Thank You Gig Harbor City Volunteers!

Press release from the City of Gig Harbor:

April 14, 2020

From our Police Department, we’d like to extend our thanks to our eight active Citizens Offering Police Support (C.O.P.S.). These volunteers perform tasks that don’t require the effort of a full-time police officer, from transporting items of evidence to crime labs, to running errands and performing vacation checks of homes. They also provide limited administrative support. In 2019, our C.O.P.S. gave 2600 volunteer hours to the department. We thank them for their selfless dedication and commitment to our city.

We want to give a HUGE thank you to the Gig Harbor Parks Commission for their commitment to the community - especially with regard to ongoing plans for the human-powered float at Ancich Waterfront Park, getting our students involved in the civic process through planning at Veterans Memorial Park, and for their push to make Parks Appreciation Day the best ever.

The Parks Commission has been updating park photos and engaging the community through the (hashtag)GameOnJuly campaign, which highlights our park system and shows it really is the fabric of our community.

We would like to recognize and thank the members of the Gig Harbor Arts Commission who lend their time, talent and voice to bring culture to our community. We celebrate all you do!

For our citizens that serve on the Gig Harbor Salary Commission - your insight, along with the consideration on compensation and benefits reflect the value and expression of civic life. Your efforts are greatly appreciated.

From the Community Development Department, we would like to recognize the two commissions who review and comment on controversial and complex projects for the City. These members bring professionalism, expertise and knowledge to our community projects.

The Design Review Board‘s seven members are responsible for interpreting, reviewing and implementing the City’s Design Manual and they’re also responsible for Historic Preservation. We thank you for your continued work to make our city beautiful for generations to come.

The Planning Commission reviews proposed changes to the City’s Municipal Zoning regulations and Comprehensive Plan. We thank you for your vision for our great city.

Our Tourism Volunteers at the Skansie House Visitors Center truly embody the spirit of hospitality. Comprised of nearly forty volunteers that sign up for shifts to provide information and direction for visitors on the events and businesses throughout Gig Harbor, our volunteer staff create interest in what makes Gig Harbor truly special – our people.

Our Lodging Tax Advisory Committee is comprised of tourism experts, who give their time and their knowledge to help Gig Harbor continue to be a place where stories begin.

From our Public Works Department, we’d like to recognize:

• The GH Downtown Waterfront Alliance, who produce the annual Gigging Up the Harbor event, along with volunteers to water the downtown Flower Baskets.
• TRA Medical Imaging -who provides four volunteers for Cushman Trail Cleanups,
• The Kiwanis organization, who provide planter maintenance at the Skansie House Visitor Center,
• Our local Wells Fargo Bank, who provides volunteers to clean the Heritage Sign.
• The Horsehead Bay Garden Club, who maintains the Ancich Park landscape planters,
• Believer’s Fellowship Middle School, who brings 22 volunteers to the Crescent Creek Park cleanup.

We’d also like to recognize the 23 volunteer groups that are part of our Adopt-a-Road program – 80 individuals contribute to this monumental effort.

In our community, there have been individuals and businesses who are really stepping up to the plate during the corona-virus crisis.

The Greater Gig Harbor Foundation formulated the COVID-19 Response fund, and along with the Gig Harbor Senior Center, launched the Silver Support Shopper Service to shop and deliver groceries for the over 60 at-risk population; while The Russell Family Foundation pledged $1 Million for corona-virus response effort in Pierce County.

We’re seeing efforts to feed our students through the Peninsula School District and non-profits like Backpacks4Kids, and our Gig Harbor / Peninsula FISH Foodbank volunteers are working non-stop.

Citizens are stepping up and sewing face masks, like Jenny Oateski of Switch-a-Roo, who is making masks at her own cost for police officers, firefighters and healthcare workers.

We have restaurants like Anamarum, who set up a free daily meal for seniors to pick up in a contact-free way, or Table 47 offering a meal to anyone in the community, or BBQ2U partnering with the Gig Harbor Foundation to deliver meals to seniors.

We know there’s a couple (that we hope to identify soon) that continues to pick up trash and doggie bags along the Cushman Trail, keeping it tidy for all of us.

They say in times where we’re tested, that’s when we truly shine. I’m so proud of our community and our volunteers, now and year-round. Their spirit is contagious, and our gratitude to them continues to grow.

This press release was produced by the City of Gig Harbor. The views expressed here are the author’s own.