For more than five decades, Homage has quietly worked behind the scenes across Snohomish County, helping older adults remain safe, healthy, and connected in the communities they call home. The nonprofit, which has served the region for more than 52 years, provides far more than traditional senior services. From Meals on Wheels deliveries and transportation assistance to caregiver support and home repairs, Homage has become what staff describe as a “lifeline” for many older adults navigating aging, isolation, and limited resources. “Everyone is very much connected to this community and to the people that are living throughout Snohomish County,” said Allison Cales, Individual and Corporate Giving Officer with Homage. “We’re able to see the major needs in the community and understand the people who might not know how to ask for assistance in a time of need.”

That community-centered mission was on full display April 25th when Homage became a featured beneficiary at the Mill Creek Rotary Auction at Mill Creek Country Club — the first time the organization had been integrated into the annual fundraising event. The evening blended philanthropy with excitement. Auction items ranged from trips to Montana and Hawaii to handcrafted gifts and themed baskets, but one of the biggest moments came during the Raise the Paddle segment, where attendees could donate anywhere from $25 to $2,500 or more. The room responded enthusiastically. “Everybody was just raising their paddles up and the whole room was participating and excited,” Cales said. “It kind of made a game out of it. So that was really great.”

The Raise the Paddle portion alone brought in more than $47,000, with proceeds split between Homage and the Mill Creek Rotary Club Scholarship Program. Homage expects to receive roughly $24,000 or more, with funds supporting the organization’s Minor Home Repair Program. “Homage is honored to have been chosen as the beneficiary. Thank you to everyone who participated in the auction for supporting the work we do. You clearly care about our community, and we are deeply grateful for your generosity, your partnership, and your commitment to helping our neighbors thrive,” said Senior Director of Programs, Juli Rose, of the generous gift.

For Homage leaders, however, the event represented more than fundraising. “It was a really great opportunity to be in the room and to let people in the Mill Creek community learn about Homage,” Cales said. During the auction, Rose shared stories illustrating the realities many older adults face — stories that moved attendees beyond statistics. One story centered on a woman in her late 70s who lived alone in a 48-year-old mobile home with limited English skills and no nearby support network. After her toilet broke, she spent roughly 10 days using a bucket lined with a plastic bag because she couldn’t afford repairs. “She had been using a bucket for several weeks,” Cales said. "We forget that everyday things like a working toilet are really big things when they don't work at all." Homage replaced the toilet the next morning at no cost.

The story reflects a broader reality. Nearly 70% of Homage’s home repair clients live in aging mobile homes, most of which are more than 45 years old. Many survive on less than $1,900 per month. Roughly 73% of clients in the repair program are women living alone. Today, Homage serves older adults and underserved residents through five core service areas: health and wellness, food and nutrition, transportation, social services, and minor home repair. Programs include door-to-door transportation, free mental health counseling, caregiver support, multicultural senior programs, volunteer companionship programs, and home modifications that help seniors safely age in place.

The organization is also expanding. Homage recently received a federal grant supporting dementia services, including memory cafés and caregiver resources, and plans to host a multicultural senior event this summer celebrating diverse communities through performances and activities. Leaders also hope to eventually purchase a large facility with expanded storage space and a commercial kitchen to increase meal choices and reduce meal expenses. Partnerships will remain central to that growth. “We’re always looking for more connections and partnerships,” Cales said. “Every dollar really does count to just being able to provide more services to people.”

For Homage, the Rotary auction may have raised money — but perhaps more importantly, it raised awareness that many older adults in Snohomish County still need neighbors willing to notice, connect and help.