OLYMPIA- The Volunteer Center of Lewis, Mason and Thurston Counties has sent out nearly 2,000 invitations to flood rescue and recovery volunteers who have helped out to a party in their honor on April 29. But any volunteer who helped with flood rescue or recovery is welcome to attend, and he or she may not know that the deadline for RSVPs is Friday.

Help us get the word out to these valuable volunteers. The celebration is from 5 to 7 p.m. April 29 in the Blue Pavilion at the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds, 2555 North National Ave., Chehalis.

The event includes appetizers, refreshments, keepsakes and a thank you message from local families helped during and after the flood. And the event is free thanks to sponsorship by Weyerhaeuser and supporting sponsorship by TransAlta.

All a volunteer needs to do to attend is RSVP by phone to 360-741-2615 or by e-mail at events@volunteer.ws by Friday.

The Center is a non-profit organization that boasts over 500 volunteer opportunities to choose from across the county. Find out how you can change the world. There’s still time to get involved with local disaster relief efforts visit www.volunteer.ws

Contact: Sara Ballard
Phone 360-741-2625
Cell Phone: 360- 480-9571

Greetings all -

I'm asking anyone with photos, video clips and stories to share to help me with a multimedia project to help those still struggling with unmet needs following the devasting floods of December 3 last year. Long after the news attack helicopters have roared off to the Next Big Thing people continue to live with their homes in ruin and lives turned upside down.

What are the special problems facing organic farmers affected by the 2007 flooding?

What are their numbers?

Did the floods affect their certification?

What is the best way to contact these farmers?

Update for Support for Local Farmers

The Olympia Farmer’s Market is still accepting donations for farmers and vendors that have been affected by the flood. Monetary donations are being accepted at the Olympia Farmer’s Market and also on line at www.olympiafarmersmarket.com. People have been so generous during this time and there has been a lot of support from the community. Thanks.

The Olympia Food Co-op is taking donations at the cash registers.

FEMA has declared Thurston County for individual and business now.

Work Parties as well as other fund raisers are being initiated and will continue through the new year. We recognize the end of the year is a busy time and that clean up will continue through the new year, especially for the larger farms.

Boistfort Valley Farm, Curtis,  is continuing clean-up. Daily carpools continue to leave Olympia at 9:45 from the Chevron on Plum and Union. Check the website and also for olyblog for continued updates on both people power needs and physical donations.  www.boistfortvalleyfarm.com

Christmas morning, at 7:29 A.M. will be the highest tide of the year: 17.1 feet in Olympia

Please join a few of us fools at the Kissing Couple statue that morning (4th and Water Street) to see how much freeboard Olympia has left. With 3 feet of sea level rise predicted this century, our town will have some challenges.

The highest recorded tide in Olympia was December 15, 1977, at 17.94 feet. That flooded much of downtown. It depends on two things: the height of the tide, and the amount of rain filling the Deschutes. The extended forecast for Christmas week calls for showers, which will probably not be enough to cause flooding. BUT, it will be an impressive tide, nonetheless.

The Gleaners Coalition is continuing to organize clean-up crews for farms experiencing extensive flood damage in the Thurston and Lewis County areas. Come help our food bank donors and local growers get back on their feet!

Put on your muck boots and join a work party Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and/or Friday of next week, December 17-22, 2007. We will meet folks daily at 9:30AM at our downtown office (see address below) and at The Evergreen State College in parking lot C. We plan to finish each afternoon around 4:00PM.

Bring heavy rain/mud gear, water, food (for yourself is good, to share is even better!), and your most fabulous attitude. We will provide rides for those who need them, and we also very much welcome volunteers who are willing to drive.

For additional information, contact the Gleaners at 360-705-0193.

This is an update for the local farmer’s that have been affected by the flood. There are several ways that you can help.

The Olympia Farmer’s Market (OFM) is accepting donations. They are helping to facilitate the clean up of the farms that sell at the OFM. The OFM is open Saturday, Sunday, and Monday 10-3pm. Donations can be dropped off at the market. Monetary donations can be made payable to the Olympia Farmer’s Market or go to the website: www.olympiafarmersmarket.com. This is the last weekend for Market. They will continue to work to support the farmers in need. There have been over $20,000 worth of donations in the past two weeks

The Olympia Food Co-op has set up a Flood Relief Fund. Some of the farmers that sell to the co-op do not sell to the OFM. Even small change can be a huge help.

FEMA has declared Thurston and Mason Counties. It is important for people to apply for help frm FEMA. This helps organizational efforts in rebuilding and reconstructions of damaged properties.

Work Parties are a HUGE help. It builds community and enables the farmers to deal with the mud before it becomes an even bigger mess. Many buildings need immediate attention and care in order to be salvageable.

These are the work parties:

The damage from the flood has been incredible. And we have seen lots of pics, and it may have wore some us down with all the loss and hardship. But this pic gives a unique angle, and I thought I would share.

This is the area around Walmart, Applebees, etc.

This is an updated list for the local farmers flooded this week. This is updated on current needs.

Monetary Donations are being accepted at the Olympia Farmer's Market (OFM). The market is open on Saturday and Sunday. The OFM office is open during the week call for hours. Make checks payable to the Olympia Farmer's Market.

There will be Paypal buttons placed on the OFM website. If it is not up today it will be soon.

Material Needs:

Pressure Washers- If you can rent one please do so.

Rubber gloves elbow length

Shopvacs- Wet/dry

Fans

Cordless tools

Flat headed shovels and shovels.

Disinfectant cleaners

Tarps

Squeegies

Gift cards to Hardware stores, groceries, or clothing stores

Remember if you go down to help the flooded farmers you will need: Warm clothes, change of clothes, your own drinking water, your own food. AND BOOTS! Rain gear is helpful. The farmers are not in a place to offer people food and water. This is not kid friendly work parties.

Work Parties are set for

Boitsfort Valley Farm (Mike and Heidi Peroni): Sunday, December 9. Carpools leave at 9:45 from the Chevron at Plum and Union. The drive is an hour+.

Rising River: Everyday call 360-273-5368 (Jim McGinn and Jennifer Belknap). All roads are open to Independence Valley Road.

Wobbly Cart (Contact Joseph): Work Parties are for Saturday and Sunday, December 8and 9. Call 273- 7597.

There is a lot of cleaning of the outbuildings. Once stuff has been washed, there needs to be a clean place to put stuff. Tarps are helpful.

Due to the record breaking major flooding of the rivers, most notably the Chehalis River, there are many farmers who are looking to Olympia for Help. Some of the affected farmers are the local farms that supply the Olympia Farmer's Market, Olympia Co-op and other local business, have lost everything. They have lost their storage food, tractors, houses, etc."