Giving the gift of giving all year

“I so appreciate having grown up on a farm and learning how to work,” says Monroe native Bonnie Drake.

Bonnie’s grandparents homesteaded on Ben Howard Road in the 1890s. Her father and uncle farmed the land and each raised families of 4 children. Bonnie warmly remembers her early years with siblings and cousins in the house, most of which remain in the area and continue to be a strong part of her life. Her brother, Bud, still lives on the farm, and she is proud that it has been kept in the family.

Bonnie graduated from Monroe High School and then went to work for Grange Insurance Company in Seattle. At first she and her sister made the trip there and back once a week, staying with their grandparents in West Seattle before they had an apartment on their own.

Bonnie moved back to Monroe and employed her office skills at Byron Hardware and later at the State Reformatory. Bonnie then married Don, a soldier who was completing his tour at Fort Lewis, and the newlyweds lived in Lacey. With her experience at the Reformatory, Bonnie secured a position with the Department of Institutions in Olympia, the state agency that oversees the prison system. They moved to Enumclaw a few years later, and had two children, a son and daughter, before moving back to Monroe in 1974.

Bonnie worked in the business office of the Snoqualmie Valley School District in Carnation, now known as the Riverview District, until she retired in 1992.

This Sky Valley Star began her community service career while still working for the school district. She worked at the Pass Booth at the Evergreen State Fair Grounds, which handled reservations for RVs, tickets vendors and groups like the 4-H and FFA, and in the early years, even the fair’s entertainment. When asked what inspired her to become a volunteer, Bonnie gives credit to her mother, who spent many hours lending a helping hand at Valley General Hospital.

“Mom loved it,” she said.

And Bonnie has followed in her mother’s footsteps in a big way, and folks in this community benefit from her generous and capable contributions every week.

Bonnie confides that the most rewarding of her activities is as an AARP Tax Counselor. Each year, she is required to take a class and pass a test regarding tax law from the IRS, and this year she also is being trained in new software that is used to calculate taxes for those who come to the East County Senior Center for assistance.

In recognition of her 20 years of excellence as a counselor, Bonnie received the Jan Cooper Certificate of Appreciation Award from AARP for outstanding service in April.

Bonnie says that 80 percent of her clients are returning and have become friends. She says seniors often are afraid they will make a mistake and get in trouble with the IRS. She is happy to answer their questions and calm their fears. Bonnie recalls a man who at first was reluctant to provide the needed information that would enable her to assist him. Over the years, he developed trust and is now what she calls a tax buddy. She describes this volunteer experience as stimulating and highly rewarding, and recommends it to anyone with the time and inclination.

Bonnie also contributes several hours a week at the Monroe branch of the Sno-Isle Library, where she shelves books and assists in fulfilling the “pull router,” which includes materials that have been requested by other libraries in the system.

For the East County Senior Center, Bonnie volunteers a few hours a week preparing for Tuesday and Thursday Bingo sessions, helping out in the kitchen for special events and waitressing at the monthly pancake breakfast. She is a highly valued member of the volunteer team.

Bonnie and her extended family have been members of the Tualco Grange for over 50 years. She helps with the grange exhibit at the fair and, along with other members, hangs the American flags up and down Main and Lewis streets for celebrating national holidays.

 About six years ago, a friend called with a plea for help at the Snohomish Food Bank. Bonnie responded and has been assisting with the bookwork and making bank deposits for the organization ever since.

In addition to all this, Bonnie and her sister, Betty, distribute the weekly newsletters to teachers’ boxes at Frylands Elementary School to be disseminated to students.

What advice does this dedicated volunteer offer?

“Try it, it is a great alternative to doing housework,” she says.

Start slow, pace yourself and learn how to say “no,” as it is easy to become overly involved. The rewards are great and worth the investment of time and energy.

Bonnie will be spending the holidays this year on the island of St. Croix in the Caribbean, where she will attend her grandson’s wedding. What an adventure! Have a great trip, and don’t forget the sunscreen.