A team of Washougal School District employees were recently recognized for their efforts to feed firefighters staged at Cape Horn-Skye Elementary/Canyon Creek Middle Schools during this summer’s Gold Rush Fire that burned for eight days just 12 miles northeast of Washougal.
“Everyone was still out on summer vacation, just weeks before the new school year started, and I received a call about providing breakfast, lunch and dinner meal service to firefighters,” said Mark Jasper, Sodexo General Manager at Washougal School District. “At first my mind was racing with thoughts of where and how I was going to get food to feed them. The location is remote and was totally closed down with nothing on the shelves.”
Jasper quickly reached out to the Sodexo procurement team to coordinate emergency delivery. Then the calls went to Washougal area employees to work in the kitchen. “I started to make phone calls and leave messages,” he said. “It wasn’t long before I was amazed at how fast everyone was ready to answer the need for help. These were people willing to give up their last week of summer vacation!”
Washougal team members recognized by the award were: Nancy Sonneson from Washougal High School, Cheryl Bastian from Jemtegaard Middle School, Molly Krabbenhoft from Hathaway Elementary, and Trudi Jones from Gause Elementary. The group worked in teams of two and gave coverage to the fire fighters from 4:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. for more than a week. “They would serve breakfast and lunch then go to the opening meeting or cover the opening meeting and go back to serve the fire fighters’ dinner. True dedication!”
“The fire fighters came in covered with black dirt and exhausted,” said Bastian. “They were hand digging fire trenches because they could not get equipment in. There were nights that we were serving dinner at 10:30 p.m. because that is when they came in. Everyone was so nice and so grateful.”
Bastian has friends who live up near the area the fire was burning and said she was more than a little concerned for them. “I was happy to help,” she added.
Sonneson was impressed at how the entire community gave support. “They brought in so much stuff like cases of Gateraid and Rockstar, and food like bananas, apple and desserts,” she said.
“It is hard to express the feelings that they gave me,” Jasper admitted. “I was so impressed, thankful and had so much pride at the same time. Washougal was answering the call.”
The 60-acre Gold Rush Fire was originally reported on August 17 and burnt mostly logging slash in remote areas of west Skamania County. It was reported fully contained on Monday, August 24.
The Eastmont and Woodland School Districts, who were impacted by wildfires and mobilized to serve firefighters in their area, were also recognized by the Sodexo award with Washougal.
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