Bald and shaved? Mayor sets fundraising challenge

The goal is to raise $20,000 for Plateau Outreach Ministries and the Rainier Foothills Wellness Foundation.

By Kevin Hanson • June 29, 2020 11:30 am
Tags:
“I have not had a haircut since February and my hairstyle has come close to my 1970’s high school look,” Enumclaw Mayor Jan Molinaro wrote in an email to local residents about the fundraiser. “Now that personal services are reopening I have decided to accomplish two things with one action… This is where citizens in the community become involved by donating” to either Plateau Outreach Ministries, The Rainier Foothills Wellness Foundation, or, if you’re so generous, both. Image courtesy the city of Enumclaw
“I have not had a haircut since February and my hairstyle has come close to my 1970’s high school look,” Enumclaw Mayor Jan Molinaro wrote in an email to local residents about the fundraiser. “Now that personal services are reopening I have decided to accomplish two things with one action… This is where citizens in the community become involved by donating” to either Plateau Outreach Ministries, The Rainier Foothills Wellness Foundation, or, if you’re so generous, both. Image courtesy the city of Enumclaw

Enumclaw Mayor Jan Molinaro might have a thick head of hair, but it has gone without a trim for some time.

The mayor admits he’s not had a haircut since February, prompting a look reminiscent of his high school days.

But that soon will change and, thanks to a plan hatched by Molinaro, a pair of local nonprofits – Rainier Foothills Wellness Foundation and Plateau Outreach Ministries – stand to benefit.

The mayor and the two entities have embarked on a “hair raising” event. It centers around Molinaro’s head and face, specifically his hair and familiar goatee.

Basically, it’s a fundraising effort in which the public is encouraged to pledge donations to the Enumclaw-based nonprofit agencies. The deadline is July 7 and the mayor has announced some key benchmarks: if a total of $10,000 is pledged, he will submit to a crewcut; if donations hit the $15,000 mark, his head will be shaved bald; and, finally, if $20,000 is generated, Molinaro will wind up with a shaved head and a chin entirely bereft of whiskers.

The mayor kick-started he campaign by contributing $100 to each entity, which both strive to address hunger on the Plateau, care for local seniors, and make sure residents have information and access to healthcare.

Some of the food programs organized or sponsored by POM and the Wellness Foundation you may have heard about include the Weekend Backpack Program, which provides children with additional food for the weekends; the Full Bellies program, which provides a free hot meal to anyone who needs it (hosted every Thursday at Calvary Presbyterian Church); and the Senior Hot Meals program, where the local Senior Center drives meals out to seniors who have transportation difficulties.

In an email blast to residents about the fundraiser, the city, POM, and the Wellness Foundation noted two stories that exemplified the work both they and POM perform.

PARTNERSHIP IN ACTION

• “Sally” was a walker. She walked everywhere. Mostly because she didn’t have any other mode of transportation! But she said she didn’t mind so much as long as it wasn’t too cold or too wet. But, when we found out she was walking from Buckley each week to access POM’s food bank in Enumclaw, we knew we had to find her another way. The bags of food for her entire family were heavy and we know from experience that crossing that bridge on foot is not safe, especially during inclement weather conditions. So, we let her know that she could sign up for rides from the Care Van provided by Rainier Foothills Wellness Foundation! It is a simple application and they could bring her to the food bank and, an hour later, come get her to bring her safely back across the bridge! Sally and her family no longer need the food bank, but we are exceedingly grateful for the partnership between RFWF and POM which allowed her a safe way to get back on her feet.

• “Ellen” loved to cook. She reveled in the opportunities to make healthy meals her kids would eat! As most mother’s know, that’s not always easy! Ellen managed, but it was always a challenge to find affordable options that would allow for healthy meals. When Ellen’s family took in another family who was also struggling, she found it impossible! She had learned of RFWF’s Full Bellies Program, a weekly, free hot meal served to anyone in the community in a family-friendly environment, and she was relieved that at least once a week she could pack up all the kids from both families and find a bit of peace while they gathered for a hot, healthy meal. One week, there was a group of high school students signing people up for “We Nourish” cooking class they had developed. They began to discuss the struggle in affording fresh food necessary for healthy cooking. Ellen shared with others that POM’s food bank had amazing fresh produce, meat, eggs, and milk available for healthy cooking! She was overjoyed that there was an option for items that had become too expensive to purchase for the dual family she was feeding, and wanted to share! Many of the parents were sincerely grateful for the information. It is the small moments like this, within the programs of RFWF and POM, that truly bring us together, compassionately caring for our neighbors.

Both the Rainier Foothills Wellness Foundation and POM have donation pages on their websites. To make a pledge, visit www.rfwellnessfoundation.org or www.plateauoutreach.org.

Tags: