Collaboration between Forks Lions, Rayonier benefit the West End

October 29, 2020 1:30 am
Rayonier employees Mike Leavitt, Dennis Cox, and Griffin Ollar with Forks Lions Club member John Calhoun, who is second from the right. Submitted Photo
Rayonier employees Mike Leavitt, Dennis Cox, and Griffin Ollar with Forks Lions Club member John Calhoun, who is second from the right. Submitted Photo

Rayonier Timber Company and Forks Lions club are collaborating to support the City of Forks and other West End communities. “The Forks Lions Club greatly appreciates the generous gift of a load of cedar salvage logs,” said Club President Andrew Huggins.

Forks Lions Club presented a certificate of appreciation to Dennis Cox, Timber Production Forester for Rayonier at their Forks Headquarters.

Rayonier’s recent contribution of cedar salvage logs will amount to about 6 cords of shingle blocks worth approximately $3,600. Bechtold Logging salvaged the logs from Rayonier timberlands and loaded them on to D & S Trucking trucks which contributed the cost of hauling them to the shingle mill.

After the Club processes the logs into shingle blocks, Club member George Powers will run the material through his shingle mill and market the finished product returning about $4,800 to Forks Lions Club. The Lions Club intends to use the proceeds from this gift to support community projects.

So what’s new?

For decades, Forks has enjoyed a mutually beneficial partnership with Rayonier that has literately defined the well being of each. “We are all in this together,” said Mr. Cox. “We need economically healthy communities to provide the services our company needs to successfully harvest and market our timber. It has been gratifying to be able to make a contribution to the community, with the help of the Forks Lions Club, as economic conditions remain stressed during the COVID-19 outbreak,” according to Mr. Cox.

“The Logs for Food exchange with Quincy Lions Club is another great example of partnership between Forks Lions Club and Rayonier,” said President Huggins. Each year the Forks club hauls two truckloads of logs, at least one of which has been contributed by Rayonier, to Quincy.

The Forks club cuts the logs into firewood which the Quincy club distributes to needy families. In exchange, the Quincy club provides tons of produce from local farms to the Forks Club. The produce is hauled back to Forks where it is distributed to local food banks throughout the West End, including to local Tribes. Potatoes, carrots, onions, beans, apples, and other foodstuffs are much appreciated by many Thanksgiving tables thanks to the generous contributions from Rayonier and others.

“The proceeds from Rayonier’s gift of cedar salvage logs will be put to good use,” said Forks Lions Club President Drew Huggins. Some of the community projects supported by Forks Lions Club as a result of gifts such as those from Rayonier include; development of Tillicum Park in Forks, scholarships to Forks High School graduating seniors, support of youth sports teams, purchase of materials for wheelchair ramp construction (approximately 3 per year for the last 15 years),

White Canes Sight Foundation, and various building and repair projects for deserving citizens.

With the help of gifts such as cedar salvage logs from Rayonier, the Forks Lions Club can live up to its motto:

We Serve.