens already in the program have been moved into their new category for 2020 tax year based on the most recent income information on file at the Assessor's Office.

To apply, bring your 2019 income informatoin (Income Tax Return, 1099's other income documents) to the Assessor's Offie - Building 1 of the Thurston County Courthouse - 2000 Lakeridge Drive SW Olympia, WA 998502.

https://www.co.thurston.wa.us/Assessor  (360) 867-2200




Friday, February 7, 2020

School Levy Sign Waving Saturday, February 8, 2020

Ballots are due this Tuesday!

We'll be having SIGN WAVING 
Saturday, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm 
in support of the school levy.  

Anyone with time available between 10:00 a.m and 12:00 p.m who would like to help is encouraged to stop by. 

We will meet on Hwy 507 between Minnesota and Dakota Street. 

Signs will be provided.

Ballots are due this Tuesday! Such an important issue for our community. 

(Note:  This levy will not increase your property taxes.  This replaces the old levy that was passed, at a lower rate.)  

Thank you!



Saturday, February 1, 2020

Movie: "War Room"

Valley Heart Church is showing the movie "War Room" this coming Saturday evening.
Come join in the fun!


Sunday, January 19, 2020

Family Caregiver Information from DSHS

We received the following information from DSHS about family caregivers:












Texas Ruby Red Grapefruit Sale!



                                          GRAPEFRUIT SALE


                 We Love Rainier WA is selling Texas Ruby Red Grapefruit 

                                                     20 lbs for $25


Buying a box of our grapefruit is a great way to support the efforts of WLRW and get some of the sweetest grapefruit in the world!


             Please call Brenda at 360-446-0116 or George at 360-292-5363

                                  Orders must be placed by January 24th
                                    Fruit is due to  arrive on February 8th

Sorry for the short notice but we just became aware of this opportunity  this past week. All proceeds will go to Rainier projects supporting our students and community. Some examples are dictionaries for third graders, health van for eye and ear testing, movies in the park, Rainier reunion in August  and many other community activities

WLRW will also be selling peaches, pears and nectarine this Summer as well as Fuji apples in September.

New Appliances Donated to the Senior Center!!!

Dear Seniors & Friends,

We use two stoves and ovens to prepare our meals.  Our stoves and fridge were old and we needed new appliances.  Left to our own devices, it looked like they were not in our future.  Our senior center needs a new roof, so buying appliances was not on our agenda.

And then....

Last week someone donated a brand new side-by-side refridgerator and glass top stove to our Senior Center.  Pastor Pat and Crew - delivered them on Wednesday morning.  We had everything ready for them to be put right in place. 

A special "Thank You" goes out to our ananoumous donor of the fridge and stove, as well as to the crew that delivered them to us.  

We still needed a gas stove.  We were designated as an emergency shelter in 2001 by the City of Rainier, with the blessings of the Board of Directors at that time.  Most emergencies in our area are  power outages.  Most of these occur during bad weather when trees fall on power lines.  With a gas stove, we can open as a heating/cooling shelter and provide hot meals to our seniors.

We found a brand new gas range, offered by Christy, on Offer-up.  She and her husband, donated it to our senior center.  We picked it up Friday morning.  Thank you to Christy & her family for donating the gas range.  It is a tremendous blessing to the Senior Center of Rainier.  We really appreicate your donation!

All of our appliances are Whirlpool.  They're beautiful and are hooked up and ready to use on Monday! 

We appreciate everyone who contributes to our Senior Center in Rainier.  Thank you from the hearts of our seniors in Rainier!