One Year After 530 Slide

 
It's been one year since a mountain north of the Arlington-Darrington highway gave way at Hazel and wiped out the community of Steelhead Haven, killing 43 persons.  Our club struggled with how to respond to help our community.   One of our members, Erik Granroth, took action.  He requested the Farmers Insurance response trailer and began feeding first responders at the Oso Fire Station.  Members helped with the purchase of items and we were preparing to get more involved when officials shut him down. 
 
Last week the Governor presented the Medal of Valor to the communities of Darrington, Oso, Arlington and the Sauk Suiattle Tribe. 
 
Arlington Mayor Barbara Tolbert was asked to invite 35 persons to accompany her to Olympia to receive the award. One of those persons was 14 year old Brantly Stupey, pictured above, who she chose to accept the award on behalf of the city.  Brantly had a friend who died in slide and he helped at the Red Cross shelter at Post Middle School where is was the student body president.  He also organized a dance for Darrington and Arlington middle schoolers to show their support for the community.  The mayor chose persons who made a difference and another of those persons was Erik.  Below he is pictured with Governor Ensley at the Governor's mansion following the presentation:
 
 
 
Many Rotary Clubs contributed to a slide relief fund that was established with the Sedro-Woolley Rotary Club Foundation.  When the Twin Cities Rotary Club (Centralia/Chehalis)http://www.twincitiesrotary.com/ heard of the 530 slide they wanted to help. Five of its members traveled to the June 12 meeting to present a check to help victims for over $10,800!
 
Since the slide community members have been working towards the establishment of the community/family resource center for Arlington.  Our speaker for our March 19th meeting was Crisann Brooks of Lutheran Community Services NW (LCS).  With her for the presentation was Kari Pendray the chairman of the newly formed advisory council for the new resource center. 
 
 

Crisann Brooks with Lutheran Community Services NW

 
Here is a summary of her program:
 
When the slide happened Arlington did not have a resource center.  Darrington and Stanwood resource centers teamed up. 
 
Arlington has now teamed with LCS to create an Arlington resource center.
 
LCS was founded in 1921 in Tacoma.  It serves a tri-state area, WA, OR, and ID.
Partners with individual families and communities for health, justice, and hope.
 
Family support emerged in 1970’s to fill gaps for families.
 
LCS has 8 centers in a five county region serving over 31,000 participants each year.
LCS aims to ensure children are in a safe and stable environment, seniors and those with disabilities acquire and sustain independence, family and communities are violence free, refugees and immigrants transition to their new communities, allow people to connect with others, and aim to fill gaps in services.
 
Family Support Center Philosophy of Work
  1. Staff and families work together
  2. Staff enhances families capacity to support growth and development of all family members
  3. Families are resources to their own members and communities
  4. Foster diversity
  5. Embed in communities
  6. Advocate
  7. Mobilize resources
  8. Remain flexible
  9. Model the philosophies
  10. Measure everything
The Arlington Resource Center will allow families immediate access to Salvation Army vouchers, parenting classes, budgeting classes, mental health and other services, and many more services are anticipated based on a needs assessment.
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The Arlington Resource Center will be located at the Stillaguamish Senior Center and is anticipated to open June 1, 2015.