Master minding delivery of three truckloads of food and school supply to the Help Center last week are (from left) Fire Chief Patrick Reitz, Christina Reitz, Help Center Board President Callie Wight, Help Center staff Julia Ledesma, David Miller, Peter Eckert and Karen Cantrell, owner of Lady Golf in Palm Springs, who is responsible for collecting $700 in cash donations of which $400 were applied to food purchase and $300 to school supplies. The estimated value of additional food dropped off by Palm Springs residents totals $20,000. Lady Golf will continue to collect donations in Palm Springs throughout the month of August, delivering them to Idyllwild once a week. Cantrell is a part-time Pine Cove resident who was approached by Reitz to help with supplying the Help Center with donations. Holly Parsons
Master minding delivery of three truckloads of food and school supply to the Help Center last week are (from left) Fire Chief Patrick Reitz, Christina Reitz, Help Center Board President Callie Wight, Help Center staff Julia Ledesma, David Miller, Peter Eckert and Karen Cantrell, owner of Lady Golf in Palm Springs, who is responsible for collecting $700 in cash donations of which $400 were applied to food purchase and $300 to school supplies. The estimated value of additional food dropped off by Palm Springs residents totals $20,000. Lady Golf will continue to collect donations in Palm Springs throughout the month of August, delivering them to Idyllwild once a week. Cantrell is a part-time Pine Cove resident who was approached by Reitz to help with supplying the Help Center with donations. Holly Parsons
The Idyllwild Help Center has seen a tremendous amount of activity since Idyllwild and surrounding communities have been repopulated after the devastating Cranston Fire.
The nonprofit has provided more than 200 emergency services to more than 170 people.
Because of that tremendous need, it has been the target of giving from both locals and off-Hillers, from politicians to organizations. (See accompanying photos.)
“We’ve had such an outpouring of generosity in these last few hard days, for that we are truly grateful,” reads its Facebook page. “However, one question has been asked over and over: ‘How can we help the Help Center?’”
The post makes these suggestions:
• Money donations help the nonprofit meet the needs of the community as needs shift.
• Gift-card donations to any local store help two-fold; helping the most vulnerable and keeping the local economy strong.
• Non-perishable food donations.
• School supplies are in critical need.
• Donate gently used clothing, furniture and miscellaneous items to the thrift store.
Joy Silver, Democratic candidate for state senate, delivers water Saturday morning to the Idyllwild Help Center with her assistant James Carver. The two also brought pasta sauce, jelly, batteries and cereal from Courageous Resistance of the Desert. Photo by Becky ClarkAaron Quintyn and David Miller bring crates of donations into the Idyllwild Help Center on Wednesday, Aug. 1. These two and a group of friends brought two truckloads of food and supplies up the Hill from the Coachella Valley Rescue Mission in Indio. Photo by Halie WilsonIdyllwild Fire Chief Patrick Reitz helps unload food donations at the Idyllwild Help Center last week that were donated by Lady Golf in Palm Springs. Photo by Jack ClarkExecutive Director Colleen Meyer is overwhelmed to see loads of donations arriving at the Idyllwild Help Center last week for Cranston Fire victims.
On Monday night, May 26, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department received a call about lost hikers. Cabazon Station deputies responded to the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. The wife of hiker Jason Popwski, who resides in the city of Joshua Tree, reported him and his two friends, Larry Duffield, also of Joshua Tree, and Brian McBrayer…
The board of the new Idyllwild San Jacinto Regional Fire Authority held its first meeting Thursday evening, June 9. Earlier in the week, both agencies agreed to create the Joint Powers Authority and explore its operation. The board is composed of the five-member San Jacinto City Council and the five-member Idyllwild Fire Protection District Commission….
Dear Spiritual Workout: I’m noticing my town is getting more and more politically divisive. How do I live in harmony among those whose beliefs are totally opposite of mine? Dear Reader: Your town? Our town? This town? Every town? Years ago, I had something I called Spiritual Workout for Politics & Current Events. Then I…
The San Jacinto Mountains’ Community Wildfire Protection Plan was the topic at the May 8 Mountain Emergency Services Committee meeting. “It’s a huge community impact and is not done by the [fire or forest] agencies,” stressed Kathleen Henderson, Riverside County emergency services coordinator for the mountain. Mountain Communities Fire Safe Council Executive Director Edwina Scott…
Advertised as “For all the hardworking people on the Hill,” the Market Place at Pine Cove offered unleaded gas for $3.49 per gallon on Saturday, Sept. 3, and the community heartily responded. The market also offers a Loyalty Program in which customers bring receipts for five full fill-ups and receive two tickets to the Rustic Theatre.