A five-minute commute is just one benefit Jeff Fabris has experienced after moving his Lakewood Farmers Insurance business to the corner of Cole Street and Myrtle Avenue.

“I love it here,” he said. “I see people you know all the time.”

Living in Enumclaw for the past 15 years and running his Farmers office in Lakewood for 12 of those, Fabris said the commute was taking its toll and his commercial accounts didn’t require him to be in the Tacoma-area suburb.

So, June 1 he opened his door in downtown Enumclaw and started participating more actively in the community, specifically bringing Farmers Insurance’s digital child identification program, m.i.l.k., to the masses.

“It’s a great service to help identify missing kids,” said Fabris, whose agency is one of two in the area that provides the service. The program is aimed at aiding in the recovery of missing children. In the event of an emergency, the m.i.l.k. digital ID can immediately be forwarded to local authorities and National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

“It helps get an Amber Alert up and running faster,” Fabris said.

He and his staff have been photographing and fingerprinting children at sports jamborees and community events. It’s a free service and, soon, parents and guardians won’t have to wait for a special event. He and his staff will be able to provide the service at the office.

Setting up shop in the community where one lives is also good for business, Fabris said.

Farmers is the nation’s third-largest personal lines property and casualty insurance group. Fabris and his staff, which includes his wife Debbie, and Heidi Thomason, provide homeowners, auto, business, life insurance and financial services.

The office is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday or by appointment other times. For information, contact Fabris at jfabris@farmersagent.com or 360-802-8932.

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