Community Action Center

Meet the Staff: Carrie Chase, Community Food Manager

Tell me about yourself. I’ve only been in Pullman for six months, I moved with my family from North Carolina when my husband got a job at WSU. I am originally from a small town in Montana and Pullman seems to have a similar vibe. Community Action Center has such a large umbrella of services, they touch so much of the community and I’m excited to be part of it. How long have you worked at Community Action Center?

A week and a half, but I have 15 years’ experience in Social Services. My experience is in transitional housing and services for adults and children with developmental disabilities. I had interviewed with Community Action Center when we first moved here, but decided not to take a job at that time. This job seems like a perfect fit for me. I had taken some time off without working during the move and the pandemic, but now I am rejuvenated and ready to get back into it. Describe what you do at Community Action Center.

I oversee the food bank, including the garden plots. I will be building connections with the community and I get to be part of the Mobile Farmstand start-up. What’s special about your job?

No day will be the same as the last, which is exciting. I will be able to meet so many different people in different places in their lives, which is kind of fun. What do you do in your free time?

I like to hike, read, cook, and spend time with my family. Repairing our new house seems to take up a lot of our time.

The Food & Shelter Folks

Davis Way Housing Gets a New Lease on Life

Community Action Center wrapped up renovations to its transitional housing units on Davis Way in May, replacing bathrooms, the heating system, entrances, and walkways to improve residents’ safety and comfort.

“It’s’ a cleaner, better, newer, and more modern place to live now,” said Tim Connell, Rental Properties Manager and Maintenance Coordinator. “We brought it into the 21st century.”

The project replaced an antique oil furnace with heat pumps in each unit. Community Action Center sealed cracks that were causing water to enter the basement and installed a drain system. Fixtures in all bathrooms, landscaping, and new concrete walls, steps and walkways completed the renovations.

Davis Way housing gives residents who have experienced homelessness the opportunity to build skills to be stably housed. Residents live in the units for a two-year period, learning financial management and paying a portion of their rent. After two years, they transition into long-term housing in Community Action Center affordable housing units or another long-term home.

The project started in June 2020 and experienced construction delays due to the pandemic.

“We faced a lot of obstacles but were able to overcome all of them,” Connell said.

Community Action Center received an $185,000 Washington State Housing Trust Fund “Housing Preservation Grant” for the project. The housing team is grateful to Kunkel Construction, Omega Electric, Hillyard’s Plumbing, All-Fab, SYG Hydroseed, RL7 Excavation, and Pho’s Painting for their work on the renovations.

Save The Date – Riverview Grand Opening Ceremony!

What: Come celebrate the grand opening of Pullman’s newest affordable housing with a ribbon cutting ceremony and festivities.

When: Wednesday, July 14, 5:30 PM

Where: Riverview Apartments, 1155 Bypass Drive, Pullman

Community Food

We are taking food donations by appointment! We humbly ask our generous community members to call the front desk (509-334-9147) to make an appointment to donate food. We still encourage monetary donations. Your dollar will go farther in buying food than if you spend it yourself at the store! Please donate at: https://www.cacwhitman.org/donate/

We need the following donations: • Laundry soap • Dish soap • Diaper wipes • Clean boxes/bags used for distribution

You can bring donations to 350 SE Fairmont Road in Pullman weekdays from 8:00-4:00 (closed for lunch 12:00-1:00). To donate, please come to the parking lot, call the front desk, and we will have a staff member come to your car to take the donation.

FOOD PANTRY BREAD ROOM

MONDAY Closed 8 am – 4:30 pm TUESDAY Closed 8 am –– 4:30 pmPlease note our Free Room is WEDNESDAY 11 am – 1:00 pm 8 am – 4:30pmnow closed due (note the change!) to COVID-19 THURSDAY 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm 8 am – 6:00 pm regulations. FRIDAY Closed 8 am – 4:30 pm