Tools and money donations headed to Malden

RITZVILLE – Generous donations from the community for wildfire victims filled a U-Haul truck over the past week, headed for Whitman County.

Diane Kennedy, owner of the Caddy Shack restaurant located at the city golf course, rented the truck for the week. She said donations would be sent to United Way in Whitman County.

Kennedy said Monday, Sept. 28, the truck was in storage while she waited word from United Way to bring it in.

"It's parked at Pete's Garage right now. They got some many donations they can't take anymore just yet," Kennedy said, adding tools donated specifically for fire victims in Malden, along with about $300 cash raised in a spaghetti feed Saturday would be sent right away.

"The tools were donated to help get Malden rebuilt," Kennedy said.

"People are really generous and are donating really nice stuff," Kat Zupan, head cook at the Caddy Shack, said last week. "They are thinking of people with pets and donating stuff for them, too, which I thought was really nice because people still have their pets, and they are stranded too."

Zupan said people from out of town were traveling to Ritzville to make donations.

"We had people come all the way from Washtucna to donate. It's good to see," Zupan said. "People are really digging in, and have come back more than once with stuff. We got a variety of things including toilet paper, cat litter, clothes – anything people can think of."

"I grew up with a very caring Grandpa and Dad. They were always the first ones to lend a helping hand when needed," Kennedy said. "I have always jumped in and helped where needed, whether it was wanted or not."

Kennedy said she spent $500 to rent the U-Haul, and local businesses and individuals including Ritzville Lumber, Pete Spain, RDO Equipment, Pete's Garage and Mi Jalisco donated to cover the cost of the truck.

Kennedy said people came by her restaurant throughout the day Saturday to purchase food at the spaghetti dinner fundraiser.