Submitted by Peggy Sue McRae, Journal contributor
Island summers reach their apex in August with the San Juan County Fair. As you pick out your best jar of preserves to enter, your most striking photograph from the past year and figure out how to put wheels on that glorious zucchini that you grew, don’t forget to budget in support for local nonprofits. San Juan Island Community Foundation will have a booth at the fair as well as an online catalog featuring fundraising for 30 local nonprofits through the SJI CARES County Fair Program. As in past years, the foundation will host games and bonus grants, making fundraising all the more fun and profitable. The first $1,000 raised for each nonprofit’s project will be matched by the foundation.
The Mullis Center is pleased to announce that they have been accepted into this year’s SJI CARES County Fair Program and will be raising funds for an important project. The Center is in need of dependable backup power. It is critical to the island’s seniors and disabled adults that the Mullis Center remains operational in the event of power outages. The current system only has a 500-gallon propane storage tank that is worn out and too small to keep the generator running for more than about 12 hours before freezing up and failing.
The Mullis Center’s fundraising goal this year supports our Propane Storage Expansion Project that will replace the old storage tank with three new 1000-gallon tanks. By updating propane storage capacity, the Center will be able to remain open, providing essential services and programs during an extended outage. The Mullis Center hopes to raise $10,000 during the fair for this nearly $70,000 project. Through a grant from Whatcom Council on Aging, our Meals on Wheels program partner and an anonymous private donation made through the Community Foundation, the Center has already raised nearly half the funds needed. Additionally, our local Master Gardeners have volunteered their time and expertise to manage the restoration and stabilization of the excavation site, reducing the price tag by about $6,000!
The Mullis Center is the primary Social Services hub for island seniors and disabled adults, some of our most vulnerable island neighbors, and being able to serve this community during power outages is crucial. Additionally, in the case of a broader emergency, the Mullis Center is a critical asset to our entire community. The Mullis Center is a designated Red Cross shelter and part of San Juan County’s emergency response network, which supports self-sufficiency and resilience within our community.
The known unknowns are that inevitably, we will have power outages. We need to be prepared for these. The unknown unknowns could be anything. The big earthquake we all know is probably overdue comes to mind. We do live on the circumference of the “ring of fire.” With a robust power backup system, a well-appointed kitchen and flexible space, the Mullis Center is a gem of a community asset, and if we are prepared, it will serve us well into the future.
Have a great time at the fair. Don’t miss the quilts or the baby lambs. Indulge in your annual allotment of pie and curly fries, and please be sure to stop by the Community Foundation booth and give generously to support these important programs.
San Juan Island Community Foundation: sjicf.org.
