It is truly inspiring and delightful to share stories about local non-profits. This week, we published two fantastic articles about the good work happening in our town. It is a pleasure talk about the dedication and commitment from local leaders that are choosing to give back to the community. While these three articles, and the non-profit organizations associated with the groups, are quite different, the outcome is the same – making Thurston County a better place.
Enjoy your Sunday with three reads about organizations of amazing individuals making a difference.
The Olympia Free Clinic Treats All
Dr. Samantha Ritchie and Paula Rauen, Medical Director and Executive Director respectively of The Olympia Free Clinic, lead a team of dedicated volunteers. Each Wednesday evening, The Olympia Free Clinic opens its doors to anyone who needs medical care but does not have insurance. The small, band-aided together space bustles to life and medical personnel treat a variety of ailments that may otherwise go undetected.
Tumwater Falls Park Celebrates 50 Years
A history article in a post about local non-profits?! The Olympia Tumwater Foundation has gifted our community with the Tumwater Falls Park. For the past 50 years, the local foundation, started by family members owning the Olympia Brewing Company, has maintained the park with funding solely from private donations. (More photos of Tumwater Falls Park can be found here.)
For the next few weeks, you can visit Tumwater Falls to watch the salmon migrate – a mighty feat traveling through downtown Olympia.
Girlfriends Making A Difference, One Backpack At A Time
While this article is from the archives, the work of the Homeless Backpack program peaks during the school year. Almost 300 backpacks are packed and distributed to Thurston County homeless youth. The nondescript backpacks are filled with shelf-stable products to get a high schooler through the weekend. Kelly Wilson, one of the Homeless Backpack founders, simply states “It’s the ideal model – a community taking care of itself,” when reflecting on the team of volunteers that join together to make a difference.
ThurstonTalk aims to be your source for positive information and events happening in Olympia. If you have a suggestion for a story, send us a note at submit@thurstontalk.com. For more events and to learn what’s happening in Olympia and the surrounding area, click here.
