I started my VISTA journey in August 2019. Fresh from graduating college, I wasn’t sure which direction my career would take but knew I needed more experience if I was ever going to get my dream job. I also felt a strong pull to serve people. Fortunate enough to have two caring parents with the means to put me through college, it was time to mobilize my privilege to put back into the community. I joined the Greater South Sound VISTA Team, and began serving with Child Care Action Council (CCAC) in Olympia, WA, supporting families and child care providers across six counties. I have been...
Blog
Post date: Friday, June 26, 2020 - 2:11pm
United Way of Thurston County fights for the health, education, and financial stability of every person in our community. EVERY person. And right now, as we are all enduring the terrible impacts of the coronavirus pandemic, our black and brown brothers and sisters are suffering doubly. Not only are they disproportionately endangered by the virus, they are disproportionately endangered by inequities of all kinds.
Black and brown people cannot move through the world with the same freedom that white people can. They cannot engage in normal activities and simply assume that they are safe. They...
Post date: Thursday, June 4, 2020 - 1:00pm
Despite many aspects of the future looking quite unpredictable due to the COVID-19 pandemic, opportunities to serve our community’s most vulnerable abound. For over 50 years, AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) has mobilized members to where the need is greatest: to communities facing poverty, inequity, and unemployment. In a time when the COVID-19 has caused new or exacerbated existing poverty, inequity, and unemployment, AmeriCorps VISTA and our local Greater South Sound VISTA team is responding to this nationwide call for action.
Our VISTA members have played key...
Post date: Thursday, May 28, 2020 - 2:48pm
AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) members go where the need is greatest: to communities facing poverty, inequity, and unemployment. VISTA members serve in a professional setting building partnerships, writing grants, and organizing volunteers. Above all, VISTA members are catalysts for change, working to advance local solutions
... Post date: Wednesday, May 27, 2020 - 1:36pm
Our Thurston County COVID-19 Response Fund continues to act as a vital fundraising hub for both individuals and local community organizations. From churches to fitness clubs, community organizations are using previously planned events to rally their members to raise money for the Response Fund.
The Olympia Unitarian Universalist Congregation (OUUC) had their annual dinner and auction scheduled for Saturday, May 2. The governor’s Stay Home, Stay Healthy mandate prevented the congregation from gathering as they usually would, so church leaders pivoted to plan a virtual event.
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Post date: Monday, May 11, 2020 - 12:19pm
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
3525 7th Ave SW Suite 201
Olympia, WA 98502
Telephone: (360) 943-2773 ext. 122
Contact: Lindsay Fujimoto, Volunteer Engagement Coordinator
lfujimoto@unitedway-thurston.org
United Way of Thurston County Encourages Organizations to Utilize AmeriCorps VISTA Opportunities
Olympia, Wash. — Due to the COVID-19 crisis, many organizations need to build robust emergency response plans, develop creative virtual community engagement opportunities and identify and implement program needs and changes,...
Post date: Friday, April 24, 2020 - 2:02pm
TOGETHER!’s shopping list for families in need included grocery items such as ramen, cereal, granola bars, pasta sauce, instant macaroni and cheese, canned fruits, vegetables, and chicken, as well as hygiene items such as powdered laundry detergent, diapers, baby wipes and formula. In normal times, these items would be easy to acquire, but these are not normal times.
In mid-April, TOGETHER! received assistance from the Thurston County COVID-19 Response Fund created by United Way of Thurston County (UWTC) and Community Foundation of South Puget Sound. The fund continues to support...
Post date: Friday, April 24, 2020 - 11:51am
Intercity Transit moves to advance reservation transit service
Bus service to be temporarily suspended
Olympia, WA – Beginning Monday, April 13, Intercity Transit will temporarily transition to providing essential trips for the public using an advance reservation system consistent with Gov. Inslee’s “Stay Home – Stay Healthy” emergency order. “We are absolutely committed to serving our customers and our community throughout this crisis,” said General Manager Ann Freeman-Manzanares. “To do that in our current environment, we have to make adjustments to ensure the health and safety of our...
Post date: Wednesday, April 8, 2020 - 11:09am
This is a frightening time. Every day, it seems, brings darker predictions about what we should expect in the weeks to come, as we continue to suffer the ever increasing economic and health impacts of this coronavirus.
And we must be realistic and acknowledge that this is not going away tomorrow, or the day after that, or the day after that. Things will get much worse before they get better. Take a moment to digest that.
Things are going to get worse before they get better.
BUT, when this crisis has passed - and it will pass - we will know much more about ourselves than we do today....
Post date: Thursday, April 2, 2020 - 11:41am
As our community continues to confront the COVID-19 pandemic, two organizations have come together to create the Thurston County COVID-19 Response Fund in support of vital nonprofits, individuals and vulnerable families. United Way of Thurston County (UWTC) and Community Foundation of South Puget Sound (CFSPS) launched the fund on March 16. They immediately received an influx of donations made by generous community members and businesses.
Meals on Wheels Deliveries DoubledSenior Services of South Sound (SSS) helps seniors in Thurston, Mason, and Lewis counties stay active...
Post date: Thursday, March 26, 2020 - 12:17pm