The Volunteer Center of Lewis, Mason and Thurston Counties Events

A Table for Olympia

The Table is back! On Saturday, September 11, from 4 to 8 PM,a downtown Olympia street will once again host a giant picnic table for hundreds of your closest family, friends, and neighbors.

Last year, over 500 people attended the first Table. This year, Fifth Avenue between Washington Street and Franklin Street will be closed to traffic and open for a potluck served family-style.

The event is free. To help pay for it, beverages will be available for purchase, including at a wine and beer garden in the parking lot of First Citizens Bank.

Attendees are asked to bring a potluck item to share, plus their own plate, utensils, napkin, and cup. Organizers are aiming for a zero-waste event. Please leave four-legged friends at home. 

Organizers will provide tables and chairs, though attendees are asked to bring a portable chair if they can. There will be live music by Artesian Rumble and other bands, plus games and entertainment for all ages.

A Table For Olympia is sponsored by the Olympia Action Network and the Volunteer Center of Lewis, Mason, and Thurston Counties.

“It’s a summer picnic and a neighborhood celebration,” said Jessica Leiderbach, co-chair of Olympia Action Network. “We invite everyone to join us on Saturday evening to celebrate our community, the fantastic neighborhood of downtown Olympia, and each other.”

“Of course, September 11 is also the National Day of Service and Remembrance,” said Sara Ballard, executive director of the Volunteer Center. “I hope this event reminds people of what a great community we have and inspires them to get more involved.”

The Olympia Action Network and the Volunteer Center both offer many opportunities for volunteering and service in our community.

Olympia Action Network offers a free and easy way to volunteer, designed for people who want to get involved but don't know where to start. They believe that community service is a fun and essential part of creating strong communities and a balanced life. Inspired by President Obama's call for change, OAN provides opportunities to “be the change.” Members themselves organize the monthly activities, with no management structure and no fee to join, and members can participate whenever it makes sense for them. Visit www.olyactionnetwork.com or call 360-280-3436 for more information.

The mission of the Volunteer Center of Lewis, Mason, and Thurston Counties is to support volunteer efforts to address community needs; and inspire, engage, and mobilize volunteers. The Center accomplishes this mission by connecting people with opportunities to serve, offering volunteer management training and the promotion of volunteerism. The Center also provides more than 3,000 volunteer referrals per year, works with more than 250 nonprofit and public agencies in its service area and offers more than 650 volunteer opportunities at www.volunteer.ws or 360-741-2622.

Expenses for A Table for Olympia are offset by contributions from the Arts Alliance of Downtown Olympia, First Citizens Bank, and the Olympia Downtown Association. The media sponsor is Everyday Olympia, at www.everydayolympia.com.

Day of Caring - September 24 - sign up your team today

The biggest one-day volunteer event in Thurston County is coming up again soon. Sign up your team today!

Day of Caring is an annual event, held this year on September 24, where hundreds of volunteers from throughout Thurston County join local nonprofit and other community organizations to work on service projects. Participating organizations are matched with volunteers who give their time, talents and services to make a hands-on difference in our community.

Day of Caring has a significant impact on the needs of local nonprofits. It also enables volunteers to meet new people, work as a team, and gain new experiences.

To register your team or browse the projects, visit http://bit.ly/DayOfCaring or call 360-741-2622.

An "after-hours" party will be held for Day of Caring participants at the Olympia Farmer's market, from 5:30 - 9:00 p.m. There will be food, beverages and live music. Tickets can be purchased in advance from United Way for $10, or at the door for $15.

Day of Caring is a partnership between the United Way of Thurston County and the Volunteer Center of Lewis, Mason & Thurston Counties. This year, they also are coordinating with The Evergreen State College and Saint Martin's University, to engage local college students in meaningful, hands-on projects.

Day of Caring is generously sponsored by Heritage Bank, O Bee Credit Union, Olympia Federal Savings, Providence St. Peter Hospital, TwinStar Credit Union, and Group Health Cooperative.

This event also kicks off United Way's annual fundraising campaign. This year's goal is to raise $1.4 million for health and human service programs in Thurston County.

The mission of the Volunteer Center of Lewis, Mason and Thurston Counties is to support volunteer efforts to address community needs; and inspire, engage, and mobilize volunteers. The Center accomplishes this mission by connecting people with opportunities to serve, offering volunteer management training and the promotion of volunteerism. The Center also provides more than 3,000 volunteer referrals per year, works with more than 250 nonprofit and public agencies in its service area and offers more than 650 volunteer opportunities through at www.volunteer.ws.

Extreme Build Lewis County

The Volunteer Center of Lewis, Mason, and Thurston Counties is now registering volunteers for Extreme Build Lewis County. Everyone is welcome. Volunteer opportunities range from skilled construction work to unskilled labor to serving lunch for the other volunteers and much more. Volunteer shifts are available all day from September 5 to September 12. To register or for more information, visit www.volunteer.ws or call 360-748-2500.

About Extreme Build Lewis County

After the flood of 2007, almost everyone in Lewis County knew of someone in desperate need. Seeing this need and being inspired by the goodwill of our neighbors, the nonprofit organization Renew Lewis County created the project Extreme Build Lewis County, with support from the Volunteer Center of Lewis, Mason, and Thurston Counties. The purpose of this project is to seek out an inspirational family, residing in Lewis County, who has a special need for their home to be replaced. Their existing home will be deconstructed and rebuilt in seven days.

Earlier this year, nominations were accepted for inspirational and deserving families who currently owned a home in disrepair. From many worthy nominees, one family was selected. Raelene McElvain and her children, Lara, Calla, Natalya, and Shay, were among those who saw their house flooded and condemned. To this day, they have been forced to live elsewhere; in fact, Shay has not been able to live with his family since the flood, and misses being under the same roof with his mom and sisters.

In a span of seven days, from September 5 to September 12, volunteers will construct a brand-new home for the McElvain family.

The project is primarily supported through sponsors who generously donate labor or materials for the construction of the home. Renew Lewis County has partnered with United Way of Lewis County to ensure all donations are tax deductible.

But the success of this project will also depend on our sponsors the community volunteers that donate their time to assist with the completion of the home. Volunteers will many different skill sets and skill levels are needed. Volunteers do not need construction experience.

From the moment the project starts, the construction teams will be working around the clock to ensure the home is completed in just one week. Advanced construction techniques will be utilized to accelerate the standard construction process, such as pre-framing all of the walls offsite and using concrete curing accelerant. However, the greatest gain will come from the large volume of man power through sponsors and volunteers.

And on September 12, the McElvain’s will be handed the keys to their new home.

More information about Extreme Build Lewis County can be found at www.renewlewiscounty.org.

About the Volunteer Center

The mission of the Volunteer Center of Lewis, Mason and Thurston Counties is to support volunteer efforts to address community needs; and inspire, engage, and mobilize volunteers. The Center accomplishes this mission by connecting people with opportunities to serve, offering volunteer management training and the promotion of volunteerism. The Center also provides more than 3,000 volunteer referrals per year, works with more than 250 nonprofit and public agencies in its service area and offers more than 650 volunteer opportunities through at www.volunteer.ws.