Partner Spotlight: Methow At Home

Jun 4

Belonging at Every Stage of Life

When we think about healthy aging, we often think first about physical health or access to healthcare. And while those things matter, one of the most important parts of wellbeing is often overlooked: feeling connected to the people and community around us. Having places where we feel welcomed, valued, and supported plays a major role in helping people live healthy, meaningful lives as they age.

That understanding is what drives the work of Methow At Home, a nonprofit organization in the Methow Valley that is helping older adults stay connected, supported, and engaged in the community they call home.

Building Community Through Connection

In rural communities, aging at home can become difficult when services are limited or spread far apart. Methow At Home works to bridge those gaps through volunteer-powered support services, educational programming, social groups, transportation assistance, and community events designed to help people stay connected to one another.

But what makes their work stand out is that connection is not treated as an extra benefit. It is woven into everything they do.

“We take social programming seriously because we know that when people feel welcomed and invited to participate, it becomes a meaningful part of helping them live vibrantly.”

-Donna Baillie, Education and Social Connections Manager at Methow At Home.

Whether it’s a dementia support program, a picnic in the park, or a workshop about advance care planning, the organization intentionally creates space for people to gather, slow down, and build relationships alongside learning.

The Power of Multi-Solving

The Vital Conditions Framework recognizes that wellbeing is shaped by many interconnected parts of community life. Because of that, some of the strongest solutions are the ones that meet multiple needs at once. This idea is known as multi-solving.

Methow At Home brings this idea to life through many of its programs. One example is their volunteer led strength and balance classes that are held weekly at a variety of venues throughout the Valley. While the classes are designed to help participants stay active and support their physical health, they have also become a space for connection and friendship.

Over time, it has grown into a supportive community where people check in on one another, build routines together, and form meaningful relationships along the way. What began as an exercise class has also become a place of belonging.

Better Together: Collaborating Across Sectors

Just as Methow At Home embraces multi-solving, they also recognize that building a thriving community requires ongoing collaboration. They actively partner with organizations throughout the Methow Valley to expand opportunities, reach more people, and strengthen the network of support available to older adults.

“We really value all of the different agencies and organizations here in the valley and the support that everyone provides to each other,” said Donna.

Their weekly Tech Café is a great example. The program was launched with support from NCW Tech Alliance and is hosted at the Winthrop Library, providing community members with a welcoming space to receive one-on-one technology support. What started as a practical service has also helped strengthen relationships between local organizations. Methow At Home has since become more involved with the Library, and the two organizations now regularly cross-promote each other's events, helping more residents discover opportunities to learn, connect, and get involved in the community.

Collaborations like the Tech Café are just one piece of a much larger network of partnerships. Methow At Home regularly works alongside a variety of organizations to advance their mission, including the Methow Valley School District and Western Washington University's Sustainability Pathways program.

These partnerships have created meaningful opportunities for people of all ages to connect and contribute. For example, local high school students can earn volunteer credit by helping older adults with yard work and other related projects. In another partnership, a student interested in pursuing a career in mechanics organized a pop-up car clinic where older adults were invited to receive a free 20-point vehicle inspection. The event created benefits on both sides, giving the student real-world experience while providing older adults with a valuable service and the opportunity to connect with a young person engaged in their passion.

These efforts not only provide practical support but also create opportunities for relationships and understanding to grow across generations.

Creating Meaningful Opportunities to Contribute

Another important part of belonging is having opportunities to contribute. Methow At Home has built a large volunteer network that allows community members to support one another in meaningful ways. Volunteers help with transportation to medical appointments, technology assistance, social programming, household tasks, and more.

For many people, volunteering becomes just as meaningful as receiving support.

“I really think one of the key things we’re doing to help people age well is creating meaningful volunteer opportunities,” Donna shared. “Many of our members who sign up and join the organization to receive services also find a way that they can give back and contribute as volunteers.”

This kind of reciprocal care helps create stronger and more resilient communities. People are not simply recipients of services but are also active participants in community life.

Expanding the Work Through the Vital Conditions Grant

Funding from Thriving Together NCW’s 2025 Vital Conditions Grant is helping Methow At Home strengthen and expand this work even further through the development of their new Community of Care Project.

The project will help prepare and train volunteers across several areas of support, including dementia support, help at home, and social respite care. Grant funding will also support improved outreach, care coordination, volunteer mobilization, technology infrastructure, and access to supplies that help older adults remain safely connected and supported at home.

“The Vital Conditions grant funding has allowed Methow At Home to formally structure and innovate the synergy of our individual programs, strengthening our overall impact for the families we serve. It has accelerated the development of our Community of Care model while deepening partnerships locally and regionally. An unexpected gift has been the peer learning cohort of fellow grantees, whose shared insight and collaboration have become an invaluable source of momentum and inspiration for our work.”

- Salyna Gracie, Executive Director at Methow At Home

Their work reflects exactly what the Vital Conditions Grant was designed to support: collaborative, upstream efforts that strengthen the conditions people need to thrive. By investing in connection, dignity, volunteerism, and community care now, Methow At Home is helping create a future where more people can continue living meaningful, connected lives in the communities they love.

Get Involved

Methow At Home offers many free events and programs throughout the month that are open to the community regardless of membership status. From social gatherings and educational workshops to exercise classes and peer-led groups, there are many easy and welcoming ways to get involved.

As Donna often says, “Bring a friend, make a new one.”

You can learn more about upcoming events, programs, and volunteer opportunities by visiting Methow At Home’s website or joining their email list.

We’re also excited to have Donna join us as a presenter during Thriving Together NCW’s June Learning Session on the 18th, which will focus on belonging and community connection across North Central Washington. Her perspective and stories will help us explore what it looks like to intentionally build communities where people feel supported, connected, and valued.

Morgan Eastman