Submitted United Way of Thurston County
United Way of Thurston County has always been a vital nonprofit in Thurston County, but since the COVID-19 pandemic hit, they have become critical in the effort to mobilize the caring power of our community. First by initiating the COVID-19 Response Fund with the Community Foundation of South Puget Sound and then by recruiting thousands of vaccination clinic volunteers.
2020 – COVID-19 Community Response Fund
“When COVID-19 first hit Thurston County, our immediate goal was to shepherd everyone through this crisis successfully,” said Chris Wells, Executive Director of United Way of Thurston County. “We knew there would be high rates of unemployment; businesses were going to shut down, people were going to be displaced from work, and kids were going to start learning from home. We acted immediately and as effectively as possible.”
United Way managed to act as an immediate source of help before other forms of assistance could reach Thurston County, working with local food banks, Meals on Wheels and groups supplying emergency assistance to those who needed food and shelter. They helped establish the Thurston County COVID-19 Response Fund to provide a safety net for community members who had never needed help before.
2021 – Mobilizing Vaccination Volunteers
This year, United Way partnered with Thurston County Public Health and Social Services to recruit volunteers for mass vaccination clinics. Since March, the clinics have seen more than 2,500 volunteers. According to Chris, seeing the outpouring of community support was incredible. “Working for United Way is like weaving a tapestry,” she says. “Everyone in the community works together to make it better. People in Thurston County have a culture of giving I haven’t seen anywhere else.”
Chris says the community of Thurston County has given her hope. “In a time that has been so dark for so many people, it gives me enormous hope to see how well we are all working together to make a difference.”
Chris encourages everyone in the community to find their place in the tapestry of Thurston County. She highly recommends volunteering for the mass vaccine clinics or donating to the United Way.