After listening to three impassioned speeches at the packed house at the Hoquiam Elks Lodge No. 1082 Tuesday evening, nearly 170 donors at the seventh 100+ Harbor Women Who Care giving event made the nearly impossible decision to award a grand total of $19,020 in donations to Harbors Home Health & Hospice.

The other nominees were the Ocosta Recreation Association and the Catholic Community Services’ Feed the Hungry program.

Women in attendance came from all walks of life and included those who have attended every giving event held so far, many first-timers and those in between. Grays Harbor County District 1 Commissioner Georgia Miller attended her fourth such event. Miller said she enjoys the format, the voting process and the impact the collective group donation can make for one organization.

“Together we can make a difference, whereas your $100 individually just doesn’t make that kind of an impact as 100-plus women and this room is filled with some great people who really care and we’re excited,” Miller said. “I think it’s great, and we get to have a little bit more insight than we might normally get and meet the personalities behind the non-profits. I like the format, they do a good job. I think Grays Harbor County is a very charitable community anyway, I don’t know how we could give more than we already give because, I’ll tell you what, this community gives more than any other community I know of.”

Event organizer and originator of the 100+ Harbor Women Who Care Maryann Welch took a moment to introduce the core group of 10 women who have been part of the initiative from the beginning. Martha George, Diana Grigsby, Jessica Hoover, Pat Oleachea, Franzine Potts, Alissa Shay, Dori Unterseher and DonnaJeanne Williams. Molly Bold was unable to attend. Welch then gave a brief history of the 100+ Who Care Alliance, a network that consists of more than 650 global chapters.

Dori Unterseher and new Port of Grays Harbor County Deputy Director Alissa Shay served as emcees for the event. A representative of the recipient of the donations from the last giving event in October 2024, Camp Victory, Andrea Seabert-Olsen, was afforded the opportunity to address the audience. She then led the attendees in a sing-a-long.

The Ocosta Recreation Association presented first. Doris Reed and Susan Gihlstrom took to the stage to tell everyone about what they referred to as the “Ocosta Recreation Hall.”

“I’ve been volunteering with the hall for about 24 years, and Susan and her main squeeze Bob, have been volunteering for 32 years,” Reed said. “The mission of the Ocosta Hall is to maintain and continue the facilities of the old Ocosta school site for community function and activities for the betterment of youth and citizens of the Ocosta School District.”

Reed turned things over to Gihlstrom who discussed the history and importance of the Ocosta Recreation Hall. The venue, with its 450-person capacity, is available for a variety of events.

“It is my privilege to stand before you and talk about a place that has been a cornerstone of our community for decades,” Gihlstrom said. “This hall is more than just a building, it is a living, breathing testament to the strength, dedication and spirit of the people of Ocosta … we host weddings, memorials, quinceañeras, baptisms, graduations and milestone anniversaries, we are here for fundraisers, school events and community reunions. We take pride in supporting our Ocosta booster club crab feed, graduation ceremonies and senior class fundraisers, all at cost because we believe in giving back.”

Not a dry eye was in the room as Harbors Home Health & Hospice Director of Development David Quigg, Hospice Program Administrator Erin Swint and Medical Social Worker Angie Brown presented second and explained their mission and described their challenges to the nearly 200 people in attendance.

Quigg, Swint and Brown used their allotted time to tell the audience about what they do, how they do it and why it’s critical to the people they serve. They choked back tears as they described their mission and the impact their organization has on people who need help at the most critical time.

“We are serving 300 patients. They are your friends, your neighbors, your family, your coworkers and your children. We’re the only non-profit hospice organization in the Pacific Coast. Regardless of people’s ability to pay, we’re here to support them in some really difficult times,” Quigg said. “Many of these areas are remote with limited services and our goal is to meet people and patients where they’re at.”

Swint discussed the difficulties in even discussing hospice and the importance of providing support.

