- committee impact statements - CARMAN MCKINNEY - FOOD SAFETY & SUSTAINABILITY MANAGER The most memorable moment in 2016 for me was meeting the wonderful volunteers and children at Madison House Community Youth Center. This facility, located in what once was deemed as “The Hole” in Yakima due to the neighborhoods high crime and gang activity, is now a beautifully landscaped safe haven for as many as 500 children to attend before and after school. Just this past year, volunteers donated nearly 1,500 hours mentoring these children, and served nearly 17,000 meals before and after school. It was such a humbling and impactful visit. SEAN BENSON - HOP OPERATIONS MANAGER I have gradually arrived at a basic life philosophy that I want to leave the world (or at least my little part of it) better off than when I started. One way to do this is by providing opportunity for people who have made a choice to improve their situation. The YWCA helps women do that. And at Roy Farms, we support that with donations and by offering jobs to those who are interested. For some, it is a first job. The ladies are fun to work with and help us a lot during hop harvest. We wish these ladies every success in the future, and for the continued great work being done at the YWCA. GERMAN GUTIERREZ - AUTOMATED IRRIGATION COORDINATOR Delivering two pallets of pumpkin pies to the United Gospel Mission at Thanksgiving was the most impactful moment for me. It seemed simple enough to just deliver them, but I was dead wrong. I heard one gentleman say, with a HUGE smile on his face, “Oh, pies! My favorite!” Witnessing this made me think how something so simple as a pie could bring that much joy to someone. After making contact with a volunteer, you could just feel the positive vibes that they had and their smiles reassured it. PAGE 50