Newsletter Articles

At 85 years old, one veteran came to CORD looking for something most of us might take for granted: a place to get back on his feet and the chance to live his remaining years in peace and quiet. His journey into homelessness wasn't the result of one bad decision. In fact, there is rarely one reason a veteran becomes homeless. Kerry McEwen “It’s a person-centered program because everybody comes from a different background,” said Kerry McEwen, Program Manager for CORD, Valley Re

After nearly 48 years with Valley Residential Services, it would be easy to measure Nancy’s career in numbers. Years worked. Programs developed. Homes opened. Staff hired. People served. But that isn’t how Nancy measures it. For her, it has always been about the people. Over the decades, Nancy has watched individuals come to VRS and grow in ways that sometimes even they may not have imagined. She has watched people gain independence, develop friendships, learn new skills and

When Isaiah came to Valley Residential Services in February 2021, he was 21 years old and had already experienced more than most people should in a lifetime. Isaiah has a rare form of cerebral palsy and is also autistic. He had graduated from College Place High School during COVID, when many of the services and supports normally available to help a young person transition out of school were disrupted or simply unavailable. His life before VRS had also included significant neg

Another incredible year at Camp Kiwanis is in the books! We hope everyone had an amazing time. Over the course of three fun-filled days, campers enjoyed making their own tie-dye shirts, getting temporary tattoos, swimming in the sun, painting nature themed boards, tons of yard games, best selection of music playing throughout the day, and so much more. Of course, we can't forget the food! We made sure every attendee was well-fed, and we received so many compliments on the del

Do you remember Kayla and her coloring book? Earlier this year, Kayla published her own coloring book with the help of the Valley Residential Services staff, all with one big goal in mind: to earn enough money to buy a puppy. Thanks to the incredible support from our community, her first printing completely sold out! We're excited to share that her coloring book is now back in stock in a new, larger format that's even easier and more enjoyable to color. But the biggest news o

Ask Nancy Riggle what she's most proud of after nearly five decades at Valley Residential Services, and you won't hear her talk about buildings, budgets, or awards. She'll talk about people. She'll tell you about someone who learned to live independently after years of being told they never could. She'll remember a family who finally found hope during one of the hardest times in their lives. She'll smile as she talks about a veteran who found stability, purpose, and a fresh s

Before you toss your aluminum cans in the recycling bin, please consider donating them to Valley Residential Services! Our clients collect, crush, and recycle the cans themselves. It's more than just a recycling program, it's an opportunity to be productive, earn extra spending money, build confidence, and experience the pride that comes from working toward a goal. The money they earn helps fill financial gaps for things they enjoy or need, while the work itself provides a se

For many people, Valley Residential Services is a name they may have heard, but not fully understood. That's not surprising. For much of its history, VRS has been what Nancy Riggle affectionately calls "one of Walla Walla's best-kept secrets." While the organization has grown into one of the county's largest employers, much of the work happens quietly, behind the scenes, in homes, apartments, offices, hospitals, schools, and countless community settings. And that's exactly wh

When Roshawn came to Valley Residential Services more than 20 years ago, she carried with her a lifetime of challenges. Removed from an abusive home as a young child, she spent much of her childhood in foster care and experienced significant trauma. Along with autism, PTSD, hip dysplasia, and other developmental and behavioral challenges, Rashon struggled with self-injurious behaviors and emotional regulation. In her early years at VRS, staff worked tirelessly to keep her saf

When people think about Valley Residential Services, they often think about the individuals we support in our residential programs. What many don't realize is that VRS also works with families throughout Eastern Washington, helping parents navigate some of life's most difficult challenges. For Lindy Tibbling, Family Support Therapist with VRS, no two days are ever the same. "My favorite part of the job is the clients," she says. "Everything is different. The needs are unique,

Valley Residential Services recently received difficult news: there will be no increase in state funding for the services we provide. At first glance, that may not sound alarming. But for organizations like VRS, it creates a significant challenge. The cost of doing business continues to rise. Utilities increase. Insurance increases. Food costs increase. Vehicle expenses increase. Employee wages must remain competitive in order to recruit and retain quality staff. Yet the fund

As we take a brief pause from sharing Nancy’s life story, we wanted to ask a question that helps explain so much of who she is: Why has community service always been so important to you? “Honestly, it started with how I was raised. I grew up in a family where community service wasn’t something extra—it was just part of life.” Nancy shares that her parents believed deeply in giving back and in opening their home and hearts to others. Growing up, her family welcomed people from

For Connor, advocacy didn’t begin in a meeting room or on a council board. It began with his own life experience. Connor was born with Cerebral Palsy and is blind. From an early age, he learned how to navigate a world that wasn’t always built with accessibility in mind. But those challenges never defined what he believed was possible for his future. He attended Dayton High School, where he completed his education while beginning to think about what independence would look lik

We are incredibly grateful to Walmart College Place for awarding our program a generous $1,000 community grant. Support like this creates meaningful opportunities for the individuals we serve and helps us continue offering programs that build confidence, independence, and connection. This funding will help support our weekly cooking and craft classes, which are open to individuals with disabilities ages 14 and up throughout our community. These classes provide more than just

For nearly five years, Joe Zarate has grown through the ranks at Valley Residential Services, starting as a Direct Support Professional (DSP), working at the front desk, managing client financial reconciliation, coordinating activities, and now serving as both Program Manager and Activities Director. Today, he oversees three residential homes, supports staff, manages client plans and assessments, and helps create experiences that many individuals served by VRS might not other

We are incredibly grateful to the Port of Walla Walla for recently awarding Dancing with the W2 Stars a $2,000 grant to help promote this year’s event on October 10. This funding will directly support our regional marketing efforts as we work to grow attendance and bring even more visitors into the Walla Walla Valley for this signature community event. Grant funds will be used for targeted advertising, digital and print promotional materials, social media outreach, and expand

Aluminum Can Drive for Valley Residential Services Most of the individuals we serve live on an average of just $986 per month from Social Security Disability, along with about $177 in SNAP benefits. As you can imagine, that doesn’t leave much room for anything extra, many are simply scraping by. Some of our clients collect aluminum cans to earn a little extra cash. It may seem small, but it makes a real difference. You can help. Instead of tossing your cans into recycling, se

Part 3: The Reality Behind the Numbers Over the years, Valley Residential Services has survived—and grown—because of creativity, discipline, and an unwavering commitment to doing the right thing. In the early days, funding was limited, but wages were often well above minimum wage. Residential work was not viewed as an entry-level position. It was seen as skilled, important work. As a result, the organization was able to attract employees with strong experience and a deep sens

The journey to the coveted mirror ball trophy has officially begun! Our 2026 dancers have been announced, and they are already hard at work raising funds and preparing for their big moment on stage. Please join us in welcoming this incredible group to the W2 Stars team: Rob Jackson, Kim Scrima, Josh Reyes, Gina Hartzheim, Chris Price, Melissa Stroe, Ryan Konen, and Tristyne Brindle. This year’s event will take place on October 10th at Cordiner Hall on the Whitman College camp

For Noelia , family doesn’t look the way it does for most people. There are no regular visits, no holiday gatherings, no familiar voices calling just to check in. But that doesn’t mean she is without family. At Valley Residential Services, Noelia has found her people . Noelia has spent her entire life in supported living, starting in another facility. She lives with spastic cerebral palsy and is nonverbal, relying entirely on caregivers for every aspect of her daily life—fr