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Dunsmuir’s Volunteer Faire is for All

by Shareen Strauss Views: 208

The Dunsmuir Chamber of Commerce sponsored this free event.

Dunsmuir’s First Annual Volunteer Faire on April 30th was not only a grand success with a huge turnout of people wanting to get more involved, but it also was very informative of what is going on in Dunsmuir with its community services, events, and activities. 

“The Ford Family Institute provided us with a $1K microgrant to support it. We sent out 1,000 6×9 postcards to EDDM, and DES sent flyers home with all their kids. Together with the Chamber, we want to develop a community of volunteerism towards a better community.”

City Council Member Bruce Deutsch came up with the idea of a volunteer fair from the City of Etna

 “This is a great way to make a difference in our community, and get involved with local causes, all the while learning new skills, exploring new areas of interest, and meeting new people,”

Chamber Director Cheryl Petty

Jan LaRock, who greeted people at the door of the Dunsmuir Community building, is herself a brand new volunteer with the Dunsmuir Chamber of Commerce. She recently moved into the area and wanted to get involved.

“We need volunteers at the Chamber, gift shop,  and Visitors Center. It is great to just get out of the house and learn new skills,” 

says LaRock as she hands out brochures of attractions and contacts in Dunsmuir, Ca.

 And the list of Dunsmuir attractions is big. From the historic Amtrak Depot, Turntable and Engine Service Facility, and Steam Engine Display,  to the many varieties of parks for hiking, fishing, or just family fun, including Tauhindauli Park, the Botanical Gardens, the Olympic-sized public swimming pool, to hikes at Castle Crags, or to Hedge Creek Falls, and much more. Dunsmuir’s annual events are many and all very popular drawing people from all over. For the list of chamber events, go to www.dunsmuir.com or call the Chamber’s Visitor’s Center at (530) 235-2177

Mayor Juliana Lucchesi visited each table at the fair saying that she made connections with each of the organizations to see what their needs are. 

The fair started with 14 organizations represented but ended up with more, filling up the Community Center with tables of information for community services and organizations in Dunsmuir.  All are in need of volunteers: 

 The Dunsmuir Rotary Club of Dunsmuir sponsors many community programs especially to help the children in the community with the Little Free Library funding books for children or the Wildcat Weekender Backpack Food Program providing easy-to-make meals for children on the weekend so they have enough to eat. Because Dunsmuir is known for its world-class fishing, the Rotary built and installed fishing hook and line collection stations at popular fishing spots along the river. For more about the Rotary projects or to get involved in this international service organization, go to their website at www.dunsmuirrotary.orgor find Dunsmuir Rotary on Facebook. 
The beautiful Dunsmuir Botanical Gardens are open daily with free admission. Located in Dunsmuir City Park, it maintains a colorful array of native and woodland plants. The 10-member board of directors is all volunteers. To get involved in horticultural education go to www.dunsmuirbotanicalgardens.org or contact [email protected]
The Siskiyou County Public Library Dunsmuir Branch hours are 1 to 5 PM Tuesday through Saturday with computer and wifi access, free 3D printing for kids, and reading programs for all ages. To volunteer call  (530) 235-2035 or email [email protected]
Helping Hands is a new organization that created a resource of volunteers to help those in need with things like snow removal, shopping, light yardwork, house cleaning, or local transportation. Helping Hands originated through Revive Church, which also offers these services. Contact Cynthia at (805) 760-5154 or Denise at (530) 218-0022

Friends of Tauhindauli Park is a group of volunteers working together to improve the park’s river access, wildlife, and fish habitat, increase awareness of cultural heritage, and maintain the trails and native plants along them. Share the hopes and dreams of one of Dunsmuir’s gems with its thousands of years of history for people to continue to enjoy. The website is friends.of.Tpark.org or email [email protected]

Dunsmuir Railroad Dept Historical Society and Museum is the last Amtrak stop in Siskiyou County. For information or to volunteer, go to dunsmuirdepot.com or write to Dunsmuir RR Dept. Historical Society, P.O. Box 324, Dunsmuir, Ca. 96025
The Dunsmuir Garden Club was established in 1987. Their ‘playbox’ is Hedge Creek Falls and Florence Loop at the freeway, but they are found adding beauty throughout Dunsmuir.  They offer classes with guest speakers about many related topics including water conservation, land cultivation, gardening design, and pruning at their monthly meetings. Find out more by calling (530) 859-2005 or find them on Facebook. 

Dunsmuir Firewise is a wildfire preparedness and resiliency collaborative working to engage the Dunsmuir community in disaster planning and being more ‘fire wise’ by educating property owners and helping to maintain defensible space and potentially reducing fire insurance premiums. Under the Fire Safe Council of Siskiyou County, volunteers are needed to help in this important community service. For more information, email [email protected].

The American Red Cross networks locally with the library, Rotary Club, Helping Hands, and the Community Center in disaster relief programs helping to set up shelters, and offering education to prepare households. 90% of the Red Cross are volunteers.  They offer their Pillowcase Project for children in grades 3 to 5 and special needs at the College of the Siskiyous. To find out more call Joe Bergmann at (408) 896-4312
The Siskiyou Arts Museum (aka SAM) is a nonprofit striving to enrich the lives of artists, residents, and visitors to Siskiyou County through exhibitions, events, and programs to educate and strengthen, serve, and sustain artists. Visit their gallery/gift shop at 5824 Dunsmuir Ave. in Dunsmuir or call (530) 235-4711

Dunsmuir Community Resource Center provides many important services in the community through parent education, mental health wellness classes, referrals, activities, a food pantry, a community garden, and more. Located at 5840 Dunsmuir Ave in Dunsmuir, call (530) 235-4400

Mount Shasta Bioregional Ecology Center is a county-wide organization preserving, protecting, and restoring cultural and environmental values of the watershed around Mt. Shasta in Siskiyou County. This also includes maintaining hiking trails, giving talks, and helping at events.  For more information go to mountshastaecology.org or email [email protected]

Dunsmuir Railroad Days Committee is the backbone behind the annual Dunsmuir Railroad Days festival which is being held this year on June 16, 17, and 18.  Volunteers are needed in preparation as well as during and after the event. This big event has grown since the early 1940s when it first started and is a big draw to Dunsmuir each year. Volunteers are needed in all capacities from preparing for the parade and Little Mister & Miss Engineer Contest,  to helping with the organization of vendors, games, setup, and cleanup. Each year some of the proceeds go towards supporting local scholarships. For more information call Coordinator Committee President Sandra Hood at (530) 515-8005

Other Dunsmuir Chamber events that need volunteers are Metal on the Mountains, Pacific Rest Music Festival, the Annual Dunsmuir River and Rails Brewfest, Pacific Crest Music Festivals, Dunsmuir Steampunk Festival, Jazz in the Canyon, Harvest Scarecrow Walk, Harvest Festival, Dunsmuir Rotary Holiday Crafts Faire and Fran’s Famous Baked Potatoes, and Candles in the Canyon. 

For all these organizations, volunteers are needed to help with planning, working on the computer, phone, and through social media. People are needed that can be working independently or as a team, indoors or outdoors, during the day or on the weekends, learning new things, or educating others.

Anything anyone can give will make a difference!

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