It has been my great honor to serve the City of Pacific as community services director for these past two years.

I want to the thank the City Council, especially my Human Services Committee – Leanne Guier, Gary Hulsey, Tren Walker and Clint Steiger – and former mayor Rich Hildreth who supported the many new programs, services and projects that were added to better serve you. Their support helped the Community Center navigate through some rough spots.

A big thank you goes to all of the volunteers – about 60 people who serve 2,000-plus hours a quarter – who facilitate the amazing work that it takes to provide the services you are receiving. Your participation has increased dramatically, but the budget did not.

Under my responsible stewardship, we created new programs and expanded existing ones to meet your needs in spite of these tough financial times. The credit really goes to the extraordinary team – Tina Callanan, community services assistant, and JoAnne Futch, Youth and Family Services coordinator.

Through collaboration with Pacific Partnerships, the City of Pacific’s primary community service organization, and the Community Center’s umbrella nonprofit organization, a variety of exceptional services and products are available to you.

Mobilizing resources like Food Lifeline, your food supply expanded for your Stone Soup meal program with “Seattle’s Table.” Yes, there still is a free lunch. Stone Soup is open to the community every Monday from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

The USDA Commodities program grew, increasing your supply from 65 bags of groceries per month to 100 bags. Membership to World Vision gives you a variety of products and supplies, and supplements the City’s budget by giving you free products.

Starbucks pastries are a new resource this year. The Emergency Food and Shelter Program allocation was awarded again.

The fundraisers and sponsorships help bring your community together and invite community spirit.

Thank you, Pacific Partnerships.

Together, we also have built a fun, enriching place at the Senior Activity Center. Our Touch of Home group meets weekly to send their love out into the community with handmade crafts. They have made lap blankets for veterans and grandmas, baby blankets that traveled to Romanian orphanages, helmet liners for soldiers in the field, a family of teddy bears for the Pacific and Algona police departments for traumatized children. Most recently, they donated 250 purple baby hats to bring awareness to Shaken Baby Syndrome and support Baby Colby Thompson.

Thank you, Algona Pacific Library, which sponsored Caspar Babypants, a concert with 150 kids and family members singing and dancing in our gym, part of your expanded Youth and Family Services program. We added Zumba classes, so the whole family can get in shape.

Thank you, Valley Regional Fire Authority, which came for Wet Water and Wild Day and Water Safety for kids during the summer lunch program, which feeds more than 2,500 free lunches with fun events every day.

The computer lab became the Work-n-Web Job Center during the day with workshops every week to help you find jobs. The Community Center became a job training center with Career Path, Green River Community College and Tacoma Community College interns.

I will miss the camaraderie and even the continuous challenges. Together we have created laughter, the best medicine, and friendship that will last forever.

We taught each other that kindness can go a long way. There is hope for the future.

I encourage you to let your voices be heard. I am proud of what we built together. It is with a heavy heart, I say farewell as I get ready for my next adventure.

– Linda Morris