Local nonprofit reports growth in school mental-health services and senior meal deliveries

Tammy Verhus, who identified herself as interim executive director of the Rainier Foothills Wellness Foundation, told Eden Plus City Council that the foundation has expanded mental-health services and senior meal deliveries.

Verhus said the foundation has served a total of 82 students: 62 at Enumclaw High School, nine at Enumclaw Middle School and 11 at Thunder Mountain, and that six EHS students 'graduated from therapy.' She reported the foundation tracks a behavioral incident metric (she stated figures of 0.69 in 2025 and 1.016 in 2026 and described this as a 32% improvement in incidents) and said the average GPA among the cohort rose 'about 1.25%.'

On senior services, Verhus said the foundation currently serves about 66 seniors, with more than 80 served year-to-date, delivers six meals weekly via three deliveries, prepares roughly 400 meals from scratch each week and has about 87 volunteers who shop, prep, cook and deliver.

Verhus thanked the council and staff for support and invited follow-up questions to Sarah Stratton (the departed director), herself or others at the foundation.

The presentation was part of the council's regular business and drew no formal action; council members acknowledged the report and moved on to the night's agenda.