DSHS Stories

Welcome to DSHS Stories!

Here you can read about the how DSHS and you are making a difference in our community. In addition to some truly compelling stories, you will also find periodic Messages from the Secretary at the bottom of this page. Thank you for stopping by!

Secret admirer says, “Thank you’

Apr 17 2020

Nobody likes Mondays. But the thoughtfulness of a citizen April 6, made it better for the staff at the Okanogan Community Service Office when they found a beautiful bouquet of flowers left for them on the DSHS document drop box outside the building. We can’t think of a better way to start the week.

Deliver PPE? Yes, we can!

Apr 17 2020

When a request came in for rapid delivery of personal protective equipment for caregivers and patients in long-term care facilities and home-health care, the DSHS Leased Facilities Maintenance Operations team answered the call.

Using statewide resources (three warehouses, 20 staff, plus trucks), the team set up to deliver PPE to facilities near and far.

Every afternoon they fill orders from inventory in Tumwater and roll out to regional transfer points the next ...read more

Yahtzee

Apr 16 2020

Marcia Ellis’ mother-in-law is almost 84 years old and sitting out the Coronavirus pandemic safely at home, without visitors. Before the disease, one of Marcia and her in-law’s favorite things to do together was playing Yahtzee.

Now Marcia calls her on “speaker mode” so they can still play together.

“It keeps us in touch with a meaningful agenda,” said Ellis. “We played for an hour last night and had a great time.”

Ellis said playing the game helps them ...read more

All that and a bag of chips

Apr 16 2020

Jersey Mike’s in Bonney Lake is all that AND a bag of chips. We’re super grateful they delivered 500 gift certificates for free regular subs to our staff at the Rainier School.

#WeGotThisWA

@JerseyMikes

Doug's Car Parade

Apr 16 2020

Doug Hershey has been staying with his sister and has not been seeing his personal care providers due to COVID, so they put on a little parade for him to say hi.