COVER STORY

root causes of homelessness such as poverty, mental health issues, and substance abuse. By addressing these underlying issues, programs can work towards long-term solutions and help prevent homelessness and stop generational poverty in the future.

Spokane Valley Partners welcomes anyone who would like to volunteer in their community. Volunteering is one way to contribute to the betterment of the Spokane Valley community. By working together with other volunteers, individuals can help address community issues and promote positive change. To volunteer at Spokane Valley Partners, visit their website at svpart.org or stop by their office for more information.

The Spokane Valley Partners food pantry and clothing bank is open five days a week. To see the programs offered, visit svpart.org/get-help.

Ziggy’s and the Ziegler Family

The Ziegler family can trace its roots in the lumber business in the Spokane area clear back to the 1880’s. At the time, the family worked in and owed local lumber mills.

We sat down with the Ziegler family who lives in Spokane and owns Ziggy’s Home Improvement and had a conversation about how the business came to be and the future of the company after selling the Sprague Ave location to Spokane Valley Partners.

Mary Ziegler, the matriarch of the family and active board member, along with her sons Neil Ziegler, Vice President of Ziggy’s, and her youngest son Karl Ziegler, President of Ziggy’s, share that the business began as a family business and continues to operate as a family operation to this day.

The story begins when Vern went to work with his father at a lumber yard back in the early years of the 20th century. The lumber yard at the time was in North Spokane and when Vern turned 19, he struck out on his own and began building homes. He would say in later years that he had built 21 homes before he turned 21 years old.

Vern and Mary were married at a young age and began to raise a family in Spokane. Across the Ziegler family, many members were in the building supply business. Some of the Ziegler cousins owned and operated a plumbing company while Vern opened the first Ziggy’s lumber yard in 1965.

The first Ziggy’s lumber yard opened on Market Street near Francis

Road and remained a staple of the area up until a few years ago when the land was acquired by the state to improve the land for the North-South Freeway and the building was torn down.

In 1978, Vern and Mary decided to make their way to Spokane Valley and open an additional location on Sprague Ave. At the time of the store opening, the surrounding area was field and wide-open spaces. Today, the location is a prime spot of real estate on the Sprague corridor.

The building includes a large warehouse with an open showroom floor. The combined available square footage is around 60,000 including the warehouse. The thought to sell one of their main stores in Spokane had originally not crossed the minds of the Ziegler family members.

The Ziegler family was approached in the Fall of 2022 with a proposition that a local non-profit was looking to acquire a new location to provide services to the residents of the Spokane Valley community. At first the thought was “no way, we have no intention of selling,” but after learning that it was Spokane Valley Partners who were the clients, they began to entertain the idea.

The location of the Spokane Valley Ziggy’s store fit all the checkboxes Cal and Spokane Valley Partners were looking for: it was centrally located, very close to a bus stop, room to grow, among others. With the help of the allocated funds that the City of Spokane Valley set aside for the purchase of a new location for the non-profit and with additional fundraising, Spokane Valley Partners has purchased the building.

The transition from Ziggy’s to Spokane Valley Partners will occur over the course of about two years. Ziggy’s will be leasing the property back from Spokane Valley Partners until December 31, 2024. On January 1st, 2025, Spokane Valley Partners will move into the building and begin renovations for the improvements they need for their work.

All other locations across the inland northwest will remain open. The family believes that they will be able to place all current employees with a position within the company and continue their tradition of familyoriented values through support and success.

Karl shares that “For the next two years, we will continue to be here for out customers. And even after that we still have our other stores. We will continue to be able to service our customers. The valley location has been a great store and location.”

Dennis Aho, who is the General Manager/Operations Manager of

Ziggy’s, has been an employee for 51 years. He and the family joke that he’s the oldest brother, despite not being blood relation. Dennis has brought his daughter, Alicia, into the fold of the business as well. “Because I grew up out here in the area, it leaves a big hole. I’m anxious to see if we’ll replace the facility at a different location to serve our valley customers.”

“Our family has been blessed by all the people who have been involved with the business. Both the customers and the employees. We have many second-generation employees working with the company today. My father had a saying ‘Do you think I pay your paycheck? No. That customer pays your paycheck. Go take care of the customer.’ That’s been the moto of our company and is in the background of our service model. It’s a lot to live up to.” Neil Ziegler has worked for the company since graduating college in a number of different roles. Customer service was and still is a number one priority for the company.

Mary wraps up the interview about her family and legacy by saying, “Vern cared a lot about the people he was helping.”

Ziggy’s Spokane Valley location will remain open until December 31st of 2024. Watch for a celebration in the fall of 2024 to honor the closing of the store.

When asked about her approach to school, Vanessa Lester has a twoword reply: “Very dedicated.” The University High senior has proven the approach to be true, compiling a 3.91 grade point average and being part of U-Hi’s National Honor Society chapter. Lester has also contributed to Crimson Crew, the mentoring program that offers support to freshman students. She volunteers at Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital and is part of a youth-led professional development organization called Health Care Occupation Students of America. Lester says her weekly volunteer work at Sacred Heart is nourishing. “I get my stability from there,” she said. “It makes my week. Those kids may be in the hospital and struggling but they’re still so happy.” The senior maintains a part-time job and has career aspirations of being a nurse. She will enroll at Gonzaga University in the fall.

Tyler Boden didn’t wait long in the 2023 prep baseball season to make an impression. The University High senior threw a no-hitter against Chiawana as part of an 11-0, five-inning Titans’ victory on March 11. “It just felt super cool, especially because they were ranked higher than us,” Boden said. “I also want to give credit to my defense and the team for scoring 11 runs.” The senior has accomplished the feat once before as a member of the Spokane Expos club squad last summer. Boden was named to the All Greater Spokane League First Team last season after compiling an undefeated league record and finishing among the top three pitchers in strikeouts and top five in earned run average. Boden maintains a 3.8 grade point average and will continue his baseball and academic pursuits at Spokane Falls Community College.

Based in the Central Valley School District’s Student and Family Engagement Center, Casey Morphis is a school social worker who helps pre-K-12 students and families remove barriers to education as part of a strength-based approach. “The most rewarding part of my work is seeing kids achieve their set goals,” Morphis said. Morphis has her master’s in Social Work and bachelor’s in Counseling and Educational Development from Eastern Washington University. She is part of the Washington Association of School Social Workers Board, the EWU School of Social Work Professional Advisory Board and the Behavioral Health Coalition, a statewide consortium of mental health professionals. Morphis has served with the Greater Valley Support Network Leadership Team since 2009 and is a past board member with the Greater Spokane Substance Abuse Council and Spokane Valley Partners. She is the proud mom of two children.