— by Margie Doyle —
[metaslider id=”63295″]
The Healing Arts Center occupies an iconic farmhouse building as North Beach Road curves to meet School Road in Eastsound. Come inside and feel the positive and comforting vibes of the Healing Arts, or simply enjoy a warm cup of tea in an atmosphere of calm, meditative music and quiet growth of the plants. Here at the Healing Arts Center, one of the Orcas Island old-timers, now celebrating its 30th year, you can become a part of the this island non-profit, dedicated to holistic healthcare with the renewed energy and vision of a millennial.
The member/practitioners of the Center are actively pursuing a variety of fund-raisers for renovation and restoration: its semi-annual Healing Arts Fair weekend, November 10 and 11; its raffle of multiple prizes, and a grand prize of free sessions each month at the non-profit; donations in appreciation of the revered Jade Plant that has been a symbol of the gifts the Center gives to the community.

The Healing Arts Center offers a range of health services including Massage Therapy & Bodywork, Acupuncture & Traditional Chinese Medicine, the services of Counselors/Psychotherapists, a Nutritional Therapist Practitioner, a Doula, and a board-certified Adult Nurse Practitioner and more.

Building on previous purchase and remodeling goals, the Healing Arts Center now anticipates putting a new foundation beneath the historic 1904 residence. In 2010 they raised the roof  with help secured through the Community Foundation and now, with another grant from the Orcas Island Community Foundation in 2016, and their own fundraising efforts, they will be able to remodel the building from the ground up.

As Christopher Evans, current head of the community alternative healing resource says, “Like most island non-profits, fund-raising is prominent in the Healing Arts future.” Their fundraising is “anchored” by the semi-annual Healing Arts Fairs that are offered one weekend each spring and fall, which also serve as a low-cost way for people to try out its services.

The next Fair will be November 10-11, 2018 with “fantastic special rates.” The sessions fill quickly, so call soon at 360-376-4002.

Also reflecting the organic growth of Healing Arts is the Jade Plant fundraiser: “For those of you that know and love the practitioners and building, you have also come to recognize the iconic Jade Plant in our lobby. A gift to the Center in its early days, the original plant is as old as we are — 30 years! As part of our fundraising for our new foundation and building addition, we are offering a limited number of heritage cuttings from the mother Jade plant with a $100 donation to the Healing Arts Center.”

The Healing Arts Center is also celebrating its 30th year with a raffle of “an amazing group of over 30 prizes, each valued from $80 -$120. Each of our prizes reflect the best in health and wellness choices you can make on Orcas, such as a $120 Coop Gift Card, a Doe Bay Spa Membership, or a 10 class pass of Yoga at Orcas Mandala!

“Or maybe you’ll win our grand prize of a treatment a month at the Healing Arts Center for 2019! This is our largest raffle yet, and the funds we raise go to the “Renovation and Restoration” of our historic building. Tickets are $25 each or 5/$100, and are available from any of our practitioners or at our front desk, Monday – Friday, 9:00 – 5:00.”

The Nov. 16 raffle drawing is only three weeks away!. All proceeds will go toward for the restoration of the historic building, and further its mission to provide space and support for holistic healthcare in our community.
For more information about the jade plant or anniversary raffle fundraisers, contact Christopher Evans at 360-376-4002 or orcashealingarts@gmail.com
“We’re still rising and growing as we have from the beginning,”  says Evans. “Keeping the faith with Healing Center colleagues and the community means moving forward to renovate the building. To sustain and grow for 30 years, you have to be steady, marked by monumental leap,” says Evans.

Not only has the building ha changed, but also the business model, from renters to owners, with a local philanthropist offering the private mortgage about 20 years ago. There remains a small principal balance of funds to Islanders Bank. “It’s manageable” says Evans, “the end is in sight, which brings the future goals closer.”

He credits “the people drawn to practice here. They have kept it going these 30 years; managing the non-profit is a part of the practitioner-participants. Understanding to join in community serves the non-profit, and it is also a huge benefit to our own personal practices to have a network of support, especially felt in hard times. Those scenarios we’ve all had happen to us that would close our business doors, but our supportive members have kept us in business.”

While announcing the various fundraisers, the Healing Arts Center should also be noted for designing a “Spirit of Service (SOS)” program that began four years ago after discussions and plans between Christopher Evans and Ian Van Gelder, who has practiced acupuncture at the Healing Arts Center since it began. The SOS program helps community members who can’t afford the services offered at Healing Arts.

