Ephrata did not wait for a press conference.
During two back-to-school orientation days, families and shops in the Ephrata School District filled donation boxes for students in Nespelem and Wahluke — districts hit by summer wildfire. Communications director Sarah Vasquez dropped the boxes Monday. By morning they needed more. The district was not even in the same league. Wahluke Superintendent Andy Harlow: “They restored faith in humanity.”
The count, because counts are the point: 1,900 sheets of lined paper, 1,140 pens, 408 pencils, 952 crayons, 160 markers, 96 colored pencils, 100 glue sticks, 85 notebooks, 38 highlighters, 16 tissue boxes, 12 scissors, plus erasers, binders, rulers, wipes. American Legion, Ephrata Walmart, Granco Federal Credit Union, and a pile of local names.
Why the boxes were needed
The Railroad Fire started July 22 near Mattawa and Beverly. About ten homes. 8,200 acres. Harlow said displaced families slept in district spaces and strangers showed up with water and toilet paper. Kaiser Canyon near Nespelem scorched 138,293 acres and was 99% contained as of September 2. Vasquez: some of these families “literally have nothing.”
Ephrata classes started September 3. The drive is done. The district said if a local kid still needs help, call the school.
What this means for you
If you live near a burn, this is the model: put the box out at orientation, do not guilt people who still have to buy their own glue. If you wanted one Labor Day story that is not gas or a poll, it is a middle school cafeteria full of crayons.
Bottom line: an hour away is still a neighbor. The extra boxes are the whole article.
GLHR NEWS explains the news. Not investment, tax, or trading advice. Do your own work before you act.
