On behalf of the Mercer Island Merchant Association, we would like to thank every business and individual who supported our efforts to raise money for the Oso Landslide relief. You may have seen our little boxes around Mercer Island during the month of April, and it has been heartwarming to collect the boxes and discover how giving the citizens of Mercer Island can be in the face of the largest natural disaster in terms of loss of life in our state’s history. Mercer Island should be proud that, a nickel or dollar or single check at a time, this effort raised over $2,400, including over 19 pounds of coins!

The heartwarming stories are too many to list, but they range from finding a $500 check made out to the Red Cross in one box, to a local merchant donating from their tip jar, to a 9-year-old girl waking up and deciding to have a lemonade and cookie stand one weekend and donating all of her proceeds to the effort ($39!).

It truly is a testament to our citizens’ value in community service, even if that community is 60 miles away. A big thank you to the merchants who participated by donating 16 square inches of their counter space, and a big thank you to all who put anything in those boxes.

We have delivered every penny raised to the Red Cross Oso fund.

Well done Mercer Island!

John Keith and Debbie Friend