GNA Board Asks Local Residents to Give Generously to St. Christopher’s Basic Needs Fund

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Donate now to the St. Christopher’s Basic Needs Fund

A recent report by the United Way, published in The Olympian, found more than one-third of all households in Thurston County are living either below the poverty line (12%) or are earning above the poverty level but cannot afford necessities such as housing and childcare (23%). “1 in 3 Washington households struggle to afford basic life necessities,” read the headline. Here in the Griffin area, too, there are families either in poverty or unable to their meet basic needs. In many instances these are families where one or both parents are fully-employed, but where “incomes for these residents were low enough that a single incident — such as a broken-down vehicle or lengthy illness — could trigger a household crisis.” In 2015, nearly 120 children were participating in the free or reduced-price meal program at the Griffin School District.

On the Steamboat Peninsula, St. Christopher’s Community Church acts as a satellite location of the Thurston County Food Bank. But what started in 2007 as a Food Bank Satellite program has expanded into much more than just food for members of our community. Organizers at St. Christopher’s realized local residents in need required other kinds of assistance, too. Clothing, household items, cash donations, and gift cards for gasoline purchases are sometimes what’s required. Emergency power assistance has been provided in the form of aid to pay electric bills. St. Christopher’s program has even been able to obtain emergency supplies of firewood.

We have written about the activities of St. Christopher’s Community Church and their program’s coordinator, Lindy Vincent, in the past.

At their November meeting, the Board of the Griffin Neighborhood Association voted to make a $400 donation to the St. Christopher’s Basic Needs Fund. The Board challenges other local residents to make a donation now to St. Christopher’s. Click here to make a secure online donation in any amount. Specify the amount as a donation to “St. Christopher’s Food Bank”. If you prefer to make a donation by check, your donation should be payable to “St. Christopher’s Community Church Basic Needs Fund”.  The check can be mailed to St. Christopher’s Community Church, 7902 Steamboat Island Road NW, Olympia, WA 98502.

A monetary donation to the Basic Needs Fund will be put to work immediately, helping people right here in the Griffin area.

Thank you, from the members of the Board of the Griffin Neighborhood Association and from St. Christopher’s Community Church.

Posted in St. Christopher's Community Church.