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!!!

 

March 2026 Lunch Menu

 Dear Seniors & Friends,

There's a Senior Driving Class on March 18th.  Please feel free to attend.  The cost is $20 for this class that Gerald Apple is holding.  

There is a Crab Feed Fundraiser for the Thurston County Fire Department that is being held in Tenino.  The cost is $45.00 per person for dinner with 2 crabs and 2 beverages.  This is an annual benefit for the fire departments in Thurston County.

The Well in Rainier holds services every Sunday in the Senior Center, starting at 10 AM.  This is a popular church service, so come early to get a good parking place and good seat.

Linda

WLRW Delivers Annual SMART Drive Supplies to Rainier Elementary School Teachers

Laura Immel (Left) Victoria Cooper (Right)

We Love Rainier WA Delivers Annual SMART Drive Supplies to Rainier Elementary Teachers

RAINIER, Wash. — Classrooms at Rainier Elementary School received a welcome boost this week as community volunteers Laura Immel and Victoria Cooper delivered hundreds of dollars’ worth of essential classroom supplies, purchased through the annual SMART Drive organized by We Love Rainier WA.

The SMART Drive—short for Supplies, Materials And Resources for Teachers—is a yearly initiative dedicated to ensuring educators have the tools they need to support student success. This year, We Love Rainier WA spent $1,400 to fulfill specific supply requests submitted directly by Rainier Elementary teachers.

Immel and Cooper personally delivered the supplies, which included classroom basics such as pencils, notebooks, art materials, organization tools, and other resources that often come out of teachers’ own pockets.  

Laura and Victoria are strong supporters of the Rainier School District. This project, along with the Dictionaries for Third Graders, means a lot to Laura and Victoria, as they both went to school in Rainier and graduated from Rainier High School.  Their mothers both attended school in Rainier as well.  Laura taught school in Rainier and Victoria worked for the school district.

“This is one of our most meaningful projects each year,” said Immel. “Teachers give so much of themselves to their students, and this is one way our community can give something back.”

The SMART Drive (Supplies, Materials And Resources for Teachers) reflects the organization’s mission to strengthen the community through direct, practical support. By purchasing requested items rather than collecting random donations, the program ensures every dollar goes toward materials teachers will use immediately in their classrooms.

Cooper said the experience of delivering the supplies is always inspiring. “You can see the appreciation on the teachers’ faces,” she said. “It reminds us how much these small acts of support matter—not just for teachers, but for every student they serve.”

Teachers at Rainier Elementary expressed gratitude for the continued support, noting that programs like the SMART Drive help create richer learning environments and reduce the financial burden many educators quietly carry.

We Love Rainier WA has hosted the SMART Drive annually for several years, with funding made possible through community donations and local fundraising efforts. The organization hopes to continue expanding the program in the future to meet growing classroom needs.

As another school year begins, the delivery serves as a reminder of the strong connection between Rainier’s schools and its community—one built on shared commitment, generosity, and belief in the future of its students.  

Residents interested in supporting future SMART Drives or other community initiatives can learn more through We Love Rainier WA’s outreach and volunteer programs on our FaceBook Group Page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/weloverainierwa or.  Contact George Johnson (360) 292-5363 or email: weloverainierwa@gmail.com

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"Children may be 30% of our population, but they are 100% of our future."  Gary Edwards

Yelm Performing Arts Center Benefit Concert 2026

The Yelm Performing Arts Booster presents their 2nd annual Benefit Concert for

Yelm High School Choirs on Friday, February 27th, 2026 at 6:00 PM.  Doors open at 5 PM.

2026 Crab Feed

The South Thurston Firefighters Association is holding their Annual Crab Feed!

Valentine's Day Bazaar Flyer 2026

 Dear Seniors & Friends,

We will be serving a special lunch during this bazaar for $5.00.  

Hot Dogs, Chili, or Chili Dogs, chips and a beverage.

There will be many, many vendors! 

Linda

Senior Center of Rainier WA 2026 Board Members

 

Board Members 2026

George Johnson - Chairman

Retired General Manager (Retail). 

Former Lions Club King Lion. 

Founder & Chairman of We Love Rainier WA                            

Kevin Pettit - Co-Chairman

Retired Contractor (Residential & Business).

Manager of the Rainier Saturday Market.  Sells bird and bat houses                                                 

Cindee Day - Treasurer:    

CPA with an MBA in Business. 

Owns her own business: Cover Your Assets 

Works front desk. Membership Manage

Victoria Cooper - Co-Treasurer:

Retired Thurston School District & Lottery. 

Rainier Historical Society.  Works in our kitchen.

Linda Johnson - Secretary:

Retired Medical Biller and Credit Specialist -DaVita

Former Treasurer for the Rainier Lions Club

Diane Pettit - General Member:

Retired Retail. 

