BBQ benefit for Nippon workers raises more than $80,000
The Saturday barbecue fundraiser that drew thousands of people to the Bob's Sporting Goods parking lot ultimately raised thousands of dollars for the families whose lives were changed by the Nippon Dynawave plant disaster.
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Big Smoke in Little Kalama posted an update Monday evening that they will be writing a more than $80,000 check to the community fund set up last week for the workers hurt and killed by the chemical tank failure at the paper packaging plant and their families.
Big Smoke BBQ owners Adam and Rose Scattergood approached Bob's Sporting Goods owner Matt Schlecht about the parking lot fundraiser and brought in other Pacific Northwest barbecuers, such as Smokin' Frank's BBQ and Iron Haug BBQ, to help.
Crowd turns out downtown for Nippon Dynawave victims
This photo taken from the second floor of Bob's Sporting Goods the afternoon of May 30, shows a bird's eye view of the overflow crowd attending the barbecue fundraiser for families of Nippon Dynawave impacted by the chemical tank eruption. Organizers say they raised more than $80,000 from the event.
More than two dozen local businesses and community groups of all sizes contributed to the cause, as did dozens more volunteers.
The line for barbecue during the lunch rush stretched all the way across the store parking lot and well past the 12th Avenue sidewalk.
Donations are still being accepted for the fund that the Cowlitz Wahkiakum Central Labor Council opened for the Association of Western Pulp and Paper Workers at Lower Columbia Longshoremen's Federal Credit Union.
Those wishing to contribute can mail a check to 1145 Commerce Ave., Longview, WA 98632. Please include "Family Fund Donation" in the check memo line.
Donations can also be made at local Fibre Federal Credit Union and Red Canoe Credit Union branches, or see account.venmo.com/u/cwclcfamilysupport to donate online.
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