Many of us who call Enumclaw home know that there are plenty of reasons to feel lucky to live in this small town. There are breathtaking views of Mount Rainier, a beautiful historic downtown area, community-based youth sports and activities and public schools that families can send their kids to with confidence in the education they’re receiving.

But, what really makes Enumclaw stand out is the people who live here and the great amount of mutual support among community members. We can see this support in action when we drive past the high school that’s being rebuilt and improved for future generations, when small businesses are packed with local customers, or when the high school gym is completely full for the annual Enumclaw vs. White River Special Olympics Pack the Stands basketball game.

I’ve seen these types of things happening throughout my life in Enumclaw, but recently I have been overwhelmed with the outstanding amount of support the community has shown me personally as I prepare for an internship in Washington, D.C., this summer.

From the middle of June to the end of September I will be interning with Congressman Dave Reichert’s Washington, D.C., office. The day I was offered this internship I was working at Charlie’s Cafe (as I have since 2014 and still do when home from college) and told my boss and Charlie’s owner Autumn Rock about the opportunity, but also that I didn’t know how I would pay for a whole summer living on Capitol Hill. Immediately, she told me not to worry about it, that we would fundraise the money through the restaurant and it was way too good of an opportunity to miss.

A few days later we made the first batch of homemade jam that we would sell as part of the fundraiser. Now, here we are eight months later and we’re on our fifth batch of jam (300 to 350 jars), we sold poinsettias at Christmas time and hanging baskets this spring (all from Tom DeSanto Greenhouses), and we held a fundraiser dinner on June 2 that 10 local businesses – including Charlie’s Cafe, Enumclaw Golf Course Cafe, Fugate Ford, McKee Enterprises, Northwest Safes, Sweet Necessities, Taco Time, The Pie Goddess, The Rainier and True Value – all donated raffle prizes or auction items to.

This internship might open doors for me that I would have never seen if I stayed home this summer and it wouldn’t be happening without the local businesses and hundreds of Enumclaw community members that have supported me through fundraisers organized and put on by Autumn and Charlie’s Cafe.

Thank you to all of the people who have supported me through this process, especially Autumn, and thank you to everyone in town who does more than they are asked to for our community. People like you are a huge part why we are all lucky to call Enumclaw home.

Bill Miller

Enumclaw