Most people are aware that the last quarter of the year is the most profitable time for retailers.
However, most are unaware that the last quarter of the year, especially December, is the busiest time of year for donations to nonprofit organizations. Around 31% of donations are made in December alone, and 12% are donated on the last three days of the year. Many donors donate due to the time of year, while others donate because it is the last chance to add a taxable donation for the current year. With this in mind, a great way to start your holiday giving is with a donation to Give Local South Puget Sound, an initiative of the Community Foundation of South Puget Sound. Give Local runs November 7-18, 2022.
With 94 current participating nonprofits, you can choose which organization you would like to support or maybe give a donation to honor the person who already has everything. But why donate now to Give Local rather than other times of the year? What makes giving this week and next week even more powerful is the $100,000 Bonus Fund provided by the Dawkins Charitable Trust. During Give Local, each charity gets a proportion of the Bonus Fund, depending on how much they raise during the Give Local campaign.
Browse the Give Local South Puget Sound website at
https://spsgives.org/o/community-foundation-of-south-puget-sound/i/give-local-2022/ to learn about the 94 nonprofits participating this year. It does not matter if you can give $5 or $500; it all adds up. That’s the beauty of Give Local. In 2021, 80% of the donations were under $200, and every cent goes to nonprofits – credit card and platform fees are covered by generous sponsors – so you truly know where your money is going. Funds raised during the Give Local campaign help nonprofits accomplish their missions throughout the year. See the full report on the success from previous years here.
History Talks! The Pig War – November 9
Have you ever heard of The Bloodless War or the War that Wasn’t? If you have spent any time at The Pike Place Market, chances are you heard something about A Pig War. Well, tomorrow night, November 9, you will get your chance to learn all about this when History Talks! The Pig War: Great Britain vs. The United States For more details, click here.
Washington Center Grand Reopening – November 13
The Washington Center is hosting its public grand reopening on Sunday, November 13. Guided tours will reveal their brand-new interior and updated lobby that includes improved flow with new concession locations and additional areas to socialize. They also added some ADA seating and wayfinding signage to assist patrons. The Washington Center building is owned by the City of Olympia; The Washington Center for the Performing Arts is a private, not-for-profit organization. For more details, click here.
Celebrate Recycling – November 15
Thurston County is celebrating America Recycles Day (November 15) by giving away one prize each week until the big day.
To enter, all you have to do is comment on one of the weekly Facebook posts at Facebook.com/ThurstonSolidWaste with a photo of Something you searched in the WhereDoITakeMy.org directory.
Do this right now as the deadline is today!
“Olympia: A True Story” November 15
The community is invited for a musical evening with Tom Dyer and The True Olympians, as they tell the convoluted tale of the making of their new album, “Olympia: A True Story,” a 40-song history album of the greater Olympia area. For more details go to https://events.trl.org/event/olympia-true-story-tom-dyer-and-true-olympians
Tumwater Historical Association in Search of a New Home
Tumwater Historical Association (THA), a local nonprofit organization that has brought history to the community for 40 years, is searching for a new home. Since 1984, THA has delighted both children and adults with its special brand of hands-on history in which the community gets to experience some of the everyday activities of the early settlers of our area including butter churning, rope making, woodworking, spinning, forge work and other crafts offered to the public over the years.
In addition, THA has also partially supported the very popular Homesteader program of Tumwater Middle School. Homesteaders is a living history class for eighth graders in which the students learn the history of their Tumwater community, along with survival skills of frontier living. As part of the program, Homesteader students demonstrate their knowledge of pioneer skills to the community through events such as an annual pioneer fair for all Tumwater fourth graders, a yearly community cider squeeze at what is now Brewery Park, and a variety of other community events. According to Anne Kelleher, THA Board Member “Thanks, in part, to help and encouragement from the community and from THA, this program has been able to continue for 27 years”.
THA has, so far, survived the economic losses brought by COVID, but in looking to the future, the officers have reached a decision to forge a slightly different path. “Our new goal is to establish a quilt and textile arts museum with an emphasis on displaying works of textile art created, not just in historical periods, but also in our own present-day community. Instructional classes, guest presenters, and partnerships with various guilds would all be part of the museum. This would not be just a museum for viewing works of art, but a living museum with creative activities taking place every day,” said Kelleher. To reach this goal, THA needs to have a home base, this could be a small storefront, a large room in an existing museum/public building, an upstairs in a historic home, a large room in a fabric or craft store, or even a small (but not too expensive) rental home. The THA board is open to all well-meaning suggestions. If you have any leads on such a place, contact Anne Kelleher at akelleher10@gmail.com or Karen Johnson at brightwaterdrums@juno.com
Balls Are Going to Drop – November 19
No, this has nothing to do with New Year’s Eve but rather it is time for the Santa’s Castle Ball Drop hosted by the Olympia Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA). This year’s “inflation event” will be held at Northwest Harley Davidson. That day, the sports balls that have been donated, will be inflated, and taken to Santa’s Castle for distribution to military families facing financial hardship. According to Dave Slotwinski, First Vice President of the Olympia Area MOAA Chapter, “the goal is to collect 1000 balls this year”. “Santa’s Castle was started in 1994 to make Christmas brighter for these families. We try to have something for every child aged 0-17 and in 2021 we served 800 families and 1700 kids”. In addition to Santa’s Castle, this time of year, Olympia MOAA is also accepting applications for their scholarship program. High School students in Thurston County schools are eligible based on their academic excellence and community service. For more information on Santa’s Castle go to www.JBLMSantascastle.org and for information on the scholarship program go to https://olympiamoaa.org/scholarships-2/
Veterans Events
For more details go to The JOLT’s Community Calendar at https://www.thejoltnews.com/stories/salute-to-veterans-concert,7931
Holiday Events
Fall into Christmas Bazaar at Tumwater United Methodist Church – November 12
Handcrafted and holiday gift items, holiday baked goods, homemade candies, jams/jellies, jewelry, cosmetics, stocking stuffers, gift baskets, items for your kitchen-your pets-your children, and more. For more details go to https://www.tumwaterumc.org/calendar
Volunteer Opportunities
Olympia Advisory Committee Members Needed
The City of Olympia is looking for community members interested in serving on City advisory committees. Advisory committees provide a structured way for residents to share opinions and perspectives, study issues, develop recommendations, and provide advice from the community perspective to the Olympia City Council. The advisory committee application period is now open and runs until Friday, Dec. 16, 2022, Membership terms generally run for three years, with appointments beginning on April 1 and ending March 31. For more details go to olympiawa.gov/advisory. The City of Olympia is also recruiting inaugural members for the recently established Cultural Access Program Advisory board. On August 9, 2022, the Olympia City Council approved the establishment of the Advisory Board, following voter approval in April of the “Inspire Olympia” proposition. For more details go to https://mailchi.mp/olympiawa.gov/advisory-board-recruitment?e=fc1ce3516e
Soliciting your ideas
If you know of a nonprofit that is doing something great, celebrating a success, needs some outstanding volunteers, or hosting an event, let me know! This column (aside from a little education) celebrates nonprofits!
Mary Beth Harrington, CVA (Certified Volunteer Administrator) lives in Tumwater. She travels the country speaking at conferences and to individual organizations articulating issues facing nonprofits. Send your ideas to her at MaryBeth@theJOLTnews.com
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