Chelan Valley Hope turns 10, celebrates with open house

CHELAN - A full 10 years have passed since Chelan Valley Hope established itself in the community with one mission: facilitating positive change in peoples’ lives.

Long time Chelan Valley Hope Board President, Kyle Plew, retraced the beginnings of the organization as he thanked all the attendees for joining the celebrations. He shared with the audience the first time a client “showed up needing a wheel chair ... we celebrated our client and actually met a need,” said Plew. Since then  hundreds and thousands of needs have been met along the way.

Plew went ahead and thanked the volunteers. “Those volunteers come in all abilities ... the volunteers have been doing this for a long, long time,” he stated. Sixteen community members volunteer their time at Chelan Valley Hope, 1,350 hours are logged between all.

According to Plew, what put Chelan Valley Hope on the map was the 2015 fire in Chelan, Pateros and Okanogan.
On a per year average Chelan Valley Hope provides aid to their clients in the following categories:
• 200 bags of personal items
• 19 households utilities
• 37 households received rent assistance
• 35 households were supporter in emergency shelter
• 41 households were assisted with $25 gas vouchers

“The last couple years, everything has expanded our outreach quite a bit,” said Plew.

The 10th anniversary to Plew is more than a celebration of the organization, it’s also the end of a cycle for Executive Director, Sharon Lukacs. “Sharon is retiring at the end of this month,” said Plew. He continued with his thank you speech by saying, “she has been with us from the very beginning ... she came with experience, education and a vision way beyond what I understood.” Plew described that Lukacs knew how to meet with people and knew what resources were available for any purpose.

With Lukacs’ cycle coming to an end, the Chelan Valley Hope Board has already started looking  ahead. The Board has created a search committee to find a new executive director. At the same time, the Board is going through a transition. Plew is retiring after 10 years of serving as Board President and Michael Gibbs will be his successor.

Lastly, Plew thanked all who have supported the organization. “You that represent churches that give faithfully month after month that we can always count on , if you are a one time giver, or a monthly giver. Or you that have invested in Chelan Valley Hope one way or another, we are so thankful and we look forward to continuing the partnering in helping people as you invest in Chelan Valley Hope as well,” said Plew as he wrapped up his speech.

Chelan Valley Hope is open  Mondays and Wednesdays from  9 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m.  to 3 p.m. It is located at the Cornerstone Building, 417 S Bradley Street. Contact them at  info@chelanvalleyhope.org or by phone (509) 888-2114.