“THERE’S A TERM THAT FLOATS AROUND A LOT — SELF-CARE,” Tony Ives told me as we sat down for a conversation on a recent Afternoons With Ash Black. “’Self-care.’ But when you’re the one administering Narcan in the parking lot, when you’re the one making sure someone gets a warm meal, that ‘self’ part tends to disappear. You just act.”
That moment stuck with me.
It was quiet, honest, and deeply human. Much like the man himself.
Tony Ives is the Executive Director of Kitsap Community Resources (KCR), and if you live in Kitsap County, chances are you’ve felt the ripple effects of his work, and that of the organization, whether you know it or not. For over 60 years, KCR has served as the safety net beneath the safety nets, providing services like housing assistance, Head Start education, weatherization, kinship care, Meals on Wheels and more.
But it’s not just what they do, it’s how they do it.
“We’re not perfect,” Tony admitted, “but we’re working hard and we’re working together.” That ‘together’ is a big part of KCR’s model. While many nonprofits operate in silos, Tony has been working to break down those walls not just within his own organization, but across agencies countywide.
“We used to hear the word ‘siloed’ all the time. Now? Not so much,” he said. “Because we’re talking to each other, we’re sharing data, and we’re trying to connect people to the right help, not just any help.”
KCR served 3,500 families last year. Over 1,800 children received early education support. 33,000 meals were delivered to homes that needed them. Those numbers are staggering. But Tony’s concern? “There are still too many people who don’t even know we exist.” That includes seniors. Veterans. Parents just one paycheck away from losing housing. “One injury. One missed shift. One unexpected bill …..and suddenly, you’re standing on the edge,” Tony said. “And it’s not about shame. It’s about systems that let people fall through the cracks.”
When I asked what KCR needs most right now, Tony didn’t hesitate: “Presence. Participation. And people willing to sit at the table. We don’t just need donors. We need neighbors.” He explained KCR’s tripartite board: one-third elected officials, one-third community advocates, and one-third low-income representatives. But it’s getting harder, he said, to fill committee seats. “People want change, but they think it starts with someone else. Truth is, it starts at a table you haven’t sat at yet.”
That hit me.
And it reminded me why this show and this community matters. We get to sit at the table. We get to learn. And we get to ask the better question: Who are we leaving behind, and how can we bring them in? Tony Ives has a few answers. I hope you’ll take the time to hear them. As Tony said best: “We can do it alone. But we don’t have to.”
KITSAP COMMUNITY RESOURCES is a nonprofit social services agency for low-income Kitsap County residents. Find out how to help, or how to get help, at kcr.org. And check out the full interview with Tony Ives and more on the ‘Afternoons with Ash Black’ youtube channel.
