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On My Mind and From the Heart Directors Corner

It was a sunny late Friday afternoon that I received a call from one of our partner agencies. They told me they had a 79 year old man in their lobby who had come from Eastern Washington with nothing but his belongings strapped to his back. He needed some place to stay and was looking for his brother, whom he had last laid eyes on in Belfair, almost two years ago. I tried to make arrangements for him at the local motel but they were fully booked. 


After the strike out in lodging the department, I drove down to meet the man face to face , to tell him the bad news about the only motel in Belfair being booked to capacity. While I was driving to meet him a million thoughts and questions were running through my mind. Why did this person show up today with nothing but a backpack? How many prisons are in Eastern Washington? Did he just get released or did he escape? If so, was he dangerous? What if the person he was looking for was really not his brother but a witness at his last trial and he was coming to settle the score? Then before I could run a whole True Crimes episode in my head I decided to take a deep breath and just go meet the man.


The person I walked up to was a well dressed, clean, strong man of 79 years. He took the news of no room at the inn in stride and asked for a ride to the bus station. On the way to the bus station I got to know this traveler a little better. There was no nefarious reason for his trip to Belfair. The honest answer was he was just a man looking to find his younger brother. He had no cell phone, used no modern technology and had spent the last few years living on a mountain top with a friend.


I was trying to figure out a way to help him find his brother and I asked if he minded if I did a little research and use social media to help him find his kin. He was agreeable and said he would come by The HUB or call me one way or another in the next few days. So The HUB posted all the information we had and the amazing HUB staff put the internet to work to find his younger brother.  


We found an address on one of my favorite sites, Washington Digital Archives. This site is a wealth of information that I have used in the past looking for my family tree information. So I had GREAT NEWS when he came to check in on our results. I handed the physical address to the traveler and he was delighted and said he could not wait to see his brother. I volunteered to drive him there but he was unable to go immediately because he had picked up a small side job since I last visited with him. It was only going to take a few days to complete but he wanted to finish what he had committed to. I told him I was headed to that same town later that day. Did he mind if I stopped by the address and see if this was indeed his brother's residence and get a valid phone number if I could. He readily said "YES , you would do that for me?"


So I was excited when I pulled up to the door and knocked. A nice lady answered and took one look at me and my daughter; who was tagging along to hear the outcome of the story. As she quickly sized us up and said” NO THANK YOU, whatever you are selling we do not want any.” As she started to shut the door, I quickly called her by name and she said “yes?” I asked “Is this your husband's name?’ She then fully opened the door looking me over closely trying to decide if this was going to be one of those Maury Povich moments or how did we fit into her life picture?


I quickly explained the reason for my visits when her husband came to the door. The smile of delight and joy that I saw on his face made every single step until this moment worthwhile. The younger brother was able to fill in some of the gaps in the story. His older brother is developmentally disabled, illiterate and unable to use technology , although extremely capable in other areas like surviving at the top of a mountain. The pieces of the puzzle all came together quickly, the way he had barely glanced at the address I handed him, the way when I asked how to spell his brothers name he stumbled over the letters and let me fill in the blanks with a nod. No crazy serial killer or escaped prisoner here . Just one man seeking his family despite all the obstacles that were in his way.


The brothers are now reunited! I am so happy that on that late Friday afternoon I didn’t just clock out and shut the door on this man. Sometimes it pays to stop and listen and do all the good that you can, by all the means that you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, for as long as you can. (John Wesley)


Beth Gizzi

Executive Director

The HUB Center for Seniors

360-275-0535 thehubcenterforseniors@gmail.com

HUBHappenings.org

Inspirational Speaker Cindy Charlton at The HUB

The HUB is excited to be hosting inspirational speaker Cindy Charlton. Cindy is visiting the Belfair area to see a family member and wanted to help us all "Learn to Inspire the Survivor Within" while she is in the area. This is a rare opportunity to see an amazing inspirational speaker at no cost to you. The HUB has waived our rental fee and Cindy is doing this for FREE! But you will have the opportunity to pick up Cindy's book at the event to help her support her ongoing efforts to "Inspire the Survivor Within" .

Join us on Thursday August 22nd at 7pm at The HUB.

We believe that any who attend this amazing opportunity will leave changed for the better. To learn more about Cindy Click Here.

August HUB Highlights

Hot August Nights at The HUB Shop Every Night 5:30pm-7:30 pm



The HUB Shop is a large source of funding for The HUB and helps sport our senior programming and is now open an additional two hours Monday-Saturday for your shopping enjoyment. To help entice you in to shop us until 7:30pm we are running a month long special for those late night customers. Every night in August take an extra $10 off your order of $25 or more.

One discount per customer per day cannot be combined with any other discount.

Open Monday-Saturday 9:30am-7:30 pm !

Seeking Rock Painting Super Stars to help The HUB fill the

Hope Rocks

Garden

HUGE Painted Hope Rocks Garden Underway

The HUB is looking to fill our NEW Hope Rocks Garden and we need your help! We have a huge area slotted to fill with painted rocks of inspiration and hope for the whole community to enjoy. We need thousands of painted rocks in order to complete this ambitious art project. How can you help? We are accepting donations of painted rocks in any size or shape at The HUB Monday-Saturday 9:30-7:30pm. In order to preserve the longevity of the rock art please spray your rocks with a clear coat or tell staff when you drop them off that they need to be sprayed so we can keep them looking amazing for a long time.

