National Volunteer Week appreciation

To The Eagle:

This week is National Volunteer Week. We can’t let it go unnoticed. As both the sheriff and a community member of this county, I have been fortunate to witness and experience firsthand, the incredible work of volunteers who have stepped up above and beyond their normal scope of responsibilities.

I have always had a strong admiration and respect for the dozens of folks who volunteer in so many capacities. But these past few months of unanticipated disruption and upheaval to our daily lives have challenged even the most adaptable.

One thing that has been a blessing are those among us who have selflessly answered the call to serve. There are too many volunteers to name but among them are those who stepped forward and provided personal protection equipment PPE - gloves, masks, sanitizer, and other gear, members of the Woman’s Club of Cathlamet, Stella Lutheran Chapel (over 100 masks), those who have offered to distribute meals to children, work overtime for the food banks, churches who have donated to first responders, healthcare workers, and other essential workers, the Lions Club who have volunteers delivering essentials to those unable to leave their homes, all of our fire and aid volunteers, our deputy reserves, our search and rescue team, our HAM radio group who staffed the emergency operations center, members of the Kiwanis Club of Cathlamet, the people outside our county who brought needed items to our county residents, Eagle Cliffs Distillery for retrofitting their Mill Creek vodka stills to make dozens of gallons of hand sanitizer for front-line workers and the dozens of other people who gave their time, supplies, or cash donations to various groups.

I am ever amazed at the generosity and thoughtfulness of humankind in times of strife and misgiving. My hat is off to you all, I thank you for taking care of your fellow humans. When the call went out, you all answered!

Sheriff Mark Howie