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Would you like to help others but don’t know what to do or how to get involved? Attend this year’s annual party in Olympia, The Garden Party. You can help celebrate local volunteers, talk with like-minded individuals, and get ideas of how you can make a difference. Additionally, your admittance ticket will help people in great need.
The event is sponsored by Interfaith Works (IW), formerly Associated Ministries, a group mentioned in a recent JOLT article on the life of Gladys Burns. IW invites faith communities, people of faith, and those searching for meaning, to work together locally and help others in need.
This article shares a bit about the three 2023 awardees to be celebrated tomorrow evening, Saturday, August 12, 2023, 6:30 - 8:30 pm at the Center for Spiritual Living, 3437 Libby Rd NE, Olympia, WA. They include volunteer of the year, Khurshida Begum; faith community of the year, Olympia Unitarian Universalist Congregation; and business of the year, L&E Bottling Company. Click here for event details.
A motivational speaker/trainer, Khurshida Begum has presented in 36 states and internationally, plus in schools locally. She also serves in the African Family Holistic Health Organization (AFHHO) and started the ASHHO Cultural Community & Job Training Center at the former Pellegrino's Event Center in Tumwater. The training component of the center is slated to open in early 2024.
She speaks on topics as diverse as human trafficking, slavery, kindness, happiness, faith over fear, building bridges, and mentorship.
The Cultural Center provides a wide range of fun, educational, engaging gatherings, and events. The food service job training program, was purchased from FareStart Catalyst Kitchen, to help people facing barriers to employment and resources.
According to IW Executive Director Meg Martin, “We nominated Khurshida Begum as IW volunteer of the year for her ongoing support of IW homeless service programs, specifically for donating hundreds of meals to the code blue shelters (hazardous weather response), always looking for ways to support Interfaith Works and get the word out about our services.
“She is a powerhouse in the community who deeply embodies the practice of collaboration and interconnectedness. Additionally, she has helped us deepen relationships with the Islamic Center of Olympia who is one of our IW faith community members.”
“Khurshida is always asking, what more is needed, how can I help more!” laughed Martin, grateful on behalf of IW and the individuals served. But Begum brushes off and even seems impatient with accolades for her humanitarian efforts. She counters with attitude, “That’s part of our job,” she staunchly insists, “of existing in this world.”
And so it is. If only we all felt that way – and acted on our feelings.
IW nominated Olympia Unitarian Universalist Congregation (OUUC) for providing cooked meals at the shelter for the last nine years. The congregation’s Reverend Mary Gear said that Reverend Sara Lewis, OUUC's Director of Community and Faith Development, will accept the honor at the Garden Party.
The OUUC congregation is one of the most consistent faith communities collaborating with IW. They have provided volunteers, coordinated meal making and delivery, and appeared as familiar faces to meal guests for almost a decade.
“Beyond that.” Martin commented, “OUUC was an active participant in the rotating women's emergency shelter that operated between November and April for over 20 years. OUUC would host lodging in their building, a two-week shift, and provide all the volunteers needed from their congregation to operate the shelter. Many of the meal coordination volunteers were also a part of that decades-long effort.”
In addition, these faith members have hosted Interfaith Works Earth Day events, Resetting our Sacred Table, the Day of Remembrance support and contributions. They also regularly supported the IW financially, with Rev. Gear also helping with the Lummi Nation’s Totem Journey in 2021, at Percival Landing.
One example of our financial support over the years,” explained Rev. Gear, “is that of book sales supporting Olympia-area organizations. ‘Books, Brownies and Beans,’ or BB&B for short, are sales run by volunteers (many of them!). All proceeds go to support services. This year we did two sales, one onsite last Fall and one online this Summer. IW was a beneficiary of the proceeds.”
With its founding in 1945, L&E Bottling Company, Inc. is a 4th generation family business in Thurston County, distributing a number of America’s iconic brands for over 65 years. Owned and operated by the Charneski family, the company serves Thurston and Lewis counties, plus the southern half of Mason County
The company operates with a fleet of more than 70 vehicles and 75 employees out of a 60,000 sq. ft. warehouse in Olympia.
“L&E Bottling Company was nominated for having donated nonalcoholic beverages at all of our fundraising events for many years.” Martin commented, “We are an organization that values recovery. Often fundraising events do not prioritize nonalcoholic beverages and L&E's consistent support ensures that we always have options for people no matter their beverage of choice. It is very important for everyone to feel included and welcome.”
Martin explained the process for selecting awardees, “Our event committee, board of directors, and staff put in nominations months leading up to the announcements, and then we discuss as a group how to decide who to choose. We also look at past winners and try to ensure that our wide network of supporters is recognized. Over the years we have had different categories like Organizational Partner of the Year, and Lifetime Achievement based on what is happening in our organization and community.”
“Every summer, we gather to appreciate those who have gone above and beyond for our community.” Martin explained, “This sweet event focuses on awards for those who have performed outstanding service to their community. This year we are going more casual, focusing on the day's most important meal, DESSERT! Please join in and help celebrate these truly amazing and inspiring community members!”
“Personally, Martin said when asked about her own feelings, “I am moved by the fact that each of these nominees has been involved with and supporting Interfaith Works for nearly three decades collectively. I am so grateful for their consistency, their ongoing commitment to supporting social justice work, community organizing, and care for the most marginalized people in our community who are living on the streets and in shelters.
Interfaith Works promotes interfaith understanding, cooperation, and serving the community through charitable, social, and educational endeavors. From their earliest day as the Council of Churches (1969) to Associated Ministries (1973), and now as Interfaith Works (2003), they serve the community through many programs with the help of their partners.
Though it is called a “garden party,” don’t worry about dressing up for an evening with delectable desserts and outstanding service awards. Casual, fun, and actual garden attire are highly encouraged: Center for Spiritual Living, 3437 Libby Rd NE, Olympia. Saturday, August 12, Social Hour, 6:30-7:15 pm, followed by a program ending at 8:30 pm. Tickets are $25 and may be purchased online or at the door.
Shirley Stirling, of Lacey, writes about good things people in Thurston County are doing. If you’d like to nominate someone to be profiled, contact her at shirley@theJOLTnews.com or comment below.
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