Meet Ken
Ken celebrates three years of volunteering at SAFe Rescue this month, but he’s been a feline enthusiast–in his words, a “catologist”–his entire life! Ken volunteers through Alpha Supported Living Services, a non-profit organization providing community services to individuals with developmental disabilities in King, Snohomish, and Spokane counties.
Once a week, Ken comes to the Rescue with his Community Inclusion Coordinator, Rachel. Together, they fold laundry, learn about cat behavior, and of course, spend quality time with Ken’s all-time favorite animals.
All Black Cats, All The Time
“His favorite thing in the world is cats,” Rachel says. “His favorite type of cat is a black cat. Ken never leaves the house without his four stuffed animal cats.”
In addition to his kitty plushies, Ken has been decorating his walker with cat stickers. But nothing beats the real thing, so last year, Ken and Rachel added another location to his volunteer schedule: Seattle Meowtropolitan, a cat cafe in Wallingford.
Above: Ken at his other volunteer location, Seattle Meowtropolitan.
Ken is nonverbal and communicates through writing. When asked how volunteering makes him feel, he responds: “Happy, happy!”
“Ken is very self-motivated to be around cats and take on responsibilities
related to cats,” Rachel tells SAFe. She says these volunteer opportunities are part of Ken’s long-term goals to “become a cat expert, get a job with cats, and then own a cat.”
Cats Are Like Us
Ken wants everyone to know that “Cats have feelings like us. They are happy, comical, loving. Cats need our help.”
Thank you for being a lifelong friend of cats, Ken! And thank you Rachel, for supporting Ken in his mission to help the kitties. We’re so happy to have both of you in our SAFe family!
