The following is a release from Britt Nelson, Executive Director of Plateau Outreach Ministries:

Plateau Outreach Ministries is so thankful to this community for their support and generosity! More than 300 people were in attendance and $30,000 was raised at our Pasta with a Purpose dinner and auction Oct. 27.

This is the eighth year that High Point Village has sponsored the event and provided the meal. This is our first year at the EHS Commons, which was donated by the Enumclaw School District. This venue allowed us to grow from 20 tables last year to 40 tables this year.

Because of this sponsorship, all donations from the event go directly to support the services we provide assisting families here on the plateau. Attendees really represented a cross-section of the community with churches, businesses, service groups and elected officials all represented. Enumclaw Rotary members filled nearly a third of the tables.

The auction committee, led by Kim McKeighen, transformed the Commons into an amazing 1950’s atmosphere. There were poodle skirts and lettermen’s jackets, a soda stand with Coke & Sprite in old-time glass bottles, and 1950’s decorations throughout.

The silent auction provided a variety of baskets and items that were donated by churches and business throughout the community. The live-auction desserts were a hit, with the Mayor’s pie bringing in top dollars.

Our gratitude to this community is really a pass-through from those families we serve. It is humbling to receive a tearful “thank you” from a senior citizen for a sack full of food on food bank day. I think for most of us, we have no idea how difficult it is to ask for help and how much it means to have a welcoming place to come.

I wish that all of our generous donors could receive one of these tearful hugs. They would know instantly how much their support means to us and to those we serve.