Season Long named Cathlamet Woman's Club Citizen of the Year

The Cathlamet Woman’s Club has named Season Long as its 2024 Citizen of the Year, honoring her selfless dedication to the community through Wahkiakum Shoeboxes of Joy and the Community Breakfast at the Skamokawa Grange.

Season is the driving force behind Wahkiakum Shoeboxes of Joy, a heartwarming program that delivers care packages to those in need during the holidays. With a small but devoted team and a network of "elves," Season ensures that gifts of comfort and kindness reach the community’s most vulnerable. Even when a major technical glitch threatened last year’s deliveries, Season’s determination carried the project forward, ensuring no one was left behind. Now she hopes to expand the program beyond Christmas, providing support year-round.

The Community Breakfast, which began in December 2021, has also flourished under Season’s leadership. She has worked tirelessly to keep it running, often funding the costs herself alongside her husband, Jim. When challenges arose, Season found creative solutions, from securing reduced rent at the Skamokawa Grange to receiving help from a fundraising photography class. Her perseverance has turned the breakfast into a sustained, welcoming tradition for the community.

Despite the countless hours she devotes to these projects, Season remains humble. “Ultimately, this isn’t my work—it’s God’s work. I’m just His hands and feet,” she said. Still, it is Season’s leadership, compassion and determination that make these programs thrive.

The Cathlamet Woman’s Club celebrated Season with a welcome lunch at The Cottage Bread & Breakfast on March 1, where she gathered with club members and her family. She will also be honored on June 14, with a rose planting ceremony at the Julia Butler Hansen House rose garden. Season will also be honored in July during the Bald Eagle Day Parade, during which she has chosen to walk alongside supporters rather than ride in a car

In addition to these honors, Wahkiakum Shoeboxes of Joy will be added to the Citizen of the Year plaque at the Community Center, a lasting tribute to Season’s commitment to spreading kindness and strengthening community bonds.

Through her work, Season Long has built more than just programs; she has created spaces of care, connection and hope. Her dedication embodies the heart of Wahkiakum County, making her a truly deserving Citizen of the Year.