Citizen of the Week

Gretchen Wilson helps Valley stay healthy

Gretchen Wilson, who volunteers for Mount Si Senior Center, the Snoqualmie Valley Hospital Auxiliary, and North Bend Elementary School, is the Valley Record’s latest Citizen of the Week.

As a coordinator for the Meals on Wheels program, Wilson has gone to great lengths to help get healthy food to Valley residents who are physically unable to prepare meals for themselves.

“She comes in during snowstorms to make sure orders get taken. She takes a personal interest in each of the clients and goes above and beyond for them,” said Mount Si Senior Center director Ruth Tolmasoff.

Wilson also leads the senior center’s “Huff and Puff” exercise class three mornings a week to help retirees stay physically and socially active. She helps participants, who are in their 60s, 70s and 80s, tailor their program to their needs and abilities.

“Everybody can get a good workout. Everybody that comes says they’re so glad they’re doing it,” Wilson said, adding that the close-knit group of 20 or so seniors usually meets for coffee and conversation after class.

As a member of the senior center’s board of directors, Wilson works on a variety of fund-raisers and projects.

“It’s just like a house; there are things that have to be taken care of,” Wilson said.

“Gretchen’s willing to tackle any kind of project, and is totally dependable. She has a lot of enthusiasm and good ideas,” Tolmasoff said.

As publicity co-chair for the Snoqualmie Valley Hospital Auxiliary, Wilson is currently working on the group’s annual May plant sale and garden cart raffle. Proceeds will fund a $1,000 scholarship for a Mount Si High School graduating senior who plans to work in the medical field.

A former employee of the Department of Interior in Nevada, Wilson moved to North Bend after retiring to be closer to her two children and three grandchildren. Her youngest grandchild, Sam, is in the third grade at North Bend Elementary, where Wilson has volunteered to sort and shelve more than 125,000 library books since 2001.

• Do you know Valley residents who deserve recognition for their good work? Nominate them for Citizen of the Week, an award co-sponsored by the Valley Record and Replicator Graphics. Send your ideas to editor@valleyrecord.com.

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