Businesses, community groups and individuals from Arlington, Smokey Point, Lakewood and Marysville have responded to the needs of the Oso and Darrington communities in the wake of the mudslide that cut across State Route 530 and the North Fork of the Stillaguamish River on March 22.
“We needed to take action, but we’re obviously limited in what we can do,” said Hilarie Ayers, regional office coordinator for the Girl Scouts of Western Washington. “We can’t search for the missing, but we can collect for those in need.”
The Girl Scouts are collecting the following food items and supplies, that have been specifically requested to support the Darrington community’s efforts to feed hundreds of aid workers and people displaced by the Oso mudslide:
• Dry pasta.
• Bottled spaghetti sauce.
• Canned chili and soups.
• Paper products, including plates, bowls, napkins and toilet paper.
• Plastic utensils.
The Girl Scouts’ North Regional Office, located at 1331 State Ave. in Marysville, is accepting donations from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.
For more information, contact Ayers by phone at 360-658-8083, or via email at hayers@girlscoutsww.org.
“We’re happy to do this as long as we can raise money,” said Jessi Graves, owner of Simply Caketastic in Marysville, of the jumbo cupcakes she’s selling to help support the victims of the Oso mudslide. “We’ve got strawberry, chocolate, cherry, and white and yellow cake, so we’re offering a real variety.”
Stop in and buy one of many flavors of jumbo cupcakes for $5, and 100 percent of those sales will go directly to mudslide relief funds.
Simply Caketastic is located at 1357 State Ave, and is open from 12:30-5 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays, and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays.
For more information, call 360-653-3113, or email jessi@simplycaketastic.com.
“The great thing about carnations is that they’re long-lasting and you can display them even at work,” said Jodi Sugg, owner of What’s Bloomin’ Now! Floral & More, located in Suite B-2 at 3704 172nd St. in Arlington, as she put together carnation bud vases to benefit mudslide victims. “We expect to keep selling these for the next few weeks, which is another reason why we chose carnations, because they’re so timeless.”
Stop in and buy one of many colors of carnation bud vases for $10, all of which will go toward mudslide relief.
For more information, call 360-658-3855, or log onto www.whatsbloominnow.com.
The Food Pavilion at 146 E. Haller Ave. in Arlington became a collection site for food, water and hygiene supplies starting on March 23.
“I heard what was going on, so I had to do something,” said Kara Brown, who’s friends with Arlington Food Pavilion Store Manager Loly Ramirez.
The Food Pavilion’s donation drive will run during its hours of operation, from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
The following is by no means a definitive list of all the fundraisers, donation drives or other events that are, or have been, devoted to disaster relief for the Oso or Darrington communities:
• Sound Harley-Davidson, located at 16212 Smokey Point Blvd. in Marysville, is teaming up with the Puget Sound Harley Owners Group to stage a benefit barbecue for the Red Cross from noon to 3 p.m. on March 29.
Checks are encouraged, and can be made out to the Red Cross, but cash donations will be gladly accepted as well.
For more information, call 360-454-5000.
• Community Thrift, located at 604 E. Gilman Rd. in Arlington, will conduct a benefit sale from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on March 29.
All proceeds from the sale will be donated to the Northwest Relief Fund, for those who are suffering tragic losses from the mudslide in Oso.
For more information, call 360-435-0707.
• The Tulalip Cabela’s, located at 9810 Quil Ceda Blvd., will be hosting a benefit barbecue for the victims of the Oso mudslide from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 29-30.
Hot dogs, chips and drinks will be available, in exchange for donations, and the event organizers’ goal is to raise $5,000 in three days. All proceeds will go to the American Red Cross.
For more information, call 360-474-4880, or log onto www.cabelas.com/tulalip.
• La Hacienda Mexican Restaurants in Arlington and Marysville will be having all-day fundraisers on March 31, and donating 40 percent of their total sales, excluding alcohol, to the Cascade Valley Hospital Foundation.
La Hacienda is located at 210 W. Division in Arlington, and 9922 State Ave. in Marysville.