Since 2014, the Spirit of Service program “enables us to provide services at minimal cost to island residents served by a trio of local agencies. We continue to look for ways to fund and expand this needed program,” says Evans, who encourages all to support the program through financial assistance.
The non-profit Healing Arts Center partners with three other non-profits to administer the program:
  • the Senior Center with Jami Mitchell, who says, “It is empowering for people to access the Healing Arts Center via the S.O.S. program. I have seen seniors light up at the thought of self-care that is affordable even on their limited income.”
  • the Community Resource Center (formerly the Family Resource Center)
  • Safe San Juans  (formerly DV/SAS)
These organizations provide vouchers to individuals they identify as needing that assistance
Evans explains that Healing Arts doesn’t charge rent to the practitioner for the SOS sessions; the practitioners’ contribution is the reduced payment; and clients referred to S.O.S. are able to receive treatment at the Healing Arts Center for a $10 to $30 sliding scale co-payment.  All co-payments above $10 are deposited back into the program to fund future treatments.
To learn more about  the SOS program — both how you can support this important program and how you can receive help from it, go to https://orcashealingarts.org/sos/.

As he faces the present circumstances and hopes for the future, Evans says, “It’s great and joyous to be an organization for 30 years, but one of the realities is the profound loss of  people such as Marlene Dickey, Sandy Sanders, Roseanne Dolan, Michael Sky …” The Center now faces the impending passing of Ian Van Gelder,who entered hospice care recently at home with his wife Kari and daughter Margot. On October 10, Kari writes, “I’d like to give a heartfelt shout out to our island community. For those of you who don’t live here — know that being known is a blessing  Thank you.”

History — from the website:

“Thirty years ago, a few creative and caring people came together with a visionary way to approach alternative healthcare. By working together under the same roof, they formed an affordable way to collaborate and offer their services to the community.

“They were people you have known and loved like Marlene Dickey, Savvy and Sandy Sanders, Michael Sky, Roseanne Dolan,  Mary Jo Ahern, and Ian Van Gelder. Our family continues to grow and take shape, and after 30 years, you have come to appreciate and depend on our beloved Healing Arts Center.”

In the beginning, “several friends worked on establishing it as a healing center and tried to get support for it, but its presence in the community was very low-key.

“Enthusiastic proponents of alternative health care founded [the Healing Arts Center]with the idea that it would be able to give something back to the community, that it would need the cooperation of all its members, that it would provide support and friendship for its members, and that it would be run with integrity, in a conscious and professional way.

“In June of 1991, Michael Sky became the President of the Board. One of the many contributions of this visionary leader (who passed away in 2011) was to bring in his strong belief in consensus; some time during ’91 the Center began to operate as a consensus-based group, ensuring each member an equal voice. Community and cooperation remain very important factors in how the Center operates.

“Because of this atmosphere of cohesiveness and solidity, in 1995 when it was learned that the farmhouse was up for sale, the members were ready to consider purchasing it. After negotiating a price, and because of a generous loan from a private donor, the HAC was able to purchase the building in December, 1995.

“In 1998, plans were made to expand into the entire downstairs space and the existing floor plan was created. The renovation took about 18 months, and was done largely through the volunteer efforts of a team of practitioners headed by longstanding member Rick Doty. The new space was ready in 2000; and in 2003, the Center once again expanded to include the upstairs rooms. Since then, it has occupied the entire building.”

When Michael Sky stepped down as President of the Board, Ian Van Gelder, Rick Doty, Jennifer Posada and Mary Jo Ahern have all stepped it to take the helm at the Healing Arts Center. “There has been a remarkable sense of continuity at the Center over the past 24 years. There have been only seven presidents in all that time. Many of the original members are still on board, and many others have been around for almost the entire time. The loyalty and commitment of these practitioners is infectious, so that new members also join with the same interest in cooperation, and with the same desire to ensure the success of the Healing Arts Center within the Orcas community. .

“Sandy Sanders said several years ago is [still true,] we trust, true for practitioners, receptionists, clients and community members: “I feel welcome and happy whenever I walk through the front door.”

It’s the calmest beehive in town, and welcomes all to participate and serve.

Healing Arts Center , 360-376-4002 orcashealingarts.org
Print Friendly, PDF & Email

**If you are reading theOrcasonian for free, thank your fellow islanders. If you would like to support theOrcasonian CLICK HERE to set your modestly-priced, voluntary subscription. Otherwise, no worries; we’re happy to share with you.**