CONTENTS 12/19/2020
City Hall Encampment
Stone Soup
MealTrain Sign-Up
Soup Brigade Ingredients
Storage Needed For Donations
Big Plastic Bins
Warm Donations Needed
On-Site Volunteers Needed
Bulk Recipes And Equipment
Firewood
Sunday Egg Delivery?
Increased Security
Good Information On Covid Vaccine
Covid Symptom Study App
Radio Free Fl!p: Stay At Home
STONE SOUP
Be warned that today’s post is not usual. I’m in the middle of a maelstrom of support for the encampment at city hall. It’s wonderful, but I haven’t found my balance yet. I did NOT expect this! I started by trying to help in a small way, taking in hot hard-boiled eggs every morning. I mentioned it on this list. Everyone has stepped forward to help, in big ways and small. It really adds up! Together we make quite a difference. I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart! Tonight’s update seems to be mostly Soup Brigade and related items.
I’m still gathering posts from artists, artisans, restaurants and small businesses. I’m not even insisting that they are in the neighborhood. If you love them and can write briefly, I’ll take them through tomorrow and try to post on Monday. It’s another way we can care for our neighbors by shopping local.
MEALTRAIN SIGN-UP
Look for meals that have no one signed up yet, and also look for folks who have signed up to bring fewer than 50 meals. Click on their name, and coordinate with them to bring enough food between you. Your meals don’t have to match. Variety is a good thing. If you are bringing fewer than 50 meals, make sure you note that so others can supplement yours as well.
https://www.mealtrain.com/trains/nnmwke
SOUP BRIGADE INGREDIENTS
I have a BIG pile of fresh soup veggies that better go out and get cooked sooner than later. It all came in today: Potatoes, carrots, squash, yellow onions, zucchini, red onions, cilantro, and bell peppers. I also have rice, lentils, beans, and pasta for Mac&Cheese. We have 16oz & 8oz ToGo cups, 2.5” tall dinner boxes, bakery bags for cookies, rolls, muffins, and half sandwiches. We have two great big soup pots with lids, and a roaster pan. More are coming. I’ll need a volunteer to get more eggs on Monday at SmartFood. They have cases of 15 dozen eggs, and I’ve noticed theirs crack less than the ones from other sources. And they’re very inexpensive. Please check with me if you can go so I don’t wind up with 10 cases, though!
STORAGE NEEDED FOR DONATIONS
Our house is pretty well maxed out. Can anyone else take in donated supplies for up to a couple weeks while storage and distribution for the Encampment is worked out? I believe most objects will leave within a few days.
BIG PLASTIC BINS
Sounds like we need a couple dozen bins to go in the newly donated van for orderly storage. Clear bins are best. I still have some donated money to buy some if you’ve got a good source. But donating stacking bins leaves money for other needs. Bins can come to our house asap. 2518 Cherry. Red house with green trim and more garden than yard, mid block.
WARM DONATIONS NEEDED
Wool blankets, warm throws, neckwarmers, first aid kits, handwarmers, Myler aluminum blankets, plastic ponchos, hats, gloves, tarps, tents, & sleeping bags are all needed. But the supplies tent is not secure.Please let me know you have them. I will call for them as soon as storage and distribution are up and running or when I have a way to get them delivered to the specific folks who need them right now. If you can help deliver, please let me know that too. And thank you for backpacks and rucksacks. They will make more than one life easier!
ON SITE VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
If your health will permit, more hands are needed at the encampment. It is NOT low risk! I can put you in touch.
BULK RECIPES AND EQUIPMENT
Carly has volunteered before at a retreat, making large quantities of food. She has all of the recipes, which are all delicious, and include great detail about serving sizes for various groups. We can send these recipes for anyone who wants to cook but isn’t sure what to do/how much to make for 50 people. [Request the pdf file from me, Fl!p]
She also went to Smart Foodservice and got a large pot and some hotel pans. She guessed a lot of people don’t have the equipment to cook for large numbers of people. Arrange to pick them up and return them at Fl!p’s. Hooray for Carly Benhaim! Thank you!!!
FIREWOOD
Just for the moment, firewood to donate is best kept at your home till the time is right. If you have some to donate, please let me know, and I’ll keep a list and call for it in an orderly way. Or would someone else like to be the Soup Brigade Firewood Organizer? You wouldn’t have to physically deal with the firewood. Just keep a list of who has offered, what they’ve got, and whether they’ve already donated it.
SUNDAY EGG DELIVERY?
I am looking for someone to take on regular Sunday morning (not too early) egg delivery. Pick up hot hard boiled eggs at our house and drop them at city hall while they are still hot. I’ll have them ready to go at an agreed upon time.
INCREASED SECURITY
The best way to increase your own security is to increase the security of those around you. You cannot increase yours by decreasing the security of others.
GOOD INFORMATION ON COVID VACCINE
Since March, I have read Betsy Brown’s blog every single day. She is a doctor in Seattle who began blogging in response to the pandemic. Her information is accurate and up-to-date. She’s humble and honest about the changing situation as we learn more. She knows how to access, read and understand research. I find her deeply reassuring, kind, and brave. I particularly loved last night’s post about vaccine history.
COVID SYMPTOM STUDY APP
Zeke and I joined this national study last spring. I would like to invite you to join as well. It takes about a minute a day to report on your Covid status. What the researchers are learning is useful to all of us. The more of us who join, the faster scientists are able to learn.
https://covid.joinzoe.com/us-2
RADIO FREE FL!P: STAY AT HOME
A Covid Christmas Carol from Joe Vinikow & Julie Sakahara – This just arrived tonight from a couple long-time Guitar Camp buddies, with a special holiday message for you!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0xUatIZcD0&feature=youtu.be
Love/Fl!p 360-671-4511 2518 Cherry Street flip@columbianeighborhood.org
If you want to ask me to post something, just email me. If it’s urgent, phone. If it’s a real emergency, call 911.