• The One of a Kind Espresso stand, located at 5200 172nd St. NE in Arlington, is donating 25 percent of its sales through March 31 to help victims of the Oso mudslide.
The stand is open from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Saturday, and from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.
For more information, call 360-925-6936, or log onto www.facebook.com/pages/One-Of-A-Kind-Espresso/501588813214019.
• Arlington-based Avon lady Carrie Byrum is donating 40 percent of her proceeds to help families in need as a result of the Oso mudslide.
Byrum will contribute that 40 percent, to relief funds throughout the community, from every Avon order placed with her by March 31.
For more information, email beautyis2share@gmail.com, or log onto www.youravon.com/cbyrum.
• Marysville Getchell High School is collecting money during its lunch periods, through April 2, for the Red Cross’ relief efforts.
Donations may also be made to the MG ASB cashier, whose office is in the gym, from 6:45 a.m. to noon, and from 12:45-3 p.m.
• The Sun Room Tanning Salon, located in Suite 108 at 7420 204th St. NE in Arlington, will be donating 100 percent of its proceeds from its next “Super Saturday” on April 5 to help support the mudslide victims.
For more information, call 360-435-9926.
• The Marysville Family YMCA’s “All-In Family Bike Ride,” a poker ride along the Snohomish Centennial Trail already scheduled for April 5 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., will donate its proceeds to the Red Cross, in support of the Oso disaster relief efforts.
The ride begins and ends at the Snohomish Centennial Trail North Trailhead, at the Nakashima Barn, and cyclists can choose routes including eight, 24, 36, 48 or even 60 miles.
For more information, call Ronda Hardcastle, health and well-being director for the Marysville Family YMCA, at 360-651-1605, or log onto http://ymca-snoco.org/all-in.
• The Norpoint Shooting Center, located at 8620-A 172nd St. NE in Arlington, is staging an Oso relief barbecue from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on April 13.
Burgers, hot dogs, chips, salads and sodas will be available for $5 a plate, with $20 for raffle tickets to try and win a Beretta PX4 Storm 9mm.
You must be 21 years or older to enter the raffle. All money and donations received will go to Oso families in need.
For more information, call 360-386-8832.
• Cougar Creek Elementary, located at 16216 11th Ave. NE in Arlington, is conducting a penny drive through April 18.
Donations are being accepted in each classroom, as well as at the front office, and all donations will go to the Cascade Valley Hospital Foundation’s disaster relief fund.
• Nature’s Connection Place, located at 27225 71st Ave. NE in Arlington, has agreed to host a benefit dinner and silent auction for Oso mudslide relief on April 27, but organizers are still contacting local businesses to try and obtain donations.
For more information, email 530slidebenefit@gmail.com or log onto to www.facebook.com/groups/530slidedinnerauction.
• Helping Hands, located at 18722 59th Ave. NE in Arlington, is distributing donations that it’s received, to those displaced by the Oso mudslide, from 9 a.m. to noon on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
For more information, call 360-435-2214 or 360-474-0282.
• The Cascade Valley Hospital Foundation has established a disaster relief account at the Arlington Union Bank, located at 525 N. Olympic Ave.
Checks should be addressed to the Cascade Valley Hospital Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
You may drop off your donations at either the Arlington Union Bank, care of Tina Davis, or the Cascade Valley Hospital Foundation, located at 330 S. Stillaguamish Ave. in Arlington.
You may also donate online at www.youcaring.com/nonprofits/cascade-valley-hospital-foundation-disaster-relief-fund/154422.
• United Way of Snohomish County has set up a Disaster Recovery Fund for Mudslide Relief, and started it with not only a $25,000 gift from its endowment, but also $50,000 from JPMorgan Chase.
More information is available at www.uwsc.org/recoveryfund.php.
You can donate online at http://t.uwsc.org/recovery_fund, or spread the word on Twitter through #530slide.
If you, your business or your community group is providing assistance or support in some way to those affected by the Oso mudslide, please email Scott Frank, editor of The Arlington Times and The Marysville Globe and he will add it to the list.
