04/14/2026
IN CASE YOU'RE WONDERING WHAT WE DO...
Kaleidoscope Community Services (KCS) serves elderly neighbors in need in the upper Kittitas County area by providing pro bono home repairs related to safety and mobility issues in their homes. We provide these direct services using registered volunteers and paid employees enrolled in our employment stabilization and work training program.
In 2025, KCS helped over 50 elderly persons with a variety of projects including handicapped ramp construction, deck and step repairs, grab bar and smoke detector installations, floor repairs, plumbing repairs, house cleaning, yard work, snowplowing, car repairs, and transportation to a variety of appointments. This work was completed through over 200 hours of volunteer time as well as over 200 hours of paid time by our work training program enrollees.
Also in 2025, KCS completed about 15 projects for full-pay customers doing home improvements and repairs, landscaping, property maintenance, house clean outs and estate sales.
KCS also operates a work services training program. This program is designed to employ and train persons experiencing employment barriers as a result of former bad choices, lack of work experience and/or negative employment history, lack of drivers licensure, or current state of homelessness.
We meet potential candidates through county programs and other community partners who are assisting persons who are committed to rebuilding their lives through various community recovery and diversion programs. Potential candidates go through our screening process which includes a background check, an extensive application, and a series of personal interviews. Successful applicants are enrolled in our program where they receive a weekly paycheck at a living wage based on hours worked, mentoring and job skill training, and assistance with working through various barriers like getting a driver's license, securing transportation, securing housing, and financial budgeting.
The goal of this program is to help program participants to stabilize their lives while earning a living wage, (while doing purposeful work helping elderly neighbors in need), and to assist them in finding better employment once they are ready. In 2025 KCS had four persons actively enrolled in this program. Since we started this program in 2019 (in North Idaho), we have graduated over 25 persons through this program with over 20 persons continuing to maintain sustainable employment, keeping up with their bills, and making healthy life choices.
If you have any question, or want to get involved with our volunteer network, please reach out to Gar Mickelson at 208.699.2250. Also, we invite you to explore our website at
Kaleidoscope Community Services exists to serve the local community of Upper Kittitas County by helping to bridge the gap between community needs and resources.
