The fire department in Waldo, Arkansas had purchased a replacement pumper truck and needed to acquire some associated equipment like hoses, nozzles, and air fans. Our Waldo facility decided to contribute the cost of these items. Although the Waldo sawmill has an internal fire brigade, the facility relies on the city fire department for fire protection as well as well as training. The fully rigged pumper truck will not only make the fire department better equipped to serve large industries but will also improve fire protection to the entire community.
PotlatchDeltic has partnered with United Way for over a decade to raise money for local non-profits. At our corporate offices in Spokane, Washington, we hold a United Way Week every year. Spokane United Way contributions had a 100% participation rate in 2023 and were augmented through a corporate fifty percent match per dollar contributed.
United Way Week also included a range of activities to promote awareness about United Way’s initiatives and raise additional funds for charities. Several of our Team Members are involved with charitable organizations, and podcasts were produced and broadcasted during the week to educate Team Members on local charitable and volunteer opportunities. The United Way Week team held several other events which included our annual raffle for donated baskets, a paper airplane contest, and our chili and cornbread cookoff. All of this contributed to the week being a great success with over $132,000 raised for Spokane County United Way.
Additionally, each year, during United Way Week, our Spokane team also gives back to the community with a day of service. In 2023, we partnered with Habitat for Humanity in Spokane to volunteer for a build day. Teams were organized to assist with installing and caulking siding and conducting some neighborhood cleanup. Volunteers loved working with their hands and people they wouldn’t normally interact with in their day-to-day activities. We look forward to working with Spokane County United Way and Habitat for Humanity again in 2024.
Our Team Members in St. Maries, Idaho are very active in working to make a difference in their community. Charitable giving ranges from promoting a summer sunset concert series to sponsoring a traveling circus, to swimming lessons. So, when the opportunity came along for a major project, St. Maries lumber and plywood facilities jumped into action.
The St. Maries Lumberjack Booster Club, affiliated with St. Maries High School, had a vision for youth to have a dedicated place for sports activities. The St. Maries lumber and plywood complex shared the view that promoting sports not only supports fitness and health, but also benefits children’s mental and social health and teaches the importance of teamwork, discipline, and dedication. PotlatchDeltic contributed $100,000 towards Phase 2 of the Lumberjack Community Sports Complex in St. Maries, Idaho that is being developed by the Booster Club. This phase of the funding efforts enabled completion of irrigation and hydroseeding for the baseball, softball, and soccer fields. Team Members and vendors also participated in a fundraising campaign towards the effort and raised an additional $25,000. PotlatchDeltic matched the donations for a total contribution of $150,000 toward the project.
PotlatchDeltic partnered with ten companies and industry associations from across the Arkansas forest products sector to build a home with Habitat for Humanity in Haskell, Arkansas. The recent Forestry Build reflected how teamwork across our sector can amplify our shared goals and provide a home for a family.
PotlatchDeltic contributed to Habitat for Humanity of Saline County towards the build and provided a team of volunteers for a build day. Team Members from our timberlands division and our Arkansas wood products facilities came together to participate. Everyone who participated in the home build found the day gratifying and rewarding on many levels.
Summer in St. Maries, Idaho is picture perfect, and swimming and sports activities along the St. Joe River is a favorite pastime. The lumber and plywood complex wanted to help support the community in ensuring youth were safe. So, children 18 years of age and under were given a “free swim summer” from June to August at the city pool. The donation also included swim lessons for children and those who participated in the swimming lessons also received a beach towel. The community response was great with almost double the normal use of the facility.
In Benewah County, Idaho, where our St. Maries Complex is located, a highlight of the County Fair held each August is the Junior Livestock Show & Sale. The event enables local 4-H youth aged 5-18 to exhibit and sell animals they have learned to feed and care for under the 4-H youth program.
Youth in 4-H in the area participate in the program to learn about agriculture, poultry, and livestock production but also to learn life skills. They own and work with the animals and are responsible for looking after the animals and keeping them healthy while they grow and then exhibiting them in the competitive show and sale. Often, raising and selling these animals is a big part of a student’s savings for college.
The Junior Livestock Show & Sale is an important culmination of that work, and the sale of the animals is critical to enable the youth to pay for and look after another animal the following year.
Our St. Maries Complex stepped in to support their community by purchasing animals featured at the event. In addition, St. Maries created a multiplier effect through how it donated the animals to charities in the community including the local food bank.
Our participation reflects our commitment to be an integral part of our communities by helping in times of need. Many of the towns where we operate are small and more isolated but are wonderful places to work and live. We recognize that PotlatchDeltic can have a tremendous impact on the quality of life in these towns.
