EDMONDS—The city of Edmonds officially launched its very first Edmonds Serves event on Saturday, June 6, a citywide initiative celebrating the individuals, nonprofits, businesses, and public agencies that strengthen its community every day through service and volunteerism.
The celebratory event follows being recognized as the nation’s very first “Community of Service” by the National Museum and Center for Service, and through an initiative led by former U.S. Congressman Brian Baird.
“The National Museum and Center for Service was created to honor all forms of service, how we serve through our work, as volunteers, or charitable contributions. The idea here locally, and really nationally, is that every community – as you see here today – is filled with people who serve,” Congressman Brian Baird told the Lynnwood Times.
The event commenced on the steps of the Edmonds Historical Museum Saturday morning, featuring words by Edmonds Mayor Mike Rosen, former U.S. Congressman Brian Baird, and Kim Gorney, Executive Director of WA Kids in Transition.
“At a time when so much seems to divide us, Edmonds Serves is a reminder of what still brings us together, the shared values of compassion, service, and a deep sense of community,” said Mayor Mike Rosen. “Edmonds has been recognized multiple times as the friendliest city in the region because people here genuinely care for one another. By celebrating stories of service throughout our city, we hope not only to honor those who give their time and heart to others, but also to inspire more people to step forward, connect, and serve. Our hope is that the spirit of belonging that defines Edmonds will also inspire communities everywhere.”
Mayor Rosen was presented with a plaque by former Congressman Baird Saturday honoring the city and its extensive volunteer network. There are over 500 nonprofits that call Edmonds home, Mayor Rosen said Saturday, in a city of about 43,000.
The initiative launches as the Pacific Northwest prepares to welcome international visitors for FIFA-related events, offering Edmonds an opportunity to showcase a distinctly American value: serving others. While many communities highlight attractions, Edmonds is choosing to elevate its people and their commitment to helping one another.
The city began posting posters in storefront displays, websites, and social media campaigns in late May that feature residents and organizations who serve the community, putting faces and stories to the work that helps Edmonds thrive.
QR codes are also featured throughout the campaign that connect residents and visitors directly to Edmonds-area nonprofits and volunteer opportunities, making it easier for people to get involved and serve alongside others in the community.
At the heart of Edmonds Serves is a simple but powerful idea: honor and celebrate the people who give of themselves to help others.
The announcement overlapped with the Edmonds Museum’s Summer Market, held in downtown Edmonds along 5th avenue, which brought together local artisans, crafters, and farmers offering fresh produce, handmade crafts, artwork and food.
The market featured approximately 90 vendors, all family-owned businesses with no resellers, imported goods, or franchises further cementing the heart and soul of Edmonds Serves.
In addition, several nonprofits and local businesses were spotlighted Saturday for their partnership and ongoing service to the Edmonds community. These include, but are not limited to, Fox and Bottle, the Beach House, WA Kids, Machiavelli, Edmonds Rotary, Northwest Neighbors Network, Edmonds Bookshop, and Girls on the Run.
Edmonds Bookshop/Girls on the Run
Girls on the Run of Snohomish County partnered with Edmonds Bookshop as part of Edmonds Serves, highlighting the youth nonprofit with in-store displays and promotions.
“It’s incredible to be able to work for a female-led employer and a volunteer-led passion program is incredible validating,” Melissa Foozer, Edmonds Bookshop employee and Girls on the Run coach told the Lynnwood Times. “I think that any opportunity that all of the employees at the book shop get, we want to volunteer when we can.”
Girls on the Run Snohomish County is a nonprofit designed to enhance participants’ social, emotional and physical skills to successfully navigate life experiences through fun, interactive lessons that blend physical activity with life skill development.
WA Kids in Transition
The next nonprofit to be spotlighted Saturday was WA Kids in Transition, which was founded 11 years ago to help kids in the Edmonds School District – specifically McKinney-Vento students who don’t have roofs over their heads or are unaccompanied minors.
The nonprofit began by just trying to feed these children, but has since grown to provide rental assistance, opened a distribution center off Scriber Lake Road that’s open daily and supplies emergency items, has robust holiday programs, and even opened a community garden where high school kids can learn how to grow their own food.
