TULALIP — The Tulalip Homeless Shelter was built about eight years ago, but it didn’t feel much like home until last week, when a group of volunteers put on sturdy shoes, rolled up their sleeves and got to work.
About 40 employees from the Tulalip Tribes and the Marysville office of the Keller Williams Realty arrived at the site the morning of Oct. 5. In the next few hours, they planted more than 40 shrubs, hung freshly made window flower boxes and more.
“The grounds were a bare slate,” said RoseAnn Green, education coordinator for the tribes. “We wanted it to feel more like home.”
The shelter, nestled in a leafy area off Marine Drive, includes six one- and two-bedroom cabins for families and a separate cabin with a shared kitchen and laundry room. A tall wire fence separates the cabins. They are always full and there is always a waiting list. People can stay there for up to six months, as they get help through other social services.
The families staying in the cabins didn’t have much to enjoy in the way of surroundings, Green said.
Then, one day, Green and her old friend Richard Jones came up with a service project to strengthen the bond between the communities of Tulalip and Marysville. Jones, who heads the Marysville office of Keller Williams Real Estate company, spread the word to his co-workers and they quickly signed up to volunteer. Local businesses donated plants, materials and coffee for the workers.
Under the title “We Give Where We Live,” they plan to work on two service projects yearly, one in each community. They haven’t settled on a spring project in Marysville and are taking suggestions.
The volunteers worked at the shelter with the same dedication they work on their home projects, Jones said.
“It turned into a huge undertaking. I think everyone’s a little bit surprised,” he said the morning of the project at the Tulalip Homeless Shelter.
Meanwhile, a handful of people were toiling at the small playground, where a blue swing set with a small trampoline needed to be installed. Once they were done, another group began to haul fresh wood chips to fill in the playground. Sabrina Moses, who works for the Tulalip Tribes Adult Education and Services Division, was raking the wood chips into an even layer. She said she was glad to get involved in the project.
Not long after, Tulalip volunteer Lana Reeves called everyone for a lunch of tacos made with fry bread.
Much had been accomplished already, but more work remained for the afternoon. A freshly painted wooden sign for the shelter had not been put up yet. The families calling the shelter home for the time being would be excited to see the changes, Green said.
“Of course they’ll be happy, especially the kids. The kids don’t know why they don’t have anything,” she said.
Katya Yefimova: 425-339-3452, kyefimova@heraldnet.com.
Helping out
Know of a good community project in Marysville? Contact Rich Jones at 360-653-1884 or Lana Reeves at 360-716-4175, llreeves@tulaliptribes-nsn.gov.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
