On their next furlough day, many state workers won’t just be taking a day off. They’ll be giving a Day of Service.

The Thurston County Steering Committee of the Combined Fund Drive, teaming with the Volunteer Center of Lewis, Mason, and Thurston Counties, is organizing a Day of Service cleanup event in downtown Olympia on August 6. They will be removing trash, digging weeds, and more to make downtown sparkle in the summer sun. All state employees – and all other interested volunteers – are invited to participate.

The idea first came from Valerie Pollet of the Medicaid Purchasing Administration at the Department of Social & Health Services. She said, “If this is affecting me and my coworkers in the pocketbook, and affecting the clients we serve, I wanted to do something to give back to the community. One thing led to another and this is the result.”

“The state employees involved are demonstrating that their commitment to public service remains strong even during difficult budget times,” said Sara Ballard, Executive Director of the Volunteer Center of Lewis, Mason and Thurston Counties. “The idea came from state employees, and the Volunteer Center is proud to help bring this project to life.”

Volunteers for the downtown cleanup should meet at the Heritage Park fountain, on 4th Avenue and Sylvester Street, at 9 AM. Participants are asked to bring their own gloves and plastic trash bags, and basic cleaning tools such as brooms if they can. For more information or to RSVP, call the Volunteer Center at 741-2622 or visit their website at www.volunteer.ws.

After the event, everyone is invited to come socialize and celebrate. From 2-5 PM, the Fish Bowl Brew Pub is offering half price pints of beer for participants.

On their next furlough day, many state workers won’t just be taking a day off. They’ll be giving a Day of Service.

The Thurston County Steering Committee of the Combined Fund Drive, teaming with the Volunteer Center of Lewis, Mason, and Thurston Counties, is organizing a Day of Service cleanup event in downtown Olympia on August 6. They will be removing trash, digging weeds, and more to make downtown sparkle in the summer sun. All state employees – and all other interested volunteers – are invited to participate.

The idea first came from Valerie Pollet of the Medicaid Purchasing Administration at the Department of Social & Health Services. She said, “If this is affecting me and my coworkers in the pocketbook, and affecting the clients we serve, I wanted to do something to give back to the community. One thing led to another and this is the result.”

“The state employees involved are demonstrating that their commitment to public service remains strong even during difficult budget times,” said Sara Ballard, Executive Director of the Volunteer Center of Lewis, Mason and Thurston Counties. “The idea came from state employees, and the Volunteer Center is proud to help bring this project to life.”

Volunteers for the downtown cleanup should meet at the Heritage Park fountain, on 4th Avenue and Sylvester Street, at 9 AM. Participants are asked to bring their own gloves and plastic trash bags, and basic cleaning tools such as brooms if they can. For more information or to RSVP, call the Volunteer Center at 741-2622 or visit their website at www.volunteer.ws.

After the event, everyone is invited to come socialize and celebrate. From 2-5 PM, the Fish Bowl Brew Pub is offering half price pints of beer for participants.

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.