MLK day of service was day of joy

Framed photos of Soundview Association residents Janell Rollins and Germaine, taken by photographer Kristin Aasen. On Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday (MLK Day), Serve It Up put service into action at Soundview Association, an adult group home in Stanwood.

Brian Hoyer, coordinator, first called Kristin Aasen, professional photographer. Hoyer’s intention was to honor the spirit of Martin Luther King, Jr. with a photo shoot for the Soundview residents.

According to Hoyer, multi-generational activities create social connections, build community, instill pride in each person and bridge gaps between young and old.

Aasen, who has taken photos of several events with Eagle Wings, a ministry to adults with developmental disabilities, jumped at the chance.

Last Monday, while the five Soundview residents finished lunch, Aasen and a few of her friends from the Warm Beach Free Methodist Church set up a studio, complete with fabric backdrop, lights and photo printer.

One by one the residents were wheeled into position to get their picture taken. As Aasen clicked away, the personalities of the residents began to emerge.

“I was floored at how easy it was to love them,” Aasen said. “I didn’t just photograph them; I got to know each one. Chris loves games, keys and locks. Toby is a ladies’ man, likes his space and sings. Janell loves her man Jerry and is very polite. Ryan loves all kinds of hats. Germaine loves her radio and cracks up when you bark like a dog.”

When the session was over, Aasen framed two 8- by 10-inch photos of each resident.

Nathan Hamner, Soundview’s executive director, said the portraits were great.

“They really capture the spirit and personality of each resident,” he said. “Kudos to the photographer, and the volunteers who helped set up the shots. The photos are now proudly displayed in our living room.”

And the residents loved it.

Janell Rollins spoke for the group when she said, “Thank you volunteers. It was really fun. Thank you for our pictures.”

Meanwhile, across town at the Stanwood-Camano Food Bank, 28 volunteers sorted donations. The group hauled 500 pounds of soft goods — pasta, flour, paper towels — downstairs to the main floor. Canned food, or hard goods, were sorted, too.

For many of the volunteers, this was their first time helping at the food bank. They said they were impressed by how large the building is and the volume of foodstuffs available to the community.

More than half the volunteers were teens.

Brianna Barnes said she had “a ton of fun.”

“I met new people, made new friends and got to know people I’d only been acquainted with before,” Barnes said. “We got a lot done.”

Mateus Bocalini, an exchange student from Brazil, said it was “good and fun because we all came together to help the food bank.”

His friend Liu Yan, “John,” from China said, “I liked that experience. I was very happy during the time I was a volunteer.”

“Helping the people is my pleasure,” added South Korean exchange student Dong Jin Kim, whose American name is “Chris.”

In two hours, most of the food was moved to the proper crates and boxes, something that normally would have taken much longer.

Two projects, two hours, 40 people. It may not seem like much. But as the volunteers finished up and left, they each carried with them a small seed of joy, which grows a bit every time they think of the sweet time they had serving the community in a tangible, meaningful way.

More information

To volunteer, help financially or learn how to get involved at Soundview Association, please contact Nathan Hamner, executive director, at 629-9236 or nhamner@soundviewassn.org.

The Stanwood-Camano Food Bank, located at 27030 102nd Ave. NW in Stanwood, is open to serve local families on Wednesdays and Fridays, 10 a.m. to noon, and 1-3:30 p.m. To volunteer, call 629-2789.