MORNINGSIDE'S HISTORY

    1963
    Morningside was incorporated June 11, 1963. At that time we were called The Lower Puget Sound Development Center. The company was started in the basement of the First Baptist Church by a group of courageous parents looking for meaningful programs for their sons and daughters with disabilities. This was at a time when there were few choices available in the community and the alternative was placement in a state institution.

    1964
    Four local organizations providing services to adults with disabilities met and decided to merge into one company – Lower Puget Sound Development Center, ARC (Association of Retarded Children), UCP (United Cerebral Palsy) and the Society of Crippled Children – and chose to call this new company Morningside.

    1966
    Needing more space, the new company moved to North Rogers Street. At that time the agency had 3 staff, 28 participants, and a budget of $14,000. The following year a gift shop was opened in downtown Olympia selling patchwork quilts and hooked rugs. Hand loomed napkins and ceramic items produced in our Arts and Crafts department along with our famous laminated gift card place mats were also sold there. The store also accepted consignment items from local crafters. 

    1969
    Mr. Taylor Bishop generously donated 10 acres of westside Olympia land to Morningside in honor of his wife, Ethel. The next year we broke ground for the Main Center.

    1972
    The Main Center building was dedicated in a ceremony attended by the Governor and a representative from Washington DC. Janette Loutzenhiser, our first Executive Director, said “We must and will make good things happen to the people we are here to serve. That is what it is all about. It’s a community coming together to take care of its own.”

    1975
    Our first microfilm contract was secured. We began filming claim documents for DSHS MAA (Medical Assistance Administration) at an Airdustrial location. Since that time hundreds of individuals with disabilities have staffed this contract. This work has provided a training site for participants preparing for jobs in the community.

    1976
    Many additions and changes were made to our building to facilitate training and employment. During 1976 the Medina Foundation funded an on-site kitchen facility that was later remodeled into a health room and three offices when additional office space was needed. Also during this period, the Yelm Developmental Center opened as we expanded services in Thurston County.

    1980
    Once again the Main Center expanded to include a new reception area, board room and offices. This expansion has served the agency well as our services have evolved. In addition to company use, the board room is used by a variety of not-for-profit groups to conduct meetings, training and strategic planning sessions. A big change for the company this year was moving from arts and crafts and a day activity program to full employment and business services. In 1980 we opened our first enclave at Charlie's Bar and Grill at the Capital Mall.

    1986
    This year we began our first janitorial crew to train individuals with significant disabilities so their skills would enable them to apply for janitorial jobs. For many years we have operated a janitorial program and today Morningside, through its subsidiary Coastal Business Services Group, operates the largest custodial firm in Southwest Washington.

    1989
    Morningside began to focus its services toward Individual Supported Employment as we listened and responded to participants who said they wanted to live and work in the community just like everyone else. Our commitment to this vision began with individuals in our own sheltered workshop who had worked there for years. 

    1990
    Thurston County Social Services awarded Morningside our first Individual Supported Employment (ISE) Contract. This award was based on our commitment to provide placement in the least restrictive position possible. To date we have assisted more than 100 persons in ISE with long-term support services making us the largest provider of ISE in Washington State. This year we began our first mobile crews. We began a contract with the state Department of Transportation picking up litter on state roads. We also began our grounds maintenance company. 

    1991
    We began operating a Tourism Call Center for the Washington State Department of Tourism. We were successful in winning this contract after bidding competitively against a national telecommunications company. Today our call center operators are trained travel planners helping visitors to the Evergreen State plan their trips and vacations.

    1992
    We began the High School Transition Program. This very successful program ensures that special education students who want to work will have a paid job at graduation. Morningside’s High School Transition Program has been recognized nationally for responding to a local need and participating in a unique collaboration of school districts, counties and the state. 

    1994
    We began expanding geographically with the opening of our Lewis county office. We responded to requests to provide quality individual supported employment services. This successful program started with one full-time staff person and now is comprised of 6 staff who serve over 50 participants in the county.

    1998
    We began our Community Jobs Initiative program in the tri-county area of Thurston, Mason and Lewis counties. This program serves TANF recipients by providing valuable job experience in public sector training sites. We also expanded our mobile crews with a crew packaging potpourri at the Great American Herb Company and another crew at South Puget Sound Community College working in the cafeteria. This year we began our first on-site digital imaging contract with the state. Our digital imaging work has grown into a business operating in multiple locations and serving many customers.

    2000-2004
    We made a commitment to close our sheltered workshop (or large group segregated employment) based on what participants told us. Our goal was that by 2004 all those we serve would be working individually or in small groups in businesses, state and other public entities in the community. During this period we began to expand geographically in response to requests for our services. This growth began with the opening of an office in Port Angeles (Clallam County). In 2001 an office was opened in Port Townsend (Jefferson County). In 2002 we opened an office in South Bend (Pacific County) and an office in Aberdeen (Grays Harbor County).

 
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