SOAP LAKE – Around 90 people Gathered in Gratitude for a fundraising event for McKay Healthcare and Rehab Center, raising nearly $70,000 for the long-term care facility.  

“I would like to highlight that we had a lot of raffle packages from a multitude of donors, from families to businesses to individuals,” Columbia Basin Foundation Executive Director Corinne Isaak said. “The Soap Lake Community really came together to do good and help improve the quality of life for residents at McKay Healthcare.”  

Isaak said this year was a particular success, raising over double last year’s event. She said the focus for this year's funds was to get a new industrial dishwasher and help replenish capital funds for the facility.  

“The funds will be utilized first to buy a brand new industrial dishwasher, because their current one is having problems, it’s on its last wash,” Isaak said.  

She said a couple anonymously donated $27,000 at the end of the event to cover the full cost of the industrial washer.  

“That donation made it so everything we raised that night will go to helping buy some other things and capital projects in 2026 for the 42 residents there,” Isaak said.  

Columbia Basin Foundation Scholarship Director Kristen Elder won the 75-inch smart television during the raffle.  

“She then donated it to McKay because they were in need of a new big screen TV in their dining room,” Isaak said. “She didn't even know McKay had called me two weeks prior saying they needed a new TV because theirs was starting to go out. She just decided, out of the good of her heart, she would rather the residents benefit from the TV, then herself.”  

Isaak said they had planned on using some of the money raised from this event to buy the television; instead, those funds will be able to go towards other projects.  

“Now the residents have this huge TV that they can enjoy and so that was really special. I think it just kind of shows you the passion that people have for McKay and wanting to make the rest of these residents' lives as good as they can be,” Isaak said.  

Isaak explained that the event is both an opportunity to raise funds for the facility and to discuss the importance of rural healthcare. 

“I think it's really good for people to become educated and involved with rural health care and understand the need to keep loved ones close to home,” she said. “I think this event, we really tried to create an awareness of the importance of rural health care. It was not only about raising capital, but actually raising awareness, because McKay is ready to start their 22-acre expansion project.” 

McKay is in the process of creating a continuing care facility, which would be a 22-acre property that would allow a full spectrum of housing and healthcare options for seniors. It would allow people to stay in one place as their needs change, moving from independent living to assisted living, memory care or skilled nursing without leaving their community. This would be the first of its kind in Central Washington, according to McKay’s website.  

The project comes in five phases, with the first one beginning soon. Phase one includes 16 assisted living units, 16 memory care units and a community clubhouse. This alone, according to documents from the Grant County Board of Commissioners, will bring in tax benefits of nearly $2.4 million.  

Phase two includes 12 buy-in homes and 30 market-rate rental homes. Phase three adds 32 skilled nursing units and a support building. Phase four adds 68 affordable housing apartments. The final phase adds 36 workforce housing apartments.  

“I think that that's just a very important piece is understanding and valuing that, whether it's yourself, a loved one, or a neighbor, that you want to give people the opportunity to be able to in their senior years and still remain in their community where they lived and worked and raised their families,” Isaak said. “That's important. It's that connective tissue. I think we all should be really teaming up and making sure that we value our seniors and keep them close.” 

Isaak said if people were unable to make it to this event but would still like to donate to the facility, they can contact the Columbia Basin Foundation at 509-754-4596 and someone would be more than willing to help them. 

More information on McKay Healthcare can be found at its website: McKayHealthcare.org. 

    Around 90 people gathered at the event to raise funds for McKay Healthcare, including Soap Lake City Council member Judith Gorman.
  

    Each table at the Gathered for Good event was adorned with a centerpiece designed by staff at McKay Healthcare.