In 2025 WA Kids in Transition responded to about 1,100 asks.
“What we do is provide [the students] an emergency bag of food and give them information on the food bank, they can come in and get shoes, clothes, whatever they need. We are definitely a community organization,” said Kim Gorney, WA Kids in Transition Executive Director.
Gorney added that when she first founded the organization 11 years ago, she intended to serve all of Washington but has since learned that her mission does better when focused on her own community.
William Tonga, student at Scriber Lake High School, has benefitted from WA Kids in Transition tremendously. After his father passed away, he found himself struggling with mental health and figuring out where his next meal was coming from. His sister reached out to WA Kids in Transition for assistance, and now he helps out at the community garden for extra credit at his school.
“What’s great about WA Kids is that they introduced me to football, they paid for my gear, they paid for water bottles and stuff,” Tonga told the Lynnwood Times. “I used to be really antisocial, I didn’t want to talk anyone until I met Kim. I was actually recently homeless until Kim took me in. It means everything. I’m not really big on family but through her program I found a new family.”
Tonga plays noseguard/center for Scriber Lake High School. He thanks WA Kids for introducing him into athletics, which he said has helped his mental health tremendously.
Northwest Neighbors Network
Northwest Neighbors Network was the next spotlighted nonprofit Saturday, which specializes in assisting seniors and those with disabilities in their community directly out of their own homes.
It was founded seven years ago and has now grown to have 400 members and volunteers, serving seniors all over south Snohomish County and north King County (about a 15-mile radius).
The bulk of the program deals with transportation, with many seniors needing to get to medical appointments or to grocery stores, having their hair done, their nails done, going to places of worship, or simply to meet up with friends and neighbors. The nonprofit also assists with housekeeping, yardwork, connecting and assisting with technological devices, and more.
“A big part of what we do is just empowering our seniors through our volunteers so that they feel seen and supported by the community. We rely heavily on volunteers to fulfill the service requests and asks from our community,” Marilynn Kaplan, Volunteer Services Manager at Northwest Neighbors Network told the Lynnwood Times.
Members can submit a request for service either through the website, email, or phone, and one of 200 volunteers responds to that request and “hopefully a lovely relationship forms,” said Kaplan.
Northwest Neighbors Network is always looking for more volunteers to join their team. To apply you can visit their website at: www.northwestneighborsnetwork.org
Ristorante Machiavelli
Edmonds Italian restaurant Machiavelli was also one of the spotlighted businesses/nonprofits Saturday, which has quickly turned into a community favorite after relocating from Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood to Edmonds two-and-a-half years ago.
“I’m very happy to be a part of the Edmonds community and it’s been such a privilege to have a business here. What’s always attracted me to Edmonds is its sense of community,” Machiavelli owner Suzette Jarding told the Lynnwood Times.
Jarding began working for Machiavelli as a hostess in 1999 and purchased the business from former owners Tom and Linda McElroy in 2013. She relocated to Edmonds to be closer to home, living in Edmonds and having three daughters in the Edmonds School District.
Ristorante Machiavelli focused on Northern Italian/American Italian. Everything is made in-house, fresh, daily. Jarding informed the Lynnwood Times that her staff is extremely close-knit, and a good number of her guests are regulars.
Other businesses and nonprofits featured
During Saturday morning’s remarks, Natasha Ryan, Public Information Officer for the City of Edmonds, also highlighted the following Edmonds businesses and nonprofits as part of Edmonds Serves:
- Edmonds School District
- Rotary Club of Edmonds
- Edmonds Historical Museum
- Edmonds Food Bank
- Edmonds Center for the Arts
- Boys and Girls Club
- Edmonds Chamber of Commerce
- Washington Kids
- Habitat for Humanity
- Kiwanis Club of Edmonds
- Edmonds Pride
- Hazel Miller Foundation
- Edmonds Driftwood Players
- American Red Cross Northwest Region
- Verdant Health Commission
And dozens more.
Author: Kienan Briscoe
