In addition to ICE, the following agencies are being impacted by the shutdown:
U.S. Coast Guard
Transportation Security Administration (TSA)
Secret Service and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
My lunch companion questioned why these agencies, each of which provides essential services for our country, are being grouped together in discussions with ICE. This is a point worth considering and will be revisited later in this document.
Now asking you to consider helping two local organizations who provide food to many in our community:
Nehalem Bay Community Services is in Nehalem, Oregon at the Methodist Church. At this time of year this agency is very busy providing donations of food, clothing, blankets, and more. Their food pantry welcomes everyone Monday, Friday, and Saturday (10 AM-2 PM) and Wednesday from 1 PM – 5 PM. If you would like to help with their mission, please drop off canned meats, peanut butter and jelly, breakfast cereal, eggs, fresh produce, canned soups, and condiments. Gas cards can also be helpful. These are just suggestions. In their last message they were asking for men’s clothing. Nehalem Bay Community Services also has a Senior Lunch Program which they serve on Tuesdays and Thursdays, which begins at 11:30 AM. This program not only offers food but also companionship. You can support and make a direct impact to both these programs by sending a check to Nehalem Bay Community Services, PO Box 232, Nehalem, Oregon, 97131. For more information you can call 503-368-4385.
The North County Food Bank is in Wheeler, Oregon. It has been in operation for over 30 years. This Food Bank is open on Tuesdays and serves 50 or more families a week. Your dollars can be used to buy more food for this organization. Check can be sent to North County Food Bank, PO Box 162, Wheeler, Oregon 97147. More information can be had by calling 503-368-7724.
Now back to the discussion of the Government Shutdown. I must ask if they have electricity in Washington, D.C.? Where are these people who we all elected to the House of Representatives and Senate? It doesn’t seem to me like they are showing up for work! Do we need to start taking attendance every morning? I must question their ability to see into the future. And I also question their loyalty to the people who elected them, the people of the United States of America. What are these people, both the House of Representatives and the Senate, thinking? Why does it take the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti to make them act on something that is a non-issue since the Big Beautiful Bill passed? ICE doesn’t need any money-they are funded. If our elected officials had acted earlier perhaps these two people would still be alive. Should we all be ashamed of ourselves because we elected them? Should we be ashamed of ourselves because we let them get away with it? A friend on the line says, ‘WAKE UP’! What should be done to get the people we elected to think a lot more than they’ve been doing. I know there’s a lot more to do, many more problems to work on. Let’s all try to wake up the people we voted for to take care of our country.
Peaceful Protest in Nehalem, February 21, Saturday, noon to 2 PM. North County Resistance
Best,
Patty