Editor’s Note: This is the second story in a series that will explore the state of nonprofits on Vashon, specifically how they fared in 2015 and what they have planned for 2016.

Two dogs make international headlines after staying at each other’s side for more than a week; construction begins on a multi-million dollar performing arts center and gallery, and talks of a centralized food hub for local farmers to sell their food wholesale begin. 2015 was just another year for Vashon’s nonprofits.

The above-mentioned events were just a few of 2015’s memorable moments, but all are results of the work done by Vashon’s dozens of nonprofit organizations. With the season of giving upon us, nonprofits are looking to donations to help continue their work in 2016.

Vashon’s story of the year came from Vashon Island Pet Protectors (VIPP) in September. The organization serves as the island’s animal rescue and adoption service and aims to make sure “there are no homeless pets on the island,” the VIPP website states. It was during a search-and-rescue efforts in early September that VIPP volunteers stumbled upon the dogs they were searching for: a pair comprised of a bassett hound named Phoebe and a setter mix named Tilly who belong to B.J. Duft, owner of Herban Feast and Herban Bloom.

The duo made international headlines as word about their friendship got out. When Phoebe fell into a cistern, Tillie stayed by her side, leaving only to look for help. Tillie was later awarded Governor Jay Inslee’s Washingtonian of the Day award.

VIPP Director Geoff Fletcher said the story was “certainly a high” point of 2015.

“It wasn’t necessarily the rescue, but the kind of recognition that story brought to animal rescue groups is incredible,” Fletcher said. “These organizations do extraordinary stuff all the time.”

VIPP celebrated its annual Fur Ball in November and raised more than $100,000. Fletcher said that he is always amazed by the support that nonprofits on the island get from the community.

In 2016, Fletcher said the organization’s main goal is “to do a lot less animal rescue” by emphasizing the importance of micro-chipping pets. He said he will be expanding the micro-chipping effort next year along with the organization’s spaying and neutering services.

A story that did not make international headlines, but made big waves on the island, was the beginning of construction on Vashon Allied Arts’ (VAA) performing arts center. VAA broke ground on the center in April with the goal of creating a place for all arts, from dance performances to art displays and musical concerts.

“Breaking ground was wonderful, obviously, but it’s also been the biggest challange to just deal with all the construction and parking issues and keep things going,” VAA Director Molly Reed said.

Besides the beginning of the long-awaited, massive construction project, Reed said that 2015 also brought what is believed to be a record crowd to the annual “Nutcracker” ballet.

“More than 1,000 people bought tickets,” Reed said. “We’re all here trying to think, and we think it’s the biggest ever.”

The organization’s “Like a Bridge” musical tribute to Simon and Garfunkle in November, and “I am Vashon” music project in early-2015 also went beyond Reed’s expectations, she said.

“They were all terrific,” Reed said.

She said 2016 is “going to be a great year” as the center is expected to open in April. The year also marks VAA’s 50th anniversary.

“To have both the center opening and the anniversary at the same time is an incredible coincidence,” VAA Director Molly Reed said. “We’re planning celebrations for both of those things.”

Meanwhile, at the Vashon Island Growers’ Association, the organization’s big news this year was that it was awarded a $24,600 federal grant to start studying the possibility of an island food hub. The hub would create a place for local farmers to aggregate and sell their produce wholesale.

VIGA Co-Chair Emily Scott said that the food hub feasibility project will “get started in earnest” in 2016.

“Hopefully by three-quarters through next year, we’ll be seeing exciting results,” Scott said this week. “Regardless of whether or not study says it’s feasible, the information we get from it will be really useful. It will tell us a lot about the state of farming on the island.”

Scott continued to say that 2015 was “a year of big growth” that also came with a new mission statement that the organization was working on embodying, and a project to renovate the Village Green.

She said that VIGA has gathered feedback from residents on the Village Green project and will go forward with it next year.

“Aside from defined projects, we’re going to try to extend membership and the revenue sources we have control over,” Scott said. “We’re going to work really hard at building revenue sources.”

At the Vashon-Maury Island Community Food Bank, Executive Director Robbie Rohr said that 2015 brought enhancements to the food bank, including measures for better customer service and nearly 1,500 pounds of produce from the organization’s garden. The food bank has a 2-acre plot of land behind the IGA shopping center that it is leasing for a farm. The amount should be even larger next year.

“We had 1,400 pounds of fresh produce from our garden this year, and it should be close to 5,000 next year,” Rohr said. “We’re definitely looking forward to that.”

Also in 2016, the food bank will continue to focus on offering a variety of healthy foods and specialty foods for those with diabetes or on special diets. The Picnics In The Park kids’ summer meals program will also continue for children ages 3 to 17 and will be offered five days a week in the summer months.

Despite all the organization’s plans for 2016, Rohr said she is most looking forward to working together with other nonprofits.

“I think after that ‘Who’s Hungry on Vashon’ forum, I’m really looking forward to more collaboration with other nonprofits and looking at how to solve problems differently,” Rohr said.