As the semester comes to a close, many take advantage of the winter holidays by relaxing and spending time with loved ones. However, for some, winter is a season fraught with work, school and financial-related stresses. Volunteering in the community, or inversely, receiving aid from others, is a powerful way to connect with those around you. What local resources are available for students, staff and faculty?
Clark County Food Bank
Clark County Food Bank is a nonprofit organization distributing meals and goods to community members who deal with food insecurity. Collaborating with 43 partners at 130 distribution sites, Clark County Food Bank receives food from agencies and programs like Oregon Food Bank, regional food drives, farms and local grocery stores. Community members can visit the food pantry site closest to them, go through one of their drive-thrus or request food delivery to their homes. Clark County Food Bank is located at 6502 NE. 47th Ave., and their warehouse is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. every weekday.
Queer Youth Resource Center
With the motto “creating community as our center,” the Queer Youth Resource Center is a nonprofit organization providing networking opportunities, resources and events for LGBTQ+ youth ages 12 to 24 in Vancouver and Southwest Washington. The center works with existing LGBTQ+ community partners, such as Our Diverse Experiences and the Children’s Home Society of Washington, to create safe spaces for queer individuals. Inclusion, community, knowