Stepping Up to Help

Neighbors help one another at Eatonville Family Agency, which runs EFA Market and Center Street Junction

By Rick Stedman

Over the last four decades, the Eatonville
Family Agency has played a significant
role in providing food, clothing and other
resources for community members.
“This communitywide effort is all about
neighbors helping neighbors,” EFA Director
Kylee Hutchings says. “We’re a small-
town nonprofit with a big heart, working
alongside our community to make sure
families have what they need to thrive.”
The agency runs the EFA Market food
pantry and the Center Street Junction thrift
store, as well as a backpack program, youth
game nights and monthly community
dinners.

“Everything we do is built on the belief
that when one of us is struggling, we all
step in to help,” Kylee says.
Volunteers Play Key Role
Last year, Eatonville Family Agency
welcomed 642 individual volunteers.
Together, they worked 2,105 hours—the
equivalent of more than $115,000 in value.
“The number of volunteers fluctuates
throughout the year, and often increasing
during the holidays and summer months,”
Kylee says.
EFA volunteers make a huge impact
on the community. Kylee says the work
required to meet community needs far
exceeds the capacity of EFA’s small staff.
She also adds the community truly lives
out the spirit of the agency’s motto: people
helping people.
“These volunteers are a vital part of our
mission, and their willingness to step in
where needed is a powerful reflection of
the support and generosity that surrounds
our agency,” she says.
Often overlooked areas that EFA helps
with include personal hygiene needs and
pet food.
“When finances run tight, these
essentials often become the hardest to
afford, but they are crucial to the health
and dignity of families and their beloved
pets,” Kylee says.
EFA volunteer and avid gardener
Darlene Gilbertson is a relatively new
member of the Eatonville community. She
began volunteering with EFA in January
2023.

“Before moving to Eatonville, I had
volunteered at various nonprofits and
wanted to find something similar,” Darlene
says. “For me, EFA is the perfect fit.”
Since May 2024, Rabecca Stratton has
volunteered two days a week with EFA.
“After utilizing the benefits of the food
program, I wanted to give back to the
community,” she says. “Not only does
volunteering get me out of the house, I also
enjoy engaging with my community.”
Over the years, volunteers have taken
on a wide range of tasks that keep EFA
programs running smoothly. For example,
at the EFA Market, volunteers serve as
grocery rescue drivers, picking up essential
donations from local stores. Currently,
there is a need for groundskeepers, shelf
re-stockers and Monday shipment crew
members.
Volunteers also build food bags for
the backpack program—a program that
provides breakfast, lunch and snacks on
weekends for schoolchildren—deliver
groceries to homes and to the Ashford
community, assist with Friday community
food setup, and support special programs
like the monthly Pizza Wednesday
Club, Saturday Teen Game Nights and
Community Dinners.

At the CSJ thrift store, volunteers help
customers load purchases, stage new
donations, hang clothing and organize
shoes, books, home goods and more.
“Every task, big or small, contributes to
the greater mission of serving local families
with dignity and care,” Kylee says. “We are
deeply grateful for the time, energy and
heart our volunteers bring to the agency.”
Current Needs
Eatonville Family Agency faces several
urgent challenges in the areas of funding,
food, volunteers and clean household
donations.
“Continued financial support is critical to
sustain and expand the programs that serve
families across the Eatonville region,” Kylee
says. “Our food pantry and EFA Market
rely heavily on grocery rescue donations—
especially produce and frozen meat—and
we are in immediate need of volunteer
drivers to help sustain this effort.”
Drivers are required to have clean
driving records. They must also be able to
gather, lift, and load and unload items.
“We invite everyone to visit our updated
website to learn more about how EFA is
serving across southeast Pierce County,
and how you can be a part of that impact,”
Kylee says.

Eatonville Family Agency is located at
305 Center St. W. in Eatonville. For more
information, call 360-832-6805 or visit
eatonvillefamilyagency.org.