Since 2001, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Thurston County have provided safe, nurturing places for Thurston County youth to grow and thrive. From its humble beginnings serving just 45 kids in what was once the bus drivers’ lounge at Tumwater High School to its now four locations across Thurston County that collectively serve more than 2,700 youth each year, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Thurston County make a big difference in the community — but the local branch of this national organization doesn’t do it alone.
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Thurston County rely on individual and corporate donations, grants and special events in order to provide safe environments where local youth can learn and grow. While monetary donations are paramount to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Thurston County’s success, there are other ways individuals, small businesses and corporations can help transform the lives of the local youth. In addition to money, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Thurston County look to the community for donations of computers, toys and even home furnishings to improve home life for local kids and teens.
When locally owned Hawks Prairie Home Furnishings in Lacey decided it wanted to make a donation to help local youth in need, owner Jeff Olson and Lorie Gizinksi, one of Hawks Prairie Home Furnishing’s valued employees, turned to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Thurston County. Lorie says the Lacey-based business chose to donate mattresses because, as a furniture store, the company couldn’t think of a better way to help local youth than by helping improve the quality of their sleep. “Most elementary school age children require 10 to 11 hours of sleep per night,” explains Lorie. “With days packed with new academic and social challenges, a good night’s sleep is vital to development, function, alertness, learning and behavior.”
Hawks Prairie Home Furnishings selected the Boys & Girls Clubs of Thurston County as the recipient of its donation due to the organization’s extensive involvement and reach throughout the community. “They were able to quickly find six kids in need of new mattresses,” says Lorie. “Our mattresses were dropped off at the local Lacey branch, however they identified children across four branches in Lacey, Tumwater, Olympia and Rochester.”
Hawks Prairie Home Furnishings made its donation earlier last month, but the local furniture store is just getting started. The company is constantly donating to many charities and organizations all over Thurston County in various ways of raising cash to donating merchandise for the organizations or auctions. The Boys & Girls Clubs of Thurston County’s Director of Operations, Shellica Trevino, says these kind of donations are life changing.
Shellica says one of the children who received a mattress was a young boy whose family was in the process of moving. “[The family] had already incurred a lot of moving expenses,” Shellica says. “Their son needed a new mattress, but they couldn’t afford one.” Hawks Prairie Home Furnishings’ donation was the difference between one young boy sleeping on a mattress better suited for the junkyard and a mattress that would help him get the good night’s rest all growing children need and deserve.
For Hawks Prairie Home Furnishings, giving back to the community is important, and it’s something the furniture store has been doing for years. “We have a history of contributing to groups and supporting local youth, and we’re thrilled to keep up the tradition,” says Jeff.
On Thursday, September 17, Hawks Prairie Home Furnishings will give back to the community once again during Hawks Prairie Home Furnishings’ 8th anniversary celebration and the 1st anniversary of its new store, Northwest Home Furnishings, in Olympia. Jeff says the two stores will be offering special customer loyalty offers and a raffle. “All proceeds from the raffle will be going to a local non-profit dedicated to helping youth of Thurston County,” says Jeff.
“Hawks Prairie Home Furnishings has had an amazing amount of support from the South Sound community, and we are honored to be able to return it and show a little love to a world-changing group — and surprise a handful of great kids in the community,” says Lorie.
To learn more about Hawks Prairie Home Furnishings in Lacey and the way it and Northwest Home Furnishings support the community, visit Hawks Prairie Home Furnishings’ website, call the store at 360-455-8845, or visit the store Monday through Saturday, 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., and Sunday, noon to 5:00 p.m.
