This month, we’re highlighting TW! Although TW has been ‘in the spotlight’ in our HIP blog post in 2017, his dedication to  volunteering at HIP for almost a decade credits another feature. His lived experiences as he explains paints a picture on how he started volunteering with HIP: 

“A few months after I retired from Lake City Value Village, a former customer introduced me to Shoreline Community Center, then the same WWII veteran told me a new lunch program started in Lake City.  I came to Lake City which had only one meal per week and no activity. On one occasion I saw Darcy so busy by herself so I came to help a bit, knowing nothing at all. Then I started from once a week, then twice, then three times.” Just like that, TW became an integral part of Senior Meals. 

He recalls his favorite thing at HIP was the last-minute menu change and having to quickly write it down on the whiteboard. That however has changed now as he humorously said “I am extremely lazy, another volunteer is doing my job now as her handwriting is much better than I”. What truly keeps him busy, aside from helping set up at Lamb of God Church, is having to translate the menu of the month from English to Spanish and Chinese within two days or even one. 

Aside from the impressive routine he’s built over the years, TW recounts one of his most memorable moments at HIP. “[When] I became a first time grandpa…I will not forget [that] HIP made the first Red Eggs when my Jocelyn was one year old. This item was the first in all restaurants in Washington State.” Red Eggs are culturally significant as they can symbolize prosperity and good fortune in Chinese culture.

He concludes by expressing his opinion on volunteering, “I recommend all seniors to volunteer in non-profits such as HIP.  Volunteering makes you feel you are still of value after retirement.” More than just the work he does, although that’s highly appreciated too, is the energy and liveliness that TW brings to Senior Meals. To our favorite ‘small potato’, as he humbly calls himself, thank you for all the invaluable work you do!