Do not have the supplies at home to create rocks or do not want to make a mess at your place? We got you covered head to The HUB Monday-Friday 9:30 am-4pm and paint to your hearts delight at the Rock Painting Station set up outside our front doors.

Come help us Rock out at The HUB!

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Clothing Swap Men's, Women's and Kids August 24th 10-4pm

Closet cleaning time. Do you have a closet filled with items that no longer fit? Items you never wear? Kids outgrown their britches? We got you covered with a fun alternative to shopping. Bring as many clothing items, shoes, accessories and jewelry to The HUB Friday the 23rd between the hours of 4pm -8pm and trade your items for tickets. Tickets can then be redeemed Sat. 24th from 10am-Noon for a vast assortment of other items that suit your needs. Can't let go of any clothing but still want to shop? Then come in after noon on the 24th and shop. (please no early bird shoppers as the first 2 hours are for ticket holders only). Clothing will be at an amazing price of just $1 tops, $2 bottoms, $ 3 coats, dresses and shoes. Back to School shopping never was this easy. Fall fashion spruce up at a fraction of retail!

Community Swap & Shop


What do you get when you mix artisan crafters, food vendors, a flea market, direct sales, youth entrepreneurs and a garage sale? An amazing shopping extravaganza at The Community Swap and Shop. This is in the parking lot of The HUB and we are still accepting applications for a few more people to join in the FUN. Spaces are as little as $5 each and you can do whatever you like with your spot earn a few extra dollars, show off your craft , sell your wares or promote your business. Once set up you can swap with other or just take shoppers. This event is being held at the same time as the Clothing Swap that runs in the building and both are sure to attract a great many shoppers to The HUB. We also have a few food vendors and a local ice cream truck that is planning on attending , so come hungry and ready to shop and swap. Saturday August 24th 10am-3pm (clothing swap til 4pm) at The HUB . We can't wait to see you there.

Reserve a Booth NOW!

You Are Invited

If you love thrifting , like we love thrifting then mark your calendars for Thursday August 17th and come and CELEBRATE NATIONAL THRIFT STORE DAY with us, We are throwing an all day long party with savings, refreshments and FUN SURPRISES all day long. Take an %50 OFF YOUR ENTIRE ORDER ALL DAY LONG. Munch on mini cupcakes and coffee two ways hot and iced. Plus play fun thrift store themed games, win door prizes and scratch thrift store themed scratch tickets for savings you can cash in on all year long.

FREE Children's Clothing & More


Just in time for back to school. Did you know that NCO (Northwest Children's Outreach) is one of The HUB's many partner agencies? We are one of their local Care Partners. the NCO gives away clothing, toiletries, books, toys, hygiene items shoes, formula and diapers to youth aged pre newborn (layettes available ) to age 18. If you are or know of a child in need of any of those items stop in to The HUB Monday-Friday 9 am -4pm and see the front desk staff or send us an email at theHUBfrontdesk@gmail.com and provide a call back number and we will reach out to get an amazing care package for your child . The items provided are all given by local community members and packed with care by volunteers. The child will receive a large care package with weather appropriate clothing and any other needs identified. The NCO is able to help many children as they keep their overhead light by using Care Providers like The HUB to take the orders, pick up the orders and coordinate getting them to children in need. The turn around time from order to receiving the donation is generally under a week and is a huge blessing to many families especially at this time of year when back to school shopping is weighing heavily on caregivers minds. Children can receive multiple care packages a year as they grow or the seasons change. We have been told that the local NCO warehouse located in Belfair is overflowing with clothing, toys and more ready to brighten up some child's life. So don't hesitate , grab a pen and paper get the children's name and sizes, shoe size and diapers if needed and get in touch and help us shower love through the NCO on others.

Free Durable Medical Equipment Bank

The HUB runs a FREE Durable Medical Equipment Bank. We are often surprised when people do not know this information as we having been doing it for many years. But I guess it is one of those things that you don't know about it until you need it. It is one of our most active programs and we give away well over $75,000 in medical equipment each year. Walkers, knee scooters, canes, rollators, shower chairs and benches, and incontinence supplies are some of our most requested items. We have relocated the Medical Equipment Library a few times over the past years as it goes through growing pains. We are excited to get the medical equipment bank a much needed facelift and space overhaul thanks to a generous grant from Lewis Mason Thurston Area Agency on Aging. In the next month you will see the facelift start to take place and we ask for your patience as we may impact the flow of the donation dock as well as some of the parking stalls towards the back of the lot. In the meantime take a good look around and see if you have any medical equipment that you would like to donate we are always seeking gently used durable medical equipment especially walkers, rollators , knee scooters wheelchairs. Another way to help support this amazing program is to give a donation. We greatly appreciate any amount that you can pledge to give and will put your dollars to hard work in the community doing good.

Make a Donation to Help us Continue To Support the Community through The Free Medical Equipment Bank

Mark Your Calendar for these September Happenings

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