Focus on Volunteerism

Return Waitsburg resident Jillian Henze didn't think twice when she volunteered to manage communication efforts following the February 7 flooding.

WAITSBURG-The immediate volunteer response to the recent February 7 flood has been inspiring. People from different backgrounds and with a variety of skills came together to move sandbags, cook for victims and volunteers, gather donations, run heavy equipment, remove debris and mud. Jillian Henze volunteered her years of communications experience to coordinate and provide the community with updated information.

Jillian fell in love with Waitsburg when she first visited on Memorial Day Weekend in 2011 with her husband, Dane Henze.

"The minute I turned onto Main Street in Dane's truck, I was like 'where are we? This is adorable," Jillian recalled. "We were talking that night about moving here and ended up living here a couple of months later."

Jillian Henze (Beaudry), worked as a reporter and editor for the Waitsburg Times. from July 2011 to December 2012 where she spent her time getting to know the town through the job before taking a job in Walla Walla.

After three and a half years in the Walla Walla Valley, she and her husband moved to Olympia, Washington. With an interest in communications and public relations, she took advantage of the city's job opportunities in those fields. In Olympia, Henze accepted the role of communications manager for Hands On Children Museum, building her skills in communications and public relations.

"We had people from the Pacific Northwest and all over the country visit," Jillian said.

Though she enjoyed her position at the museum she knew she eventually wanted to get back to Waitsburg.

She decided to get additional experience in the food and hospitality industry, something she felt she could put to use in the Waitsburg area and took a job with the Washington Restaurant Association which merged with the Washington Lodging Association to become the Washington Hospitality Association in 2016. Currently she works in a remote position with the hospitality association, allowing her to move back to the City of Waitsburg.

"It is so much fun. The role and the industry are a wonderful fit for my family, and they have really supported every career goal I have had in communications," she said.

Jillian said that she loves coming back to Waitsburg and embracing the Henze family legacy of community and family.

When asked how she got involved with the flood relief efforts, Jillian responded, simply, "I raised my hand." While living in Olympia, Jillian volunteered with the Junior League of Olympia, a women's service organization. The Junior League trains women for leadership roles within non-profit entities and she was hoping she would have an opportunity to share her knowledge and skills in Waitsburg.

The Sunday following the flood, during a community meeting at the First Christian Church she heard her calling. As Pastor Matthew Wyatt started listing off different needs, Jillian didn't hesitate to volunteer as the communications coordinator.

"I just knew it was coming, and I raised my hand so fast," Jillian said, while laughing. "I walked away thinking 'oh my gosh, what have I gotten into,' because when I do something, I go 150 percent. It was perfect!" She knew it was the perfect role for her.

For two weeks, Jillian and her daughter, Kennedy, essentially lived at the First Christian Church. The email recipient list started growing immediately, and within a couple of days, she was emailing more than 350 people, informing them of upcoming projects, donation requests, and where to find things like cleaning supplies and food.

"I was constantly asking myself 'what is the news today, and who needs to know." Jillian said that she quickly established two primary audiences: Who needed help, and who wanted to help. She knew she had to give people direction, because well-directed volunteers are so powerful. "That's something I learned through the Junior League!"

She recalled a moment where a handful of popular local Facebook pages including My Columbia Basin and My Town Walla Walla had shared her email to their followers, and she saw an outreach of over 50,000 people.

Now that the river is back within its banks, the volunteer team has disbanded. They recognize that the help that is still needed is out of the volunteer scope of activity.

Jillian noted that some financial institutions, like Banner Bank, are offering special loans to help flood victims rebuild, and she encourages residents to start considering which contractor they would like to hire to rebuild.

Keeping people informed during a disaster is not an easy task, and it requires the right person. Jillian brought a unique set of skills to the volunteer team and worked diligently to share accurate information with the community that she has fallen in love with.

If you are needing help figuring out the next step to flood repair, Jillian can be reached at jillianhenze@gmail.com.