PORT ANGELES — The United Way of Clallam County has moved to a new office to provide easier access to board members, staff and the public.
Staff members moved to the new quarters at 1601 E. Front St. on Friday.
For years, the United Way had rented offices at 102½ E. First St., said Jo Johnston, board president.
The second-floor office space overlooked the town’s Conrad Dyar Memorial Fountain, and Johnston said it was great to be in the middle of so much that happens in downtown Port Angeles.
There was one major drawback:
no elevator.
Not having an elevator meant that several Clallam United Way board members could not attend meetings at the office.
After several staffers had knee surgery, the board realized they had to think about better handicapped access.
“At this point . . . it was not working for us,” Johnston said.
The agency, which channels charity funds to many local partner nonprofits serving Clallam County and its residents, was also looking for “an opportunity to be more visible,” she said.
The new office is a one-floor space, said Johnston, and handicapped access will be less of an issue.
While the rental cost will be about the same, the new office has a large conference room for United Way meetings, Johnston said.
Organization officials are looking forward to making that room available to its partner agencies for their meetings or activities.
Johnston said having a first-floor office also will raise United Way’s visibility and increase the chances that local residents will stop by and volunteer.
The new office is considerably bigger, said Johnston. Several staffers who used to share a small 10-foot-by-12-foot office will now have their own spaces.
The Clallam County Public Utility District and Pacific Office Equipment both donated new furniture, said Johnston, reducing the amount that had to be moved.
The staff was grateful and excited, she said.
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Assistant Managing Editor Mark Swanson can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5054, or mswanson@peninsuladailynews.com.
