MARYSVILLE — Three people from Snohomish County are being honored for their work in the community.
The Family Values Awards are organized by the local Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, though the awards are not limited to its congregations. This is the second year for the awards, and they wanted to recognize those “who really fought for the family, had strong family ethics and stood out in the community,” spokeswoman Christina Foley said.
This year’s winners are Tonya Christoffersen of Marysville, Heidi Hutchins of Granite Falls, and Greg Kanehen of Marysville. The awards ceremony is planned for 7 p.m. Oct. 15 at the Marysville Opera House, 1225 Third St.
Christoffersen, 56, lives in north Marysville but works and volunteers in Lake Stevens. She has taken mission trips and been involved in health care nonprofit programs in countries including Peru, Nepal, Jamaica and Mexico. Her work includes donation drives for medication, medical supplies and items used to make emergency shelters, such as tarp and rope.
“Anything we could do to help. All I do is I ask people,” she said. “I tell people that I feel like it’s our responsibility to help those who are less unfortunate. It’s really easy for me to ask for that.”
She works for the local sewer district and is a member of the Lions Club. She doesn’t usually talk about her volunteer work, she said, so she was surprised to find out she’d been nominated.
“I do things not for the recognition but because I believe it’s our responsibility,” she said.
Heidi Hutchins, 45, raised her kids in the Granite Falls area. She and her son, Kale DeCamp, have been involved in the community coalition and the youth coalition in town. Hutchins, who attends New Life Church in Everett, likes to think of herself as an organizer, a driving force to get others involved, she said.
“It’s just about loving people and loving the community you live in,” she said. “I really do feel very overwhelmed by (the award). There are so many people who walk alongside me in all the stuff that I do.”
She especially has been involved in helping the homeless and volunteers with the Point In Time count in Snohomish County. Everyone has a story, and sharing those stories can spread hope and make lives better, she said.
Hutchins grew up in a farm town in eastern Colorado, and wanted a similar community life for her children. That meant she had to work for it, she said.
“I can’t just want something and not make it happen. In my head I always hear, ‘See a need, fill a need.’ It’s just how I’m wired,” she said.
The Rev. Greg Kanehen, 61, is a pastor at the Marysville Free Methodist Church. He’s been there more than a dozen years. He is part of the Marysville Area Pastors’ Association, a group that organizes community service projects such as backpack drives and park cleanups.
He also provides grief support at emergencies through the city police department and serves on the Marysville Together coalition, a substance abuse prevention group, and the recovery group for Marysville Pilchuck High School.
His faith brings him grace and unconditional love, and his duty is to give that back to others, Kanehen said. He believes in demonstrating faith through words and actions, he said. Another Marysville leader, Jim Ballew, won the award last year.
“There are a lot of other people who are very worthy of that, so I’m grateful for the recognition,” Kanehen said. “I’m compelled by the blessings I receive and I want to give back to the community and the people in the ways I can.”
The Oct. 15 event is open to everyone.
Rikki King: 425-339-3449; rking@heraldnet.com.
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