Archives West Finding Aid

In 1970 a group of Pullman women were inspired by a article in the January 1969 Readers' Digest entitled " A Friendly Neighbor Called Fish. This story documented a British church's effort to show neighborly concern via an auxiliary organization with the acronym FISH, an abbreviation for "For Immediate Sympathetic Help." The purpose of this association was to offer emergency assistance to anyone who needed a helping hand but did not know of any person to ask.

The Pullman group learned of other FISH groups in the United States, and decided to form a local association. They called for volunteers and found men, women, and high school and college students eager to help. Like all FISH volunteer groups, this organization began with the goal that the need for their services should disappear when other specialized groups assumed these tasks.

FISH volunteers spearheaded projects including meals-on-wheels for shut-ins, transportation for medical appointments, and a children's clothing exchange. It also helped indigent people by providing them with lodging and meals. The organization maintained a twenty-four hour telephone answering machine that referred callers to an on-duty volunteer who could assist them with their needs.

The Pullman FISH Volunteers disbanded in 1979 when the members saw their mission as completed. For example, a separate meals-on-wheels group existed and garnered support from a number of local churches. In addition, Pullman Child Welfare, initially a church-sponsored concern, took over many of the activities of the children's clothing exchange. Other groups maintained crisis telephone lines and looked after the needs of the infirm.