2018
January
KELLER WILLIAMS REALTY - PUYALLUP, WA
Late last year, we were approached by Katie England, from Keller Williams of Puyallup, as their office of realtors were looking to help a family in need, during the holiday season. We were able to link them with one of our moms, who had recently fled a domestic violence situation from another state and arrived here with nothing. She was pregnant with her third child, working, going to school, and living with relatives. She really needed help getting started in her own place, as she didn’t have enough money to get into an apartment, much less furnish it or purchase the things she needed for the baby she was expecting.
We have to say, the staff at this Keller Williams office have beautiful hearts. They gave so generously of their time and resources. In January, we were able to not only help this young mother locate and get into an apartment but also furnish it, for her sweet family. Katie continued to stay in contact with this mom and provided support and encouragement throughout this challenging transition. To see this community of people come together and go above and beyond to care for one of our Step By Step families is amazing! Thank you so much!
March
BILL & DONNA O’RAVEZ
Words can not begin to express the faithful encouragement and support that Bill & Donna O’Ravez have offered Step By Step, over the years. Longtime friends, donors, and volunteers, they continue to give of their time, talents, and treasure, selflessly and generously.
When they began to take steps to retire and close their family business, after generations of growing premium flowers and baskets for the community, they approached Step By Step with an idea to pass on their business to benefit our work and help moms and babies in need. Over the past few years, they have been teaching us how to grow their renowned flower baskets and will eventually step back and allow us to take the reins. In the meantime, they are generously volunteering their time and energy to grow alongside us. They are excited to help us open our first greenhouse, onsite at our location, this Spring.
We will forever be grateful for their friendship and ongoing support of our work. They are irreplaceable and well-loved members of our Step By Step family.
May
KELLER WILLIAMS RED DAY
On May 10th, the Keller Williams Realty Puyallup team arrived at Step By Step in force, as a small army of over 60 red-shirted volunteers!
They descended on our site and made quick work of a long “to-do” list, everything from landscape work, painting, assembling newsletters and brochures, tearing down a retired play set, removing some diseased trees, cleaning and sweeping in our onsite greenhouse, donating and tying up stacks of diapers, and lots more!
This crew of realtors and office staff were crazy hard workers and an absolute joy to be around. We love their “ Give Where You Live” motto! Thank you so much for all your hard work!
July
LDS SOUTH HILL STAKE
An energetic group of girls from the LDS South Hill Stake community spent a day collecting donations and tying diapers for our Step By Step babies. They delivered 1,500 Newborn diapers (which are always our biggest need!) along with 40 pacifiers, 850 size 1-2 diapers, baby wipes, toys, books, hygiene items, a car seat, and 86 cute baby outfits.
We are so thankful for these young ladies and their families, who gave so generously. Thank you for sharing the love!
September
PUYALLUP FOURSQUARE MINISTRY INSTITUTE
An incredibly fun and enthusiastic group of college students from the Puyallup Foursquare Ministry Institute brought their muscles to Step By Step and checked off an impressive To-Do list, in less than 2 hours!
They tackled the first demolition project of our remodel (pulling up patio pavers and stacking them neatly for re-use), set up all the chairs and tables for an event the next day, moved office furniture and greenhouse supplies, and reorganized storage spaces. They also assembled over 1,000 utensil sets for our annual family Christmas event that we will be hosting for our moms and their families in December.
We were so blessed by the beautiful hearts of these volunteers, as they smiled and joked together, while working so hard. Thank you for your continued support of Step By Step and the mothers and babies we serve. We hope you will come back again very soon!
november
TRILOGY AT TEHALEH
Trilogy at Tehaleh, a local 55+ community, hosted a “Baby’s First Christmas” fundraiser in November, to support Step By Step and meet the needs of some of the mothers and babies we serve. Their efforts brought in over 2,000 diapers, 5,000 baby wipes, and piles and piles of infant clothes, toys and baby gear! They also raised over $2000 in cash donations and arranged for a 3 - 1 match from the Gates Foundation. Altogether, they will have contributed over $8,000 in donations! We are so thankful for all of their hard work, kindness, and generosity!
