Kent’s Dave Mitchell named Hometown Hero by Mariners

Dave Mitchell, of Kent, was recognized as a Hometown Hero by the Seattle Mariners at their Sept. 15 home game at T-Mobile Park.

This season the Mariners are honoring exceptional members of the greater Pacific Northwest community for their critical roles in helping others endure, survive and work to overcome the pandemic. Mitchell accepted the award on behalf of a team that provided over 3.5 million pounds of emergency food.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic in the greater Kent area, Mitchell, a buyer’s specialist for Team Marti of John L. Scott, worked tirelessly to organize volunteers and organizations to feed those struck hardest by the stay-at-home orders and other challenges. He spent countless hours volunteering with Kent Community Partners and was a key leader in its emergency food operations.

Mitchell’s networking and connections with businesses and friends provided a forklift, powered pallet jack, training and many other tools and resources. As a result of his outstanding work, the Rotary Club named Mitchell a Rotary Hero and presented him with the rare Avenues of Service district award in July.

This summer, Mitchell was also named interim executive director of the Kent Community Foundation which founded Kent Community Partners to serve the community during the pandemic.

“This award is representative of the hundreds of volunteers and donors from the greater Kent area that pulled together to accomplish the critically important task of providing food to people in need,” Mitchell said in a news release from Team Marti. “It was a team effort. I am thrilled to be part of such a caring community.”

As a honoree, Mitchell received four tickets and a parking pass to the game as well as a Mariners prize pack.

Mitchell joined Team Marti in 2020 as a buyer’s specialist, a trusted advisor and advocate for home buyers. Previously, Mitchell served as chief operating officer and interim president of Seattle’s Union Gospel Mission for eight years, and he was a key leader in the establishment of KentHOPE and of Re:NOVO, programs that help women transition out of homelessness.

He also has served on the Kent Police Department’s diversity task force, was on the board of the Kent Chamber of Commerce, led a C3 Leaders/Pinnacle Forum group, and has been a volunteer with Young Life for more than 30 years. Mitchell is active in the Kent Rotary and Bible Study Fellowship.

“He is so deserving of the Mariners’ Hometown Hero award,” said Marti Reeder, managing broker of Team Marti. “Helping feed our community over the last 18 months has been a full-time job, but service is in Dave’s blood. It’s who he is. He is a true community leader and our personal hero.”