Pictured: Attendees of the 2018 Seattle Decommissioning Party
In June, LVCers in the Pacific Northwest had ‘decommissioning’ parties for both Seattle and Tacoma, as we approach the end of our final year in the PNW. It was an important time to say good bye to the Sula and Mandela Houses and relive some LVC history.
LVC first sent Volunteers to Seattle in the Fall of 1995, and then to Tacoma the very next year. There was a wide range in attendance at both the parties in Tacoma and Seattle – guests ranging from current and former Volunteers and Supporters to an original pre-1995 LVC employee, even to teen kids of Supporters who grew up with Volunteers as baby sitters.
Even though the houses are closing and our time in the Pacific Northwest is coming to an end, it was easy to see the spirit of LVC living on, as it does in all of the folks touched by Volunteers and LVC – volunteers, support committee members, clients, churches, placements and even random strangers. Our impacts are never completely comprehensible, but the heart of the PNW will always be a part of our history – and for that, we are very grateful. Many thanks to LVC Staff member Jack Seifert (DC Alum 1984-85) for planning and putting these parties together, and all who attended!