3 yr Anniversary

Front of the KCRCO building at 211 W 3rd Avenue in Ellensburg

Tomorrow marks three years since our first planning meeting for the KCRCO. I have the agenda hung on the wall in my office at the KCRCO as a reminder of how far we have come since that time. We initially met in the living room in our home and when the pandemic hit our board would meet on Zoom. The KCRCO was merely an idea, a dream, a need in our community that was in my head for a decade that finally had come to be a reality and I really had no idea how far we would come in three small years.

2019 Planning meeting agenda

It is a reminder that we have come far not just for being a new entity, but, also for having walked through a pandemic during this three year period and still having massive progress throughout. Sure, the pandemic slowed us down some, but we didn’t give up and we certainly didn’t throw in the towel and say maybe now isn’t the time. I remember well as the pandemic wore on thinking how much more we were going to be needed in the community. The overdose rates skyrocketed, our community suffered with deaths like many others, and, I knew we had to bring this resource to the community.

From our very first brainstorming session in the buidling

Here we sit, one day shy of three years later. I am typing this in my office in the KCRCO building that has proven to be the catalyst we needed to put my idea into action. We were handed the keys to the space just about a year ago. August 26th of last year we held our open house and put a call out for volunteers. The turn out for this was amazing and it was here that we started brainstorming, fundraising, and collaborating with others to make the KCRCO a known entity in the downtown core. With the help of many we started putting together plans to officially open our doors on November 1. One person in particular that was right by my side in those initial months of having the building was Maryanna Schane. She and I were side by side for the first several months and without her help the KCRCO would not exist as you see it today. Prior to our opening many hours would put in my our board and volunteers to help with this undertaking. It has never been a thing done just by a few, but, something that has happened with the help of many.

Our very first calendar!

Our opening was a success and we started offering activities in the space in November of 2021. We were happy to see people coming to see what the KCRCO was all about and to participate in the the activities on our calendar. It was in that time period when we held our first open mic night/fundraiser. We were given the space rent free for the first few months but needed financial support to ensure viability. Our first fundraiser was a massive success. I can’t express to you how good it made me feel to know our community believed in our cause. We had individuals and business handing us checks and saying they were happy to see us in the community. It was after that fundraiser that I knew we were here at the right time. While money isn’t everything it is how some speak to whether or not they believe in something. We raised nearly 7k just that night alone and that didn’t count the money that was handed to use before that night and after. It caused me to shed tears of joy for sure.

In the background are Brandi Amundson (Program Manager) and Cheri Long (Volunteer)

It was right in this time period when we were forwarded a grant opportunity. It was a new state grant that was specifically for recovery community organizations. Myself and Maryanna did the work, wrote the grant application and sent it in. With grants you don’t always know how much or even when you might hear back. This was one of those. On December 17th we received the email that would propel us forward in big ways. Maryanna sent me a text and said “I think we got the grant and I think it is a lot of money”. She was right.

Upstairs space

We were awarded just shy of $150k!! I cried. I am getting teary eyed now as I type this remembering that moment. This grant was going to ensure the KCRCO was going to be a viable entity in the community. To this point we had created plan of what we wanted to do and now we could truly put those ideas into action. We continued forward with our plans but now could really put things into action must sooner than planned.

Looking toward 3rd is a space for community members in recovery to access the web

We hired staff, made improvements to the space, bought the necessary office things, built a kitchenette, and did many others things that only money can do in the end to improve the space and make it inviting for people when they came in. In a short period of time the building transformed from just an empty shell to a welcoming and inviting space to be in. We were able to start staffing the building and rather than only being open during scheduled activities started having regular office hours.

Our Recovery Library and KCRCO gear

We hired our very first KCRCO Recovery Support Specialist in the spring of this year. Brandi Amundson proved quickly to be an asset to the KCRCO. She jumped right in and has helped us further the mission of the KCRCO. She is our very first state certified peer support counselor. As these things go in life, Maryanna moved on to focus on her family and with that Brandi was promoted to the Program Manager position. We will forever be grateful for Maryanna’s work at the KCRCO and are very happy to have Brandi to further the work Maryanna started in our very early days.

Our board treasurer Tim Cornia

Our board has evolved with members rotating off and new members rotating on. Our board members have been key to helping guide the KCRCO toward our vision and mission statements. Until July 1 of this year I was the President/founder of the board. After getting our building I was also very much acting as an Executive Director to ensure we would getting things done as needed. As we continued to move forward in a positive direction we begin discussions about the need to not have blurred lines between my role as President of the board and acting as an unofficial Executive Director. On June 30th I stepped down as board President and on July 1 I was appointed as the first Executive Director for the KCRCO. Our board Vice-President, Pam Tuggles Miles agreed to lead the board until the board fills the board President position. Pam’s work with the KCRCO has been nothing short of amazing and having her lead the board was an easy decision to make.

My office in the upstairs space of the KCRCO

Since that very first board meeting three years ago, to just shy of one year of planning to move into our new building, to officially opening our doors on November 1 of last year we have come far. We have made massive strides to ensure our community members in recovery have place to call their own. The KCRCO is becoming a known entity in the community for all things related to recovery. Our mission is clear and is very much in action. We strive to continue this work as we move forward and appreciate the support from everyone in the community.

David Douglas EdD CFLE
Executive Director/Founder
KCRCO