Chamber Chat: Donations still being accepted for fire victims

Hi! I hope you had a great Thanksgiving weekend! The weather was perfect for the Opening Night Ceremonies this past Saturday evening, attendance was high. Congratulations and thank you to all of the Territorial Governor candidates for raising over five thousand dollars for the Territorial Christmas Committee. The 2015 Territorial Governor is Betty Foster and Lieutenant Governor Dozer Knox! If you didn’t get a chance to attend, it’s worth the time to come and see the Christmas Lights on the Post Office lawn! 

Chamber President Mary Coffin

The Pollard Theater is in full swing with A Territorial Christmas Carol.  This year they are doing a Holiday Food Drive  on behalf of God’s Food Bank; peanut butter, cereal and canned items are always popular. If you bring them with you to a show just put them under the Christmas Tree. To book a show online go to thepollard.org

Most of you are aware of the apartment fire that happened last week at The Pinebrook Apartments. Thanks to the coordinated efforts of the agencies belonging to The Logan County Long Term Recovery Group, and especially to Logan County Chapter volunteers Eva Vasquez and Karen Wallis, all of the survivors that were displaced by the loss of their homes had been contacted and had cases opened by the end of the day of the fire. They all have shelter for now and have been given cards to help them with purchasing clothing and other essential items.

Three families lost their vehicles in the fire. There has been an outpouring of support from the community, and I am sure that many others are interested in helping out these people. The Logan County Long Term Recovery Group is here for just this type of situation, we will go over each case with Catholic Charities case workers and will determine what the specific needs are and how best to fill those needs with the resources that are available.

Please take donations of cash or checks to Interbank (224 E. Oklahoma) and designate them to God’s Food Bank and put LCLTRG in the memo line. Donations of gift cards may be brought to the Logan County Red Cross building (219 S, 2nd), The Guthrie Chamber of Commerce (212 W. Oklahoma Ave.), or to Neighborhood Solutions at City Hall (101 N. 2nd). Donations of household items, nice furniture, or appliances can be arranged through Neighborhood Solutions – 405 282-0880.

Please refrain from donating used clothing. We have learned some things through working with the survivors of the May wildfires; used clothing is often not usable and is difficult to sort and store, we want to give people nice or new replacements for the things they have lost, and our neighbors want to help but often don’t know how to go about it. These reasons are why it is best to donate money or gift cards so that the survivors can purchase what they really need or want.

The cards are being inventoried and will be given out through a process designated by the LCLTRG. We will stay with these people as long as they have a need. They are our friends, neighbors, and families; we want to help make them whole again. As you are also probably aware, there was a loss of life in the fire; a precious baby girl, Harlem Lee, may her memory be eternal. Please keep all of the families in your thoughts in the upcoming weeks and months as they work to overcome the consequences of this event.

I have just learned of the passing of Mr. Bill Wagoner. He was a great leader in our community and will be greatly missed.  My condolences go to his friends and family.