Community is a strong word. Your friends, family, acquaintances, neighbors, the people who go to your high school, the people who live in your town. The city of Puyallup is a historic town, created in 1877 by our first mayor Ezra Meeker. It is easy to say community loosely on a daily basis, but in reality, Puyallup has a strong interconnected community. The reason this town has been able to not only survive, but thrive for nearly 150 years is because of the support of our community. That’s why we believe it is crucial for our community to continue to support each other.
Anyone who has lived in Puyallup knows about the Farmer’s Market in Pioneer Park that happen every Saturday from April until October. The market is a great way to not only get fresh goods and arts, but also support the local businesses around the area. Checking out the local restaurants and shops around downtown Puyallup can show small businesses owners that you care about what they do. It is through our support that these businesses can continue to thrive, allowing business owners to follow their passions. It is our hope that Puyallup can be a town where we support the passions of our local businesses to keep them alive and well.
Secondly, volunteering to support the community is an essential component of being a citizen. Although people live busy lives and usually don’t have a lot of time outside of work and their social lives, volunteering can really help those who need it. We can often take for granted what we have, not everyone is as fortunate as we are. Taking a little time out of our day, every once in a while, to stop in and help others isn’t as hard as it seems. Showing up and doing community service for an organization who helps those in need can be self fulfilling, but more importantly it assists others. By elevating others, we elevate ourselves. Showing support to volunteer organizations can have a huge impact on the strength of our community. We believe it is important for people to be involved in community service wherever they can, as it creates a better space for everyone in this town.
Some may argue that there is no real benefit to supporting the community. They believe that going out and volunteering your time, supporting the local businesses or voting for the bond to support the schools really has no personal reward or significance. ‘What’s in it for me?’ they ask. ‘I don’t have the time,’ they say. To that we say: you are not the only resident of this town; there are more than 40,000 people that call this place home. Puyallup is bigger than any of us. By supporting the community, you are contributing to something bigger than yourself. You are leaving a legacy behind of making things better than you found it. If we continue this trend of helping others and supporting everyone, this place will only get better as time goes on.
Finally, we believe education is a crucial part of growing up. Learning new skills on how to enter society and continue the rest of your life, but these schools are aging fast. Puyallup High School has a history of facilities not working properly and shutting buildings down. Without a safe space to learn, how can we learn? By not voting yes now, the buildings are still going to need repair at some point in the near future or face closure. We are firm believers of voting yes on Proposition 1, which would pass the bond. Many complain about property taxes going up because of the bond, but that isn’t the case this time. Property taxes stay exactly the same, and only positive things can come of this bond. If we wait to support schools, that cost will go up in the future. There’s nothing that should stop you from doing your civil duty of voting.
Think about it, what’s holding you back from helping others and supporting the community? Go out and do what’s right. Go the Farmer’s Market. Go eat at a local restaurant. Go shop at a small business. Go volunteer some of your time at a soup kitchen. Go out to the polls and vote for the schools. Go help the community.
