Jacob Dimond / jake@yelmonline.com
In an effort of pure good will, and a push to reemerge as a community leader, the Yelm Eagles FOE organization successfully hosted a fundraiser on Saturday, July 11, and raised enough money to donate $1,000 each to four different local organizations.
E. Wyatt Mendel, Yelm Eagles chaplain and trial committee chair, on Thursday, July 16, said the four local organizations that will receive $1,000 each in fundraiser money are The Sgt. Justin Norton Memorial Fund; The Sgt. Sean Collins Memorial Fund; Yelm Dollars for Scholars; and Yelm Unified Community. He noted the event had a great turnout, and that the fundraiser itself went really well.
“We were able to donate $1,000 to each of the causes, some of which have been extremely grateful,” Mendel said. “I feel like one that deserves a small shoutout are Emily McIntire and Mark Gausney, who just started the non-profit Yelm Unified Community. The whole premise of that new non-profit is to help students who are 18-and-older with disabilities get the help that they need. A lot of the kids who are special needs, after they graduate from high school, don’t have a lot of resources left for them. This is one route that will be able to help.”
According to Mendel, the process of selecting the four local non-profit organizations was simple for himself and the Yelm Eagles. He noted that all four organizations are near and dear to both himself and the Eagles Lodge.
Additionally, he wanted to give back to the special needs community in some way and said he was grateful to come across Yelm Unified Community.
“This year, I was going to donate it to the (Yelm High School) booster club and earmark it for children with special needs,” Mendel said. “After getting to meet Emily and Mark and all of the other kids and seeing what they were about, I was happy to choose them. I know the funds will go way further with them.”
Throughout the evening, Mendel noted that there was a silent auction featuring items donated by Debbie Sullivan, former Tumwater Mayor, Gary Warnock, Thurston County Coroner, Linda Racy, Sgt. Collins’ mother, and himself.
“We had a ton of food. We had Jerk Juicy BBQ cater the whole thing,” Mendel said. “We were able to feed the whole lodge the very next day with the leftovers. No food went to waste there. We were able to raise more money on the food the next day to donate back, and that’s how we got closer to that $4,000 total — so $1,000 each.”
He added that the event also featured several friendly games of poker and cribbage, and numerous patriotic themed drinks to celebrate the United States of America’s 250th anniversary as a nation. The funds raised from those extra activities helped the organization round out the total amount of money raised to $4,000.
“I think it’s great to be able to give back, especially considering the position the Eagles were in. We have a new president, Hope Madick, who’s been doing a great job,” Mendel said. “To have such a great community response, to have such a great turnout, to have their help, has all been phenomenal. I feel like it’s almost been a 180 from where they were to where they are today.”
Following the success of the fundraiser by the Yelm Eagles, Mendel said with the great leadership and trustees involved in the organization that you’ll continue to see the Eagles step up in Yelm by doing more for the community.
“Come and check it out,” Mendel said, directed towards the Yelm community. “They have karaoke night. They have poker night and a bunch of other things. The response from the Eagles has been nothing short of amazing. Having everyone reaching out and contributing in some way, whether it was a donation, a silent auction donation or their presence the evening of. I’m excited to see what comes of the Eagles lodge over the next year.”
Mendel noted that attendees of the Yelm Eagles lodge can be signed in as a guest up to three times before they need to purchase a membership. You can learn more about becoming a member at waeagles.org/become-a-member.
“I’m very grateful to everyone who donated, who has been so supportive and have learned a lot about these causes that we’ve been caring for over the past couple of years,” Mendel said. “The growth we’ve seen, and the response from the community, caring about the Sgt. Norton Memorial Fund or getting the Sgt. Collins Memorial Fund started has been awesome and inspiring. I just can’t wait to see what things are going to look like four or five years down the road.”
