Commentary: You’re doing what at the White Salmon Cemetery?!

Local businesses have donated items for a raffle that will be held the following day. Raffle tickets will be included for each adult in your vehicle and more can be purchased upon request at the Gardner Funeral Home information booth. All proceeds from this event will be donated to the White Salmon Cemetery. The winners will be announced on the Gardner Funeral Home Facebook page, Monday, Oct. 7.

If you are a local business and would like to donate, please contact Gardner Funeral Home for more information. Scavenger hunt maps will be distributed by volunteers at the information desks for White Salmon Cemetery and Gardner Funeral Home at 1:15 p.m. and the cut off time for entry will be 1:45 p.m. Cost of entry will be $20 per vehicle. Carpooling is encouraged.

Why does the cemetery need or choose to have events?

Isn’t having a scavenger hunt in the cemetery disrespectful?

The long answer is that the White Salmon Cemetery is an active yet historic place for the community to gather in remembrance of loved ones who have passed. We, as the caretakers of the cemetery and its residents, strive to provide a beautiful and well-maintained area for the families and friends who choose to visit, but the reality is that this level of care requires financial support.

White Salmon Cemetery relies heavily on private donations, plot sales and donations from local nonprofits to meet its income needs. Without these contributions, the cemetery would not be in the condition that we have all grown to expect when we visit the grounds.

As with all nonprofits, there is a need for fundraising to ensure that we can serve our community. In recent days, we have been searching for creative ways to bring ourselves back into the public eye — in the hope that it will be not just a place of sadness and mourning, but encourage involvement from the community and surrounding areas.

We are aware that some among you have reservations about your local cemetery becoming a place where events and fundraisers are held regularly. I urge you to consider the light and laughter it will bring to the place where our loved ones are laid to rest. White Salmon Cemetery and Gardner Funeral home will have volunteers at this event to answer any questions you may have, so this is the perfect time to come out even if you won’t be participating in the scavenger hunt.

Although we are very excited to present this event to you, our priority will always be maintaining a respectful and safe place for families to visit their loved ones. Please be mindful of where you are and the significance of the cemetery as you join us for this exciting and educational adventure.