Sells jewelry at Rainier Saturday Market

Cherri Crafton - Building Use Manager:

Retired Registered Nurse.

Receptionist & Kitchen crew.

Tom Arnbristor - Building Security & Emergency Manager:

Worked in Waste Management.                                                                                      

Rainier City Council and heads up Emergency Preparedness for the City of Rainier.

Sue Velasco - General Member:             

Retired from DOT. 

Latter Day Saints member.

Dave Velasco - General Member:           

Retired from DOT. 

Latter Day Saints member.

Debbie Sorrells - General Member:     

Retired. Member Valley Heart Church.

Kathy Willette - General Member:         

Retired public schools (Military wife). 

Worked  with Special needs students. 

Mother of a deaf child, who is now an underwater welder.

Gold panning. 

Bill Willette - General Member:                 

Retired helicopter pilot (military).

Father of deaf child who is now an underwater welder. 

Gold panning.

Bill Koutrouba - General Member:

Retired building contractor. 

Non-profit business owner.

Sue Watson - Receptionist:          

Retired.  Fiber artist. 

Works front desk at Senior Center when available. 

Senior Center of Rainier Mission Statement 2026

Dear Seniors & Friends,

We have updated our Mission Statement:

"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".

We serve lunch on Mondays & Wednesdays. We arrive around 9 AM and open for visitors at 10. When we have soup, it's served at 11:30 AM, with lunch following at noon. We usually stay open until 2 PM. Sometimes later if we have a computer class, or other event.

The Senior Center of Rainier is a Multi-Purpose Community Center. Many other community organizations use the building in our "off hours".

• AA meets on Wednesday evenings at 6:00 PM. They've been meeting here for decades.
• Girl Scouts meet on Thursday evenings upstairs.
• Prairie Point Quilters Guild meet every Thursday - all day.
• Judy's Club meets to quilt on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month.
• We Love Rainier WA meets on the 1st Tuesday of the month at 5:30 PM. They come and go when they have holiday events (Christmas Tree Lighting, Halloween in the Park & Easter Egg Hunt), or have items to donate to the Rainier Elementary School. (Dictionaries, school supplies, Paws Store supplies and clothing).
• Church in the Park meets on the 3rd Saturday of the month at 3 PM.
• The Well-Rainier meets every Sunday for services at 10 AM. They have use of the building from 8 AM - 10 PM. They may come in Saturday evenings to get set-up for Sunday services.
• Other groups like Junior Wrestling, Saturday Market Bazaars, activities for children, Anywhere Library, Senior Citizens Safe Driving Classes, special speakers are, Celebrations of Life, Birthday Parties, etc. are fit into our regular schedule.
• Emergency Heating and Cooling Shelter. Designated Emergency Shelter in extreme emergencies.

Please contact Cherri Crafton to make arrangements to use our building. She's been doing a great job scheduling events.

Building Use Manager: Cherri Crafton:

                                       ccraftonrn@hotmail.com (208) 602-2730

Please contact Tom Arnbristor if you have any Building Security or Emergency issues.

Building Security & Emergency Manager: Tom Arnbristor:

                                                                    tbristor@msn.com 360-763-2257

We are grateful to be able to serve the greater Rainier area. Thank you for supporting the Senior Center of Rainier. We appreciate you!

Linda

 

The Well - Rainier February 2026

Dear Seniors & Friends,

Please join us in welcoming Samuel Yount, pastor of The Well Rainier, to the Senior Center community. Sam is retired from the Fire Department, where he served as an Assistant Chief of Medical Services. He’s known as a bridge builder, friendly, approachable, and always ready to connect.

If you have any questions or would like to reach out, you can contact him at sam@thewellrainier.com

Mailing address:

The Well: A Foursquare Church

PO Box 687 Rainier, WA 98576

"The Well - Rainier" church is affiliated with the Four Square Churches.  Their services will start at 10 AM promptly.  They will also hold youth groups in the evenings.

They focus on the family and serving our local community.  He has a team of 10 people and their families.  They expect about 50 people to attend church here.  They have a large youth group that will be attending church here, as well.  Right now their youth pastor is away on a mission in a foreign country. 

They have a new website:  https://thewellrainier.com.   

You can watch Sam's sermon's on their YouTube Channel:   https://www.youtube.com/@TheWellRainier.

They have other social media accounts, as well.  You can find links to them on their website.

They helped us clean the upstairs to get ready for youth today. Their Children's Ministry Director, Jessica Hancock, is excited about having a special place to host their youth group. Their Youth Minister, Jetta Watkins, is away on a mission in a foreign country. Her fiancé, Kyler Jackson, is on a mission in a different foreign country.

Please welcome Sam and his church family to the Senior Center of Rainier.

Linda