The Mustard Seed Project on the Key Peninsula continues to thrive and expand five years after its inception by director Edie Morgan. The organization’s slogan is to build an elder-friendly Key Peninsula.

“We have 1 1/2 paid part-time staff,” Morgan notes, adding that there are about 50 volunteers who have various roles. “We couldn’t do any of this without the incredible support of family, friends, the community and beyond.”

The first survey of the community, in May 2006, noted transportation for older adults as the top need in the area.

“It still is,” Morgan says.

In partnership with Catholic Community Services, 20 volunteer drivers transport people to medical appointments and essential shopping errands.

The Mustard Seed van picks up seniors for bus connections, senior programs at the YMCA in Gig Harbor, lunches at the senior center in Lakebay or shopping.

Free community forums are well-attended at 10 a.m. on the third Thursday of each month in the Brones Room at the Key Center branch of the Pierce County Library System. This Thursday,  a speaker from Pierce County Community Connection will present a program about caregiving. Caregivers, potential caregivers and anyone interested in the topic is welcome.

The March 15 program will be a 10-member panel of home health providers who serve the Key Peninsula.

A new program, the Community Volunteer Network, currently focuses on basic yard and garden work for older adults who are unable to do such chores themselves.

Another new activity is Friendly Visitor, where volunteers will be matched up to visit folks who live alone and would like occasional company. Such visits might be occasions for our elders to share their stories and interests.

March will bring the fourth annual Silver Cinema with support from the Friends of the KP Library.

“These are documentaries about incredible people,” Morgan says. 

March 11 will be “Juliet of the Herbs” in memory of Dory Meyers, who recommended  it.

March 18 and March 25 are other dates for free showings in the Brones Room, at 2 p.m., with discussions following for those who are interested.

The KP Schoolbus Connections is a two-year pilot project made possible through partnership with the Puget Sound Educational Service District and the Peninsula School District. Called “Tuesday trips to town,” routes operate according to the school district calendar, with no service during school breaks, holidays, snow weather or emergency conditions. Riders must be able to board independently, as there is no wheelchair access.

Two buses leave Vaughn and Evergreen Elementary schools at 9 a.m., make various scheduled stops and arrive at the Purdy Park & Ride to coordinate with Pierce Transit’s Bus 100 in Purdy. One mid-day return is from Purdy to Volunteer Park, as well as two buses from Purdy at 4:45 p.m., a return trip to the elementary schools.

Morgan, trained as a social worker, has called the Key Peninsula home for 30 years. She and her husband planned to work part-time and live off the land as much as possible.

“One week, I was a substitute social worker, a preschool teacher and a waitress at the Longbranch Chowder House,” she says.

She was “looking for my calling,” and her background and experience are a good match for her current position.

Her ultimate vision is an affordable senior housing “village” near Key Center.

“We can’t do it by ourselves,” she says, but she is making contacts with various organizations that could help.

The Key Senior information desk in the Key Peninsula Health & Professional Center, next door to the Key Center library, is manned by volunteers from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday.

For information, people can walk in, call 253-884-9814, email tmsp@centurytel.net or visit themustardseedproject.org.



Out Our Way columnist Colleen Slater writes a monthly column for the Neighbors page. She can be reached by e-mail at cas4936@centurytel.net.