“Hospice is not a popular topic of conversation, but it’s one of the most compassionate and profound gifts we can offer to someone who is nearing the end of their life,” Swint said. “Hospice is unlike any other medical care. It provides comprehensive support for the physical, mental and emotional aspects of terminal disease. Hospice also provides support for the family, friends and caregivers of the patient, even after they pass away.”

Brown told a story that spoke to the lengths Harbors Home Health & Hospice personnel go to on a personal level.

“I just try to bring joy to the patients at the end of their life. One family that just broke my heart. I did a follow up visit and their daughter was dying of cancer, and she started crying and said my 15-year-old’s birthday is tomorrow, I have no money,” Brown said. “I said, ‘you know what? I will cover that, and I will get together and make sure your daughter has an amazing birthday.’ She said it was the best birthday she ever had … we go the extra mile.”

Cher Spencer then presented on behalf of the Catholic Community Services’ Feed the Hungry program, which was founded in 1982. After relaying the history of the program, Spencer spoke to the heart of what it does. After starting as a volunteer 15 years ago, Spencer has guided the program for the past decade.

“Feed the Hungry is the only no barrier meal program in Grays Harbor right now, anybody can come,” Spencer said. “We serve at the Catholic church at St. Mary’s. We give out jackets, hoodies, socks, blankets, hats, and we have a couple of volunteers that bring in dry dog food. What we do is we just feed people.”

After a short break, Harbors Home Health & Hospice was named as the awardee.

Harbors Home Health & Hospice posted the following statement on their Facebook page Wednesday morning:

“What an incredible night of generosity, compassion, and community! We are deeply grateful to each and every one of you for coming together to make a difference. Because of your kindness, over $19,000 was raised for Harbors Home Health & Hospice, ensuring that we can continue providing comfort, dignity, and care to those facing life’s most difficult journeys.

“Your support means the world—not only to our organization but to the patients and families we serve every day. This is the power of coming together, and we are honored to be part of such a caring and giving community.

“From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for believing in our mission and making a lasting impact.”

According to their official website, “Harbors Home Health and Hospice is on a mission to bring compassionate and expert healthcare services directly to you. We provide in-home skilled nursing, therapy, and hospice services with a focus on making a positive impact on the lives of patients and their families. Our skilled and caring staff is available 24/7 to respond to your needs, offering not just clinical expertise but also emotional and spiritual support. As a non-profit organization, we are dedicated to providing excellent care and personalized attention wherever you call home.”

Quigg said that the donation will be put to use immediately and that the money will help in many areas of the organization.

“The donation means we can multiply the work we’re doing to support those in the community that are at the end of their lives and need the support and resources they can’t get at home on their own,” Quigg said. “The goal of hospice is so people can spend time with their loved ones at the end of their life, not worrying about if rubber gloves were ordered, if they have sheets for a twin bed, those kinds of things, the more we can do and support our patients and their families the better for that relationship right up to the very end. The 50 patients that we’re serving on average a day, the 330 patients a year, it’s a lot of people and a lot of families that need help and we’re so happy to do it.”

Welch said these giving events speak to the willingness of people to give back to the community.

“The generosity of Grays Harbor never ceases to astound me. I think (Harbors Home Health & Hospice does) very important work, and as usual, they’re running on a shoestring when it comes to public funding,” Welch said. “It’s difficult to navigate all those needs they have to meet for people at an important time in everyone’s lives. It doesn’t matter who you are or how much money you have, you can use your generosity for good in the community.”

Welch added that since the event raised more than $10,000, Harbors Home Health & Hospice should be eligible for a $5,000 match from a nationwide family foundation with an additional $1,100 coming in from an anonymous local donor. The total amount raised and donated to Harbors Home Health & Hospice could top out at or exceed $25,000.

The next 100+ Harbor Women Who Care giving event is scheduled for Oct. 14.

The voting card for the seventh 100+ Harbor Women Who Care giving event.