Federal Way city officials honors family for longtime volunteerism

Published 4:02 pm Friday, April 3, 2015

Since opening in 2007, the Federal Way Community Center has presented dozens of events and activities each year for families to enjoy.

One Federal Way family has been there every step of the way, volunteering tirelessly to ensure events go off without a hitch.

On Jan. 20, the Federal Way City Council and Mayor Jim Ferrell recognized Yolanda Robbins and her two daughters, Bryanna, 20, and Krystal, 16, for their volunteer contributions at the community center spanning more than eight years.

“We have had the pleasure and opportunity to work with the Robbins family each year as our events have grown,” said Cody Geddes, a recreation supervisor for the city. “They are a big part of our success and retention of so many of our valued customers that come back year after year.”

Events at the community center that Yolanda and her daughters have been a part of include Daughters Night Out; Hooked on Fishing; Kids Day; Red, White & Blues Festival; K-9 Karnival; Tricks N Treats; Jingle Bell Brunch; Holiday Tree Lighting; and Cookies with Mrs. Claus.

Yolanda Robbins and her husband Doug instilled a love of volunteering very early on for their two girls.

Volunteering for Bryanna and Krystal started when they attended Sherwood Forest Elementary. The girls, along with their parents, volunteered in events put on by the school’s PTA.

When the Federal Way Community Center opened, Yolanda Robbins asked right away if the center needed any volunteers. The city was happy, of course, to have their help.

“Thank you so much for this honor,” she told the council on Jan. 20. “The community has become part of our family. We so much enjoy doing all of these events year after year. We see familiar faces, we see little ones that keep growing and growing and it’s just a joy for me and my girls to be able to be part of that, too. Thank you very much and we hope to see you (at the community center).”

Doug Robbins said he is a proud husband and father. He helps to get his wife and daughters to and from events.

“They do it for the love of it,” he said. “There is no gain. It’s selfless devotion.”

Yolanda Robbins said it’s given her great satisfaction to make a difference in the community.

“Having done it at an early age with my girls, they’ve learned what it’s like to be part of a community and helping out,” she said. “My oldest one (Bryanna) is graduating from Western (this June). My youngest (Krystal) is at Todd Beamer. Both are very involved in the community. You plant a seed in them since they were little and it becomes part of their life. It’s like planting seeds for the future when you start volunteering at a young age. I hope my daughters do the same with their kids.”

Bryanna Robbins is a business major at Western Washington University. On many occasions, she travels back from college to Federal Way just to be part of the community events.

Geddes said Bryanna Robbins, after years of volunteering, now is a community center employee.

She has worked as a day camp counselor in the summer, the front desk counter and special events.

Krystal, who is active in ROTC at Todd Beamer, will follow in her sister’s footsteps this summer and be an employed day camp counselor.

“I’ve been involved in a lot of things. I started when I was 4 and now I’m 16, so it’s been a while,” Krystal said. “This is a big passion in my life. I just love it to death.”

Bryanna Robbins said she hopes to be part of the community center’s future after she graduates this spring.

“I love coming home,” she said. “I love coming to the events.”