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Unity is a key part of the word community.

That theme was stressed throughout the annual La Conner Young Life Dessert Fundraiser held Sunday night in the elementary school commons area.

A wide cross-section of folks from in and around La Conner, representing the town, agricultural, Swinomish, Shelter Bay, Snee-Oosh and Fir Island communities attended the two-hour event, supporting the faith-based program that provides summer camp and monthly social and personal growth opportunities for local youth. Young Life is led by local adult volunteers and has been active for a quarter century.

"We're all one large community here in La Conner," J.J. Wilbur, one of the speakers emphasized, "from the town side and the tribal side. We've been together a long time. We have great respect for each other regardless of what side of the bridge we live on."

Wilbur simultaneously serves leadership roles on each side of Swinomish Channel as a tribal senator, La Conner school board member and Skagit County Fire District 13 commissioner.

"We always celebrate Young Life," Wilbur said. "It does a great job of laying the foundation for a relationship with God – something greater than ourselves."

The "dessert gala," as master of ceremonies Peter Voorhees, a teacher and coach described it, was part of a $35,000 fundraising campaign to pay for youth to attend camp, where in a natural environment with no access to cell phones team building and trust are promoted in a Christian setting.

Whidbey Island pastor Matthew Erickson, spoke, saying that half the fundraising goal has been pledged by the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community. Erickson said camp attendance costs about $900 per student.

One of those students, Emmalin Goodman, offered a heartfelt testimonial, praising at length the camp experience, including its inclusiveness and focus on building positive self-esteem.

Kenneth Cayou, of Swinomish, a high school alumnus and a Young Life camper prior who served eight years in the U.S. Navy, spoke from the perspective of a camp leader, a role for which he volunteered after returning home from the service.

"The experience I had with the kids was really great," Cayou reflected. "We had a very good connection. I had a great week with them.

"None of them," he chuckled, "gave me any issues."

Recalling his own experience as a student camper, he shared the sense of trust and value of teamwork instilled in zipline and rope activities.

"That activity," Cayou said of the zipline, "taught me that no matter how hard life can get, there's always a reward at the end."

Gordy Burks, another team leader, noted he was positively influenced as a youth by the ministry of the late La Conner pastor Jon Skiffington. Burks said that sustained him later in life, helping him rebound from some missteps as a young adult.

"The Gospel according to Gordy didn't work," he quipped. "The seeds that were planted when I was young were very important, though."

He was grateful for the grace shown him at various stages of his life.

"Grace," he said, "is being granted unconditional love when you don't deserve it. It's a very important thing."

Retired La Conner teacher and coach Mike Carrigan introduced Swinomish master carver Kevin Paul, who was joined by Wilbur in presenting a native-inspired departure song.

"I want to give thanks to everyone for finding a way to help a child," said Paul, "to help them learn about life and have Jesus in their hearts."

While most messages were serious in tone, much of the evening was centered around fun and fellowship. Pastor Johnny Dean played guitar and sang. Voorhees and Wylie Thulen led rounds of "The Price is Right" and "Let's Make a Deal," with winners in many cases claiming sacks of potatoes and stalks of Brussels sprouts.

"I heard we'd be paid in pounds and I thought that would be okay," Erickson joked. "I thought that meant British pounds. I didn't realize it would be in potatoes."

The prevailing currency of the night, however, was the community's continued investment in its children, said Erickson.

"What it comes down to," he insisted, "is having adults in the community who care for kids."

That commitment was well in evidence, said Young Life team leader Kevin Carlton, noting the large turnout.

"You are the heroes of our story here tonight," he said.