CLARKSTON, WA – Two Clarkston-based volunteer efforts have earned state-level recognition as recipients of the 2025 Washington State Volunteer Service Awards, presented by Serve Washington in conjunction with Global Volunteer Month this April.

The Girl Scouts of Eastern Washington and local volunteer Eugene Stines were both selected as honorees representing the Southeast Region of Washington, which includes Asotin, Columbia, Garfield, Whitman and Adams counties. Serve Washington issued a total of 18 awards statewide to individuals, groups and organizations that have made a lasting impact through service.

The Girl Scouts of Clarkston Service Unit, part of Girl Scouts of Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho, received the award for outstanding volunteer group or program. The service unit includes around 130 members and is being recognized for its efforts to support deployed U.S. military troops. Through their annual cookie fundraiser, the Girl Scouts offered patrons the option to buy extra boxes for donation. In 2024 alone, they successfully sent 3,500 boxes of cookies to troops stationed overseas, including those in Korea and Poland, supporting U.S. operations near Ukraine.

The idea originated from a conversation with Girl Scouts CEO Brian Newberry, a former U.S. Air Force pilot, who once received a box of Thin Mints during a deployment.

“I was out there on the front lines in 2012, and some Thin Mint Cookies arrived in a care package, and that made all the difference in the world,” Newberry said. “It means a lot to me as a veteran.”

The Clarkston scouts also donated cookies to firefighters battling wildfires in Asotin County and other areas of Eastern Washington last year.

Read more about the Girl Scouts of Clarkston Service Unit award:
https://servewashington.galaxydigital.com/blog/display/wsvsa-2025-winner-girl-scouts-of-clarkston-service-unit/?blog_id=28527

Eugene Stines, a retired heavy equipment operator in his 80s, received an individual volunteer award. Stines serves as a Senior Companion through the Washington-Idaho Volunteer Center, offering friendship and support to eight senior clients in the Clarkston area who have little to no outside assistance. In 2024, he volunteered 1,374 hours, providing transportation and helping clients remain independent.

“I realized that I am helping people who are less fortunate than I am,” Stines said. “It makes me feel good I have something to do. I’m helping them, and they are helping me by keeping me busy, and I feel good about myself.”

Read more about Eugene Stines’ award:
https://servewashington.galaxydigital.com/blog/display/wsvsa-2025-winner-gene-stines/?blog_id=28530

Serve Washington Executive Director Trish Almond praised this year’s honorees, stating, “Volunteerism is often a driving force of community resilience. Through these awards we honor those who embody the spirit of service, create meaningful connections and address critical issues facing our diverse communities.”

The announcement comes as new data from AmeriCorps shows Washingtonians volunteer at higher rates than most other states. Between September 2022 and September 2023, 32.8% of residents engaged in formal volunteering, compared to the national average of 28.3%. The state also saw an 8 percentage point increase in volunteering since 2021.

For more information about the Washington State Volunteer Service Awards and ways to get involved:

• Washington State Volunteer Service Awards page: https://servewashington.galaxydigital.com/volunteer-service-awards