The "Vote For A Community Hero" program included three local non-profit organizations vying for a chance to win the Seahawks-branded Toyota Tundra. Fans were able to vote for their favorites and Meals on Wheels Kitsap received more votes than the Boys & Girls Club of Lewis County and Veteran Rites. Meals on Wheels Kitsap is the winner of the "Vote For A Community Hero" fan-vote, done in partnership with Washington Toyota Dealers. As a result, they will take home the Seahawks Toyota Tundra that sat atop the Toyota Fan Deck at Lumen Field.
In previous years, a fan was awarded the Seahawks-branded Tundra. This year, with no fans attending games, Western Washington Toyota Dealers decided to award the Tundra to a community nonprofit organization that were serving the needs of others due to the impact of COVID19.
While Meals on Wheels Kitsap will receive the elusive prize of the Seahawks-branded Tundra, the two other finalist organizations will receive four tickets and sideline passes to a 2021 Seahawks home game.
Meals on Wheels Kitsap is a community-based, non-profit organization with the goal of providing healthy, well-balanced meals for seniors (60 years and older). The organization's mission is "to provide nutritious meals and other social services to older persons in Kitsap County to maintain their health and support their independence."
Last year, Meals on Wheels Kitsap provided 55,153 meals to 854 individual clients through their programs. In addition, 3,495 seniors received nutrition education, dietary counseling, emergency meals and senior farmers market nutrition services. Meals on Wheels Kitsap survives thanks to the 120-plus volunteers who provided service last year.
The Seahawks Toyota Tundra was delivered to the organization's Bremerton office on Jan. 8 where Blitz and others presented the prize.
The Boys & Girls Club of Lewis County is the newest Boys & Girls Club on Washington state's roster, but continues the same mission to provide youth and teens a safe, supportive place to be when school is out. Their mission at the Boys & Girls Club of Lewis County is "to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens." The mission is fulfilled through academic success, healthy lifestyles and good character and citizenship.
The COVID-19 pandemic has altered the Club's role in society, as it is now open to serve kids all day, every weekday from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. It's a whole new world and the Club has adapted quickly by supporting virtual learning, providing multiple meals per day, providing high-speed internet access, hosting tutoring and emotional support sessions and more.
Veteran Rites, which is one of the organizations involved with Task Force 12, has the goal of initiating veterans into a true identity and purpose after military service. Veteran Rites uses "Welcome Home" in the wilderness and circles of belonging in the community to build lasting virtual and in-person networks that prevent veteran suicide and empower the military community to heal and prosper together.
As with the other organizations, COVID-19 has changed the nature of how Veteran Rites operates. During the pandemic, Veteran Rites has "leveraged its online platforms to empower veterans to share their gifts with the community while also providing caring distance in-person ceremonies and programs that combat the debilitating effects of isolation, suicidal ideation, anxiety, low self-worth, and post-traumatic stress for veterans, partners, families, Gold Star families and survivors of veteran suicide loss."
Congratulations to all three organizations for their excellent work in our community.
After winning the "Vote For A Community Hero" fan-vote program, done in partnership with Western Washington Toyota Dealers, Meals On Wheels Kitsap was awarded the Seahawks-branded Toyota Tundra that previously sat atop the Toyota Fan Deck at Lumen Field. Blitz stopped by to personally deliver the truck on Friday afternoon.
