The United Way of Cowlitz & Wahkiakum Counties coordinated 162,828 dollars in donations during July to support families affected by the May 26, 2026, tragedy at the Nippon Dynawave mill in Longview. According to reporting by KLOG, the new contributions bring the total amount donated through the organization to 263,428 dollars.
On a recent Wednesday, representatives presented a ceremonial check for the funds to leaders of the local Association of Western Pulp and Paper Workers (AWPPW) union, which is administering the fund. The United Way serves as a pass-through organization for the collection, meaning it covers all administrative overhead fees to ensure the full value of every donation reaches the affected households.
Lois Smith, executive director of the United Way, described the contributions as a demonstration of the strength of neighbors helping neighbors. The fund was established following the industrial incident in late May to provide direct financial relief to workers and their families.
According to official records from the Cowlitz-Wahkiakum Central Labor Council, the United Way is partnering with the council to facilitate the distribution of aid through union leadership at the mill. The United Way’s own documentation confirms that no administrative overhead is taken from these specific donations.
This effort to address the economic pressures on local households follows other recent regional developments involving the timber industry and its impact on the local economy. On July 31, 2026, this publication reported on a thinning operation in Cowlitz County that highlighted the ongoing connection between state forest management and the regional timber economy, which provides material for local mills like Nippon Dynawave while generating revenue for public services.
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