By Peggy Sue McRae, Journal contributor
Thanksgiving on the island can come in with bluster. Days are getting shorter and colder. It’s a great time to gather with friends and family and count our blessings. Whether your Thanksgiving is a small family-style get-together or a large community gathering, we all have much to be thankful for. We live in a beautiful place. We may not see Mount Baker for days. Then the clouds part to reveal our shining mountain with a bright new layer of snow. We also live in a generous place. Thanksgiving on San Juan Island is a place where no one needs to go hungry.
When the world at large seems increasingly unpredictable keeping our local support systems strong is more important than ever. This is something to consider when planning your end-of-year charitable giving.
The Mullis Center is dedicated to providing a wide variety of services to our seniors and disabled adults in a warm and welcoming environment; from serving nutritious lunches, delivering meals on wheels, facilitating educational seminars, providing foot-care and fitness classes, clubs, arts, entertainment and more. The need for services and programs provided by the Mullis Center only increases as our senior population continues to grow. With more seniors to serve coupled with rising costs across the board, the Mullis Center needs your help to match increasing demands.
There are a variety of ways to support the Mullis Center, by volunteering, becoming a member or donating. Please reach out if you are interested in volunteering! If you are not a member you can become one for $25 per person or $40 per couple. Your membership supports the center’s mission and gives you the benefit of a monthly newsletter, weekly e-updates and a variety of valuable discounts and opportunities. You can learn more about membership from the Mullis Center website at www.mulliscenter.org.
You can support the Mullis Center’s mission by donating online through the website or by writing a check payable to the Mullis Center and mailing it to Mullis Community Senior Center, PO Box 684, Friday Harbor, WA 98250. You could also save a stamp and drop a check off at the Mullis Center located at 589 Nash Street in Friday Harbor. Donations of any size are much appreciated.
Another way to donate to the nonprofit of your choice is on “Giving Tuesday” through Washington Gives, an organization that supports nonprofits in Washington state. Giving Tuesday is an international movement; this year it is on Dec 3. To participate in support of the Mullis Center visit the Washington Gives website at https://www.wagives.org and look up “Mullis Community Senior Center” where you will find more detailed information about the Center’s purpose and programs as well as a donate button.
Have a joyful Thanksgiving. Whether that means turkey sandwiches and football or pumpkin pie and blustery beach walks. Your community appreciates your generous support. Living on an island to some people may seem like an inconvenience but for those of us who love it, it can grant us a form of independence. We take care of each other here and that is a real blessing.
