Posts about Volunteer

Give Thanks and Give Back | Vancouver WA Charities and Food Banks

Thanksgiving isn’t just a time to give thanks, it’s also a time to think about how we can give back. People need help now more than ever, and Vancouver has numerous opportunities for volunteering and donating throughout the year. Last week we talked about the Clark County Food Bank . This week w e’ve linked a comprehensive list of local charities and volunteer opportunities at the end of this blog. Read on to see a few of the major Vancouver charities and food banks you can give back to this winter. Winter Hospitality Overflow (WHO) The Winter Hospitality Overflow is an incredible organization that works with the homeless community in Vancouver, Washington to help those in need during the winter’s coldest months. Guests are offered a warm place to sleep, a hot shower, and a meal. These are basic human needs that are often hard to come by for the homeless community, and the winter is an especially tough time. WHO usually has hundreds of volunteers, but this year they’ve had to resort to paid staff instead of volunteers to ensure safety and hygiene precautions. To meet these costs, they need to raise $50,000 to ensure that the WHO program can continue to serve the community during these trying times. Visit their website to learn more, and donate today! The Giving Closet The Giving Closet ’s motto is “no one should be hungry, unclothed, or unloved within our reach,” and they really live up to that! Founded by the Vancouver Church back in 2000, The Giving Closet has a 9,000 sq. foot free community store that supplies basic life essentials such as clothing, toiletries, food, and household items. They also provide books and toys! Visit their website to learn more, and donate some much needed winter clothing. Share Share has been serving the people of Vancouver for over 40 years! This organization has helped thousands of people in need, providing services to individuals and families in a variety of ways. They work with numerous Share partners to provide housing for people experiencing homelessness, including the Share House, Share Homestead, and WHO. They have an Outreach program that services over 1,100 hard to reach and hard-to-serve homeless individuals each year. Share provides everything from clothing and hygiene to laundry and showers. They also have case managers who can meet with clients and help assist them with existing social services, find stable housing, and more. Learn more on their website , and consider donating this winter. There are so many more non-profit organizations and charities in the area. You can find a full list here , and research which ones you would like to support before donating. If you decide to donate or volunteer, share your story with us on social media! Come back next week for more Thanksgiving food and activities going on in Vancouver, WA.

Thanksgiving Turkey Trots in Vancouver WA

November is a special time of year to think about all the things we have to be thankful for and give back to the wonderful community we live in. An excellent way to do this is by participating in the local Thanksgiving Marathon! Read on to learn about the Clark County Turkey Trot, where to sign up, and why it’s so special to the people of Vancouver, WA. Here are some quick details about this family-friendly Turkey Trot! The race itself is a 5k or 10k Run/Walk, taking place on Thanksgiving Morning - November 26, 2020. The race follows a pre-marked course that you can find on the website, and for this unique year if you want to race at home you are more than welcome! The official courses will still be marked with Start/Finish signs and 5K turnaround signs on Thanksgiving morning from 8 am-10 am! There are courses for Ridgefield, Camas, Lewisville, Salmon Creek Trail, and along the Waterfront. The cost to join is just $20. The Polar Plunge is not included in that, as that part of the race has been canceled this year. That $20 covers registration, a t-shirt, finisher’s magnet, and race bib! The Clark County Turkey Trot is a long-running (pun intended) turkey-trot sponsored by numerous local businesses. The list of sponsors for 2020 includes Heritage Bank, Barre3, Clif Bar, Columbia Sportswear Company, coreTek, The Old Spaghetti Factory, and more! This fundraiser gives 100% of the proceeds from the race to the Clark County Food Bank. The Clark County Food Bank is essential to alleviating hunger and food insecurity in Clark County. They are a grower, gleaner, and supplier of food and provide a critical link between resources and people in need! This organization is an incredible force, distributing 8 million pounds of food and 6.7 million meals a year. There is a great need for help with over 100,000 hungry people in Clark County, and the Clark County Turkey Trot is just one way to give back and help your community this holiday season! If you participate in the race, take a photo and share it with us on Facebook or Instagram ! Come back next week for a blog featuring more ways to pay it forward this holiday season. Have a good weekend everyone!