San Juan Island Cares at the County Fair
Published 1:30 am Wednesday, August 12, 2026
It’s fair time! Whether you arrive at the fair for a 4H Ramblers Booth breakfast and stay until the carnival lights are glittering in the sunset, or if you are just there to see the horses, the quilts or the possibility of winning a ribbon for your driftwood sculpture or blackberry jam, there is plenty for everyone to enjoy at the San Juan County Fair.
For those of you who like to contribute, the San Juan Island Community Foundation will be at the fair once more, offering you an opportunity to make your charitable donations go further. The foundation’s booth will be in the main exhibition hall and will be supporting 35 local nonprofits this year. The foundation will match the first $1,000 raised for each project and host daily grant bonus games as well. To check out the nonprofits or if you prefer to make your donations online, visit the SJI Community Foundation website at sjicares.org.
The Mullis Community Senior Center is happy to be participating again in this year’s Community Foundation SJI Cares County Fair Program. Last year, the Mullis Center met its fundraising goal supporting a project to improve propane storage and upgrade an aging generator. This project proved its worth one chilly day in April when a mainland accident caused a significant islandwide power outage. On that day, the Mullis Center served about 80 hot lunches and maintained regular activities in a bright, warm and welcoming space. Many thanks to those who contributed!
This year, the Mullis Center is raising operating funds to launch two new and noteworthy programs designed to meet the specific needs of San Juan Island seniors and disabled adults.
The Village project is a volunteer-driven program that is gaining momentum across the country by supporting aging adults to live safely in their own homes, maintaining their independence as long as possible. The program assists elders to remain active by providing life-enhancing support through volunteering, collaboration and community connections. The most needed services that local seniors have identified are: minor home repairs and maintenance, domestic cleaning, yard care and moving large items. Other targeted services include post-hospitalization support, grocery shopping and errands, transportation, cooking and meal preparation, and social activities. The Village project will provide a resource directory and some free volunteer support. Membership will be on a sliding scale and be open to all.
The other project, The Old Friends Club, is a project that benefits families impacted by dementia. The Old Friends Club project addresses our community’s limited services and emotional support for families impacted by dementia by providing consistent daytime respite for caregivers and meaningful social engagement for the partner living with dementia. The club will meet for 3-5 hours, 2-3 days per week and be staffed by qualified employees. It will serve up to 12 members per day.
We hope you will support these worthy projects by making a contribution during the fair. Then be sure to grab yourself an elephant ear from the food court and witness the creativity and resourcefulness of islanders by watching the Zucchini 500 races or the ever-popular Trashion Fashion Show.
