“Reach Out at the Well” Aims to Build Downtown Community from the Ground Up

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Sumitted by Reach Out at the Well

artesian wellOver a dozen local organizations and community projects are banding together for “Reach Out at the Well,” a street outreach and volunteer recruitment fair.

The free event will take place Friday, August 22, from noon to 2 p.m., at the Artesian Commons Park in downtown Olympia, 415 4th Ave E. All are welcome, and organizers promise free info, snacks, shade and smiles.

“There’s a lot of talk these days about how to help downtown,” said Renata Rollins, event coordinator. “There’s also a lot of action, but it’s an unsung story. Reach Out is a chance to chat with folks doing the work, learn about available resources for coping with homelessness, illness, violence or job loss, and find out how you can make a difference in the community through street outreach work.”

Participating organizations include Community Youth Services, POWER (Parents Organizing for Welfare and Economic Rights), SideWalk, Thurston County Food Bank, Partners in Prevention Education, Stonewall Youth, the Olympia Free Clinic and others. The Olympia Downtown Ambassadors will also be present.

The public can expect to find resources and volunteer opportunities for housing and shelter, youth services, back to school information, free food options, free health services, low-income pet care and more. Some tables will give away snacks and sandwiches; others will offer free on-site counseling and advocacy. Organizers will also serve lemonade made with Artesian Well water.

“It’s a real community showing, from grassroots downtown projects to established nonprofits like the Family Support Center, which is seeking volunteers for their brand new family shelter,” said Rollins, a former Downtown Ambassador. “What unites us is a desire to empower the community from the ground up. If nothing else, it’s the perfect excuse to enjoy a glass of lemonade with your family and get to know what’s out there.”

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