a chance to spend the day working side-by-side giving their time to something that matters. “There are a lot of people who aren’t as fortunate, so it’s kind of a nobrainer, really,” Carey said.
The Windermere team invested in Spokane Valley Partners at a recent Community Service Day
WINDERMERE
COMMUNITY IS AT THE HEART OF THIS MISSION On Friday, June 5, the door to the Windermere Liberty Lake office will be uncharacteristically locked. No drop ins, no client meetings, no home showings — just community. Every year, Windermere closes its offices for one day to help make a difference in local communities. The Community Service Day tradition reflects Windermere’s spirit of commitment to the areas where the Windermere teams live, work and play. On this day, all offices in Spokane County — and over 350 offices and 6,500 agents networkwide — will close in order to team up and tackle a project in the community to help others. A recent beneficiary of Windermere’s Community Service day was Spokane Valley Partners, where more than 100 local Windermere agents, crew members and owners descended for a day to paint, clean, do yard work, build and deliver donations. “We were there all day, and the transformation was remarkable,” said Brooke Carey, Managing Broker and Branch Manager of Windermere Liberty Lake. While financial donations are also a big part of Windermere’s philosophy, Carey loves how the tradition allows everyone from office staff, to brandnew Realtors, to successful agents
Carey said it’s also gratifying that a portion of every Windermere sales transaction is contributed to the Windermere Foundation to invest back into the community. In 2019, the local Windermere offices donated $41,000 to 10 different organizations. Carey said a significant portion of that total, $12,000, went toward new boots, gloves, shoes and socks for more than 250 low-income students selected by area school counselors. This was made possible through a partnership with Big 5 Sporting Goods in Spokane Valley. Additionally, the annual Windermere Marathon — which starts at Rocky Hill Park in Liberty Lake — raised an additional $5,000 for the Windermere Foundation to put into the community. “There are so many communities and organizations that need our help,” Carey said. “In partnership with the connections we have in our community, we are committed to help wherever we can.” Editor’s note: At press time, the planned dates for the 2020 Community Service Day and Windermere Marathon were subject to change due to COVID-19. Visit windermerelibertylake.com or see ad on page 25 for more.
Best of Spokane
SEVEN YEARS IN A ROW
STOR-A-WAY STORAGE
CELEBRATING A LONG HERITAGE OF SERVICE
Some of the customers at Stor-aWay Self Storage in Otis Orchards first reserved units when Ron Woods developed the property in the 1990s. From traditional storage to RV and boat parking to commercial units, many of the faces that pass through the security gates each day are familiar ones. As is the team that runs the operation. The core has seen little turnover over the years, starting with owner Randy Lentes, who purchased the business in 1998. Resident managers Kimberlee and Bob Soule have run the business since 2015, replacing managers George and Diane Hattell, who operated the facility from 2003 to 2015 before George’s death. In George’s honor, Stor-a-Way started holding “George Sales” each year, Fridays and Saturdays set aside for storage unit owners and members of the community to sell Story continued on page 28
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Liberty Lake 2020 27