PORT TOWNSEND — Gatheringplace Port Townsend is beginning a capital campaign for a new building next year.
The nonprofit organization, which serves adults with developmental disabilities with a number of weekly programs focused on skill building, social connection and self-expression, has secured $675,000 of its $900,000 goal, said Linda Ferris, founder and executive director.
“The people that we work with have a broad range of intellectual and developmental disabilities and also other disabilities that might not be recognized exactly as that,” said Laurel Hunter, who works for in organization’s marketing and development areas. “Many of our participants have Down syndrome, autism, cerebral palsy. Some are hearing impaired and non-verbal.
“Our programs really focus on communication and self-expression. If you’re an adult with a disability, you’re welcome to attend.”
Gatheringplace participants often pay with respite hours from the state, Hunter said, in some cases with family trusts, but no one will be turned away; the organization maintains a scholarship fund for those unable to pay.
In addition to fulfilling a need for a long-term location for regular programming, the organization is seeking to foster community engagement in the new space, Hunter said.
“It will be designed to facilitate public exhibits,” Hunter said. “Part of the mission of Gatheringplace is to really focus on community inclusion and awareness and bringing the developmentally disabled community together with the general community at large.”
The Dan Thompson Memorial Fund has awarded the organization a $450,000 grant. Money from the fund will only be paid out if the full amount is raised before a deadline of June 30, 2025, Ferris said.
“This is a very important part of the campaign because we stand to lose everything if we don’t raise the money,” Hunter said. “Now, we feel pretty confident we’re not going to let that happen, but we will be doing a lot of fundraising activities.”
The organization also saved more than $100,000 for the project in addition to receiving donations from individuals and foundations.
Loretta Hanson, who works with grants and development, wrote the grant, Hunter said.
Architect Jim Rozanski has been on board for more than a year, Hunter added.
“Of course it’s going to have all the necessary accessibility for our disabled participants who have mobility issues or whatever,” Hunter said. “The building is going to provide space designed for all of our programs, including our art program. It will also be designed to facilitate public exhibits.”
The building is planned to utilize sustainable and energy-efficient building practices, Hunter said.
The organization hosts group programs on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays, during which there are regularly about 18 participants, Ferris said, an increase from about five post-COVID.
In addition, Ferris said the organization is working with Port Townsend and Chimacum school districts to take on nine students with disabilities as a part of a transition program. Ferris said a recent skills-building program saw about 35 people, including volunteers.
“That’s a lot,” she said.
Hunter said numbers are difficult to obtain in the area, but from what she’s seen and discussed with other organizations, there is a need to reach more people. The building will allow them to accommodate the numbers if they do, she said.
The weekly programs see more than 20 volunteers and five part-time staff on a weekly basis.
A culinary program teaches participants how to prepare food.
“There’s an emphasis on nutritional food,” Hunter said. “It’s really about an important life skill, learning how to prepare a meal for yourself.”
The art program focuses not just on self expression but also on skills, Hunter said. Participants have won prizes at the state fair, and their work has been shown in a number of local exhibitions.
The nonprofit also produces an annual calendar, which features the participants’ artwork. The calendar is a main source of revenue.
Craig Rogers, now deceased, came to Gatheringplace for about 25 years, Ferris said. Rogers had spina bifida, which limited the use of his body.
“He would say, ‘When I am painting, I go into a zone where I do not feel pain,’” Ferris said. “He finally had a little studio even in his apartment where he could continue to paint when he wasn’t at Gatheringplace.”
Rogers had a solo exhibit at the Northwind Art Grover Gallery in 2021.
Gatheringplace’s movement and music program is focused on social connection and has special value for non-verbal participants, Ferris said.
On Fridays, Gatheringplace holds its “Yummy” dog biscuit program. Ferris said the biscuits have a loyal customer base; the organization sells them eight months out of the year at the Port Townsend Farmers Market, where they have a prominent booth, she said.
They are also sold at the Food Co-Op, Quimper Mercantile, Bonitas Four Legged Friends Pet Store, Northwest Maritime Center and on the Gatheringplace website.
The organization plans to reinstate its organic gardening program, which has been on pause since the organization has been located at the fairgrounds, Hunter said. Officials also hope to add some health and wellness programs outside of the building, potentially a basketball hoop.
Gatheringplace also offers a 30 minute American Sign Language class.
Ferris said her daughter, Megan Ferris, now deceased, was the inspiration for starting the organization. Hunter’s step-daughter, Devry Niemitz, is a current participant.
“The value that I can tell you,” Hunter said. “I moved here after the Paradise fires. We lost everything in that fire, including all of Devry’s paperwork. When we came here, we didn’t know where to go with Devry. Since we lost her paperwork, we weren’t able to get other services.
“Gatheringplace took us in and provided these really important programs and social interactions for our daughter. I honestly can say with no uncertain terms, they saved us. She’s made this huge community of friends. She’s out in the community doing activities. It’s just been so invaluable to our family.”
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Reporter Elijah Sussman can be reached by email at elijah.sussman@sequimgazette.com.
