World Photo by Madeline Steege Jay Farr fills a sandbag at Farr’s True Value in Coos Bay, where free sand is being made available to residents concerned about flooding with the upcoming high tides. The city of Coos Bay is supplying the sand at Farr’s and at Coos Grange Supply. Bags will be available for 50 cents each while supplies last. Those seeking the sandbags should bring their own shovels — although Farr said he’d be glad to sell you one!

Local merchants and the city are making sandbags and sand available to people and business owners concerned about possible flooding at the end of the month.

Those with flooding worries can:

€ get sandbags in Coos Bay at Farr's True Value Hardware, 880 S. First St.; and the Coos Grange Supply Co. at 1085 S. Second St., for 50 cents each; and

€ fill the bags from the free piles of sand in the parking lots, courtesy of Bracelin-Yeager and the city of Coos Bay.

Those seeking the sandbags are advised to bring their own shovels.

Meanwhile, homeowners in the Englewood neighborhood are holding a sandbagging party at 1 p.m. on Sunday.

The Englewood Market, at 1434 Southwestern Blvd., has purchased 500 bags and 20 yards of sand, which the neighborhood plans on using to create a sandbag dike to protect the roadways and houses around the market. According to Julie Ladden, one of the organizers for the sandbagging party, the neighborhood group estimates it will take as many as 2,000 sandbags to complete the dike.

“We don't have enough manpower to fill all the bags,” Ladden said. “And we're definitely scrambling, 'cause the tides come back on the 28th.”

Ladden said she hoped people would come down to the market and join the party on Sunday. Even when all those bags are filled, the neighborhood still will need 1,500 more, Ladden added.

Those interested can call Bruce Parry at the Englewood Market, 269-2717, to sign up for the sandbagging crew.