A group of 15 people, most of them in raincoats, pose for a group photo while holding rakes and pitchforks in front of a row of wheelbarrows.

Category: Volunteers

Day of Service commemorates 50 years of building community to end poverty

Posted September 3, 2024 by Mike Buchman

Over 150 volunteers at five sites came together on Friday, August 23 to do community cleanup, garden, and put some sweat equity into the proposition that by working together we can solve poverty!

“Solid Ground and Fremont Public Association have always taken an action-oriented approach to community needs. So we’re delighted to have so many volunteers join us to exemplify that spirit of service,” says Solid Ground CEO Shalimar Gonzales. “From the very beginning, we’ve put into practice the notion that volunteers are a force for good in our community and beyond.”

“I love working with Solid Ground,” says Peter Hanning, Executive Director of the Fremont Chamber of Commerce. “They know how to bring community together. And communities that work together are always stronger.”

In honor of Solid Ground’s 50th Anniversary, the project sites included some of our service locations as well as places that are historically important to us:

Magnuson Park, where our Sand Point Housing provides permanent housing for more than 400 people who have lived through the experience of homelessness.

Marra Farm, where our Giving Garden grows organic produce for the surrounding South Park neighborhood.

Solid Ground’s Transportation Hub, also in South Park, where our ACCESS fleet provides compassionate transportation options for people to get to medical appointments, community services, and more.

Wallingford Playfield Park, just a few blocks away from our administrative offices in Wallingford.

Fremont Canal Park, in the neighborhood where we got our start as the Fremont Public Association in 1974.

Here are some comments from Day of Service participants:

“I came out for Day of Service because it’s important to give back,” says Nam Le of HomeStreet Bank, and a member of Solid Ground’s Board Finance Committee. “There’s a unique emotional connection that comes from engaging as a volunteer. It keeps me grounded knowing that every task, no matter how small, contributes to the well–being of others.”

Longtime supporter, US Bank, brought a crew of volunteers as well. Esther Richmond says that joining Day of Service “was about engaging our team to come out and be a part of this work. Solid Ground is an organization that we fund through the foundation. It comes down to being here – being present – and so the only way for any organization’s mission to really drive change is through our people. So that’s really what I believe in, and what our team believes in.”

“I’m struck by all the joy here this morning,” says longtime donor and volunteer Flo Minehan. “Seeing people from all over Seattle coming together like this – yes, it’s hard work – but it’s so fun to do it all together.”

“It’s incredibly heartwarming to see everyone here giving back and beautifying our community,” says Andrew Miller, who is the longest-tenured member of Solid Ground’s Board of Directors.

“Community is important,” says Claire Swinbank, Regional Manager with JLL, who brought a crew to our Sand Point Housing campus. “We want to be a part of building community, and this seemed like a good fit for us.”

Visit 50 Years of Changing Lives for more information on our 50th Anniversary celebrations and stories from the last half century.

A group of people crouch along a row of kale plants.

Volunteers weed along a row of kale at Marra Farm (photo by Clarissa Magdich).

A man sitting in the driver's seat of paratransit bus cleans the drivers area

Volunteer, Christian, cleans the cab of a Solid Ground ACCESS bus (photo by Liz Reed Hawk).

Christian cleans the inside windshield of a bus (photo by Liz Reed Hawk).

People in work clothes spread mulch with wheelbarrows and pitchforks.

Volunteers spread mulch at Magnuson Park (photo by Neal Simpson).

A group of people in work clothes spread mulch with wheelbarrows and pitchforks.

Volunteers spread mulch at Magnuson Park (photo by Neal Simpson).

A pile of weeds and other debris on a sidewalk with a group of people in the background.

A pile of weeds and debris cleared by volunteers at Magnuson Park (photo by Neal Simpson).

Several people move large piles of mulch.

Volunteers spread mulch at Wallingford Playfield Park (photo by Mike Buchman).

Three people shovel much from large steaming piles

Volunteers spread mulch at Wallingford Playfield Park (photo by Mike Buchman).

A man shovels mulch from a steaming pile into a wheelbarrow.

A volunteer spreads mulch at Wallingford Playfield Park (photo by Mike Buchman).

A woman in a pink raincoat with a large park loppers clears weeds off a chain link fence.

Volunteers pruning at Wallingford Playfield Park (photo by Mike Buchman)

Two people in work clothes pose, smiling, for the camera. One holds a garbage bag and a trash-picker tool. Other people behind them smile as they rake.

Solid Ground Board Member, Andrew Miller, with longtime volunteer and donor, Flo Minehan (photo by Jordan Rubin)

A group of people in yellow neon vests inside a paratransit bus.

Volunteer cleaners inside a Solid Ground ACCESS bus (photo by Liz Reed Hawk)

A group of people in neon-yellow vests walk across a parking lot toward several parked buses.

Led by Solid Ground Transportation Director Kari Ware, volunteers head out to clean Solid Ground's ACCESS bus fleet (photo by Liz Reed Hawk).

Person smile as she cleans the inside windshield of a white van.

Solid Ground Grant Writer Jen Zug smiles through the windshield of an ACCESS bus as she cleans it (photo by Liz Reed Hawk).

A woman in a neon-yellow vest wipes down the driver's area inside a paratransit bus.

Jen wipes down the driver's area of an ACCESS bus (photo by Liz Reed Hawk).

Two people wearing caps and work clothes pose smiling under a plum tree, holding gardening tools and certificates of appreciation.

Longtime volunteers Joe Villegas and Beverly Pressey accept awards for their commitment at Marra Farm (photo by Clarissa Magdich).

A man in a yellow neon vest and wearing a blue face mask cleans windows inside a large van.

Paul Park, Solid Ground Senior Director of Programs, cleans the driver's area inside an ACCESS bus (photo by Liz Reed Hawk).

A man in a neon-yellow vest stands with a mop and bucket in front of a paratransit van.

Volunteer R.J. poses with a mop outside an ACCESS bus (photo by Liz Reed Hawk).

A table covered with a blue Solid Ground table cloth a long with stickers, snacks, and other items for volunteers.

Volunteers are welcomed to Solid Ground's Transportation Hub in South Park (photo by Liz Reed Hawk).

Two people wash and load lettuce greens into a black crate under a green corrugated roof shelter on a farm.

Julie Wagoner, Solid Ground's Volunteer & Outreach Coordinator, dries some freshly rinsed greens at Marra Farm as CEO Shalimar Gonzales prepares to hand her another bunch (photo by Clarissa Magdich).