February
SUSIE CHRISTENSON
Over two years ago, Susie Christenson read about Step By Step on Facebook and resonated with our mission of helping moms build happy, healthy families. She decided to join our volunteer family and brought her variety of diverse talents to serve alongside us.
Susie works incredibly hard and has volunteered countless times. She is particularly helpful assisting with events, ensuring that each one turns out beautifully. From the early planning stages, right down to the late night work parties, she helps us get every detail just right.
We love her willingness to take on any task. Lately, you can find her assisting with office tasks or helping to plant flower baskets for our greenhouse. She says what she enjoys most about volunteering are the wonderful people she has met along the way. Your Step By Step family loves you, too, Susie!
April
COLUMBIA BANK
We were honored to have been chosen for Columbia Bank’s volunteer day, as a part of a company-wide week of service, in recognition of their beloved former CEO Melanie Dressel.
Melanie was a mentor to Krista Linden, our Founder and Executive Director, for two years. Krista says “Melanie was clearly very intelligent, but she also had a unique combination of grace and strength. She was an exemplary leader, and to continue remembering her through giving back is perfect!”
Thank you, Columbia Bank employees, for planting our flower barrels, weeding and sweeping around the property, and donating diapers for our babies!
June
DAVE HANSON
Dave Hanson joined our volunteer family, the day after he retired from Boeing. He has been a volunteer leader on many projects in our greenhouse. From planting tiny flowers, to lifting huge moss baskets, to experimenting with growing vegetables, Dave cheerfully does it all.
Several years ago, Dave discovered Step By Step, when he helped volunteer at our annual Christmas party. He told us, “While I was considering retiring, I knew I did not want to retire to ‘nothing’. I heard Step By Step had begun the process of purchasing the former Van Lierop Bulb Farm site. I have farmed and been an avid gardener for many years. When Krista shared her vision for the property, to provide jobs and job training to help mothers, God immediately laid it on my heart that this could be a perfect fit for me. Krista loves the idea of doing some mini-farming on the property, we now have a gorgeous greenhouse, and I am all in!
And, we are so happy to have you on our team, Dave! Thank you!
August
LORI WILKERSON
Lori Wilkerson began volunteering with Step By Step over a year ago, after she moved to Puyallup from Clarkston, to be near her children. Her daughter Robbi introduced Lori to Step By Step, and she has been a weekly volunteer ever since, faithfully filing paperwork, addressing envelopes, assembling newsletters, and whatever else we need help with around the office. Lori says she enjoys doing something constructive to help our client moms, and she truly enjoys office work!
Lori retired in 1999 after 30 years with Napa Auto Parts, but never stopped “working” as she volunteered hours upon hours at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Lewiston, the food bank, and the senior center. We’re thankful she has found a home in our volunteer family.
OCTOBER
KRISTIE MARCOTTE
Kristie has been volunteering her beautiful talent of card making to Step By Step, for over a year now. We love to send her handmade cards to donors, volunteers, and our client moms, with handwritten notes of thanks and encouragement. Kristie has been making cards for 15 years and often donates her work to nonprofits.
Kristie heard about Step By Step from our friends at East Main Vision Clinic. Now, she regularly delivers boxes of cards to our doorstep. In her words, “I am so grateful for the support and love that Step By Step provides to those that may feel alone while they are struggling with pregnancy or the challenges of motherhood. I believe even the smallest act of kindness can change a person’s life.” Thank you, Kristie. We believe so, too!
DECEMBER
BRIANNA HOWE & VIE ATHLETICS
This December, Vie Athletics Coach Brianna Howe and members of the Puyallup Vie location hosted a giving tree and purchased gifts for over 35 of our Step By Step moms and their families! Vie has been faithfully supporting Step By Step for a few years now. They have been the Presenting Sponsor for our 5K Walk/Run for the past two years. They hosted a team and came out to support us, along with a large group of their “Vie Babes”! They have also held diaper drives and donated baby items. We love their focus on strength and sisterhood, and we are so thankful for their continued support.