Cascade Connections

06/18/2026

Exciting News! Please join us in congratulating Amy who just landed a new position at Christ Lutheran Church, Ferndale Amy will be keeping the play area safe and welcoming by sanitizing toys. Amy also works at the Maple Bar, but she has been searching for a second job for about three years! While this new position fulfills her current employment goals, she may increase her hours and days in the future.

We are grateful for our new partnership with Christ Lutheran, who are embracing inclusive employment. Amy is their first supported employee, but they are open to supporting with other job development tasks such as job shadows and assessments.

If you own a business and are interested in learning more about inclusive employment, please check out our website: https://cascadeconnections.org/voc

06/17/2026

Tim and Larry took an exciting trip down to Seattle last week for a Seattle Mariners Game! Larry, a lover of all things sports got to spend some quality time with his brother, and consummate baseball fan, Tim!

While the Mariners didn't win this game, Tim and Larry still enjoyed all the sights and sounds of the game, including some delicious pepperoni pizza! Tim, was particularly interested in the baseball stats, and his staff acted a personal announcer relaying each batter and pitcher's records and bios. Tim had some feedback for the Mariners about how they can make their announcements more accessible and one of the helpful employees gave Tim a feedback card.

Larry, who loves New York AND baseball, was still happy to see the New York Mets win and overall the afternoon was a great success!

06/15/2026

Join us in congratulating Mekayla on her 10-year anniversary with Cascade Connections! Over the last ten years she has expanded her skill set in unexpected ways, from balancing a checkbook to developing meaningful communication skills with both colleagues and the folks we serve. Whether it's guiding someone through a moment of heightened anxiety or simply bonding through shared laughter and silly noises like a well-timed "boop," her time with us has been defined by unforgettable milestones and heartfelt connections.

Mekayla especially appreciates collaborating with her team, “All of my coworkers are strong and care so much about the individuals we serve.” When she isn't working hard at Cascade Connections, Mekayla is busy pursuing her Bachelor’s in Social Work, volunteering weekly at an animal shelter, crocheting, playing video games, and reading.

Thank you, Mekayla, for ten years of heart, humor, and unwavering commitment to making a difference every single day. We are so incredibly lucky to have you on our team!

06/11/2026

Today’s the day! We’re celebrating our employees with a delicious lunch from Tradewinds Catering Ferndale, an awesome raffle, some new Cascade swag, and a sweet treat from Sugar Shack Ice Cream Truck!

The weather is beautiful and we can’t wait to say “Thank you” to each of our amazing employees!

06/05/2026

Meet Jessica, who is celebrating 5 years with us!! "Every day at Cascade Connections is very different, which is one of the biggest reasons I have stayed," says Jessica. "I enjoy getting to do something different every day and support clients through the ups and downs." Thanks to the flexibility at CC, Jessica was even able to complete her master’s degree and travel the world while continuing her vital work. She credits her incredible coworkers for making the job so rewarding: "As a team, we are always working together to meet our client's changing needs the best we can. I enjoy that we can all bring different perspectives and ideas to situations."

Outside of work, Jessica is a passionate world traveler who loves e-biking, paddleboarding, crocheting, and catching live comedy shows. But some of her favorite moments happen right here on the clock. "Three of the clients and me on Saturday mornings would load up in one of the wheelchair vans and we would go on a drive from Lynden to Bellingham, just to get doughnuts at Lafeens Family Pride Donuts and Ice Cream," she shares. "We had a code phrase of 'maybe the doughnut fairy will come.' Once someone said that, everyone quickly knew what the morning plan was and started getting ready to go."

06/04/2026

Alex is excited about berry season (like the rest of us!) He recently made a visit to Joe's Gardens, Bellingham and picked up a strawberry plant for his balcony.

You can see after a few weeks of dedicated care, his strawberry is thriving!! As the spring turns to summer, he can't wait to add more plants to his container garden!

06/03/2026

Around here, June is Employee Appreciation Month! Did you know we have 362 employees at Cascade Connections?? To honor our incredible staff members, each June, we host an awesome luncheon, provide special treats throughout the month, and hand out Cascade Connections merch!

During the luncheon, Oh Snap! Photo Booth hosts an awesome photo booth for our teams to take photos, Tradewinds Catering Ferndale caters our delicious lunch, and Sugar Shack Ice Cream Truck brings their truck and everyone enjoys a sweet treat!

Each year, we also like to highlight the folks behind the scenes who are making it all happen! This year, we have over 100 people celebrating some pretty impressive employment milestones!

5+ Years: 54
10+ Years: 29
15+ Years: 9
20+ Years: 6
25+ Years: 2
30+ Years: 3

Stay tuned throughout the month as we shine a spotlight on the kind, compassionate, and capable people who help us realize our mission of empowering people with disabilities to enhance their quality of life.

06/01/2026

Last month, Larry and Lindsey made the most of their time at Camp TEAM! From face painting, to puzzles, to karaoke, Camp TEAM is a great time for adults of all abilities!

Camp TEAM is an awesome event hosted by Bellingham Parks and Recreation and students in the Recreation Program Western Washington University.

05/28/2026

Folks from West Lynden Supported Living enjoyed a fun-filled day at the Seattle Aquarium recently!🐠 The outing included all the highlights of the aquarium, and plenty of photo ops, too! 📸

They made the most of the beautiful weather, and Allen even got to spend some quality time with two beautiful parrots!

After everyone else finished up at the Aquarium, Seth wanted to keep exploring and explored Pike Place Market.

05/19/2026

Our Mock Interview event was a huge success thanks to folks like Michelle! Thank you SERVPRO of Whatcom County for working with us to help create opportunities for everyone!

SERVPRO’s Michelle was honored to support Cascade Connections during their Mock Interview Day!

What a joy to see the incredible work being done in our community to empower people from all walks with differing abilities and skills. Opportunities like this help build confidence, create connections, and open doors for future success — and we’re proud to be a small part of it.

At SERVPRO, community matters. Supporting organizations that make a real impact is what it’s all about. 💚🧡