One of Enumclaw’s best known social service agencies, Plateau Outreach Ministries, will celebrate its move to a new location July 10 with an appreciation event recognizing the individuals and businesses that helped make its new home a reality.

“The move into the building is only the first step,” said Kimberly Fish, POM director. “There is so much we need to do to adapt the building to the needs of our clients, but there is much to celebrate.”

POM has always rented space and dealt with the limitations of someone else’s building.

“Thanks to the generosity of this community, its churches, its businesses and its people, we are now on the way to owning our own building, an accomplishment that will lower our operating costs and improve our services,” Fish said.

The celebration will run from 10 a.m. until noon July 10 in the large yellow building at 1806 Cole St. Cub Scouts, POM staff and volunteers will move the final items from its current location at 1749 Cole St. across the street shortly before the celebration. Between 10 and noon staff and volunteers will give tours of the new building.

In addition to moving its thrift store, More Pennies From Heaven, and its food bank, POM is also moving the heart of its operation, the Samaritan Project, which provides vouchers for rent, emergency shelter and power/utilities bills as well as medical prescriptions for those in need. Case management and referrals to counseling services are also provided. The Samaritan Project aids those living in Enumclaw, Buckley, Black Diamond, Carbonado, South Prairie and Wilkeson regardless of religion, race or national origin. The thrift store and food bank are open to all.

Fish said those touring the building will find the thrift store is close to finished, while a great deal of work remains in the food bank and Samaritan offices.

“We’ve invested many of our early donations into a new floor and ceiling for the store because it is so public and helps generate income for our other services,” Fish said. “When you see the other areas, you will appreciate how much work we still need to do.

“We have already received donations for a lift to move food into the food bank, a shower in our handicapped accessible bathroom and an industrial clothes washer and dryer for Samaritan Project clients,” Fish added. “But there are still some pretty basic things we need to do around walls and floors before we install them.”

POM was able to make the renovations due to of help of local churches, service organizations and businesses who made in-kind donations. Those that tour the building will see signage recognizing those who donated labor, material or funds.

One benefit of the new building is that it is all on one floor, eliminating the need for the food bank and thrift store to share space. Having a permanent, designated store and food bank area will allow POM to accept donations to the store throughout the week. Perhaps most important, Samaritan Project clients will no longer have to tackle a steep flight of stairs to meet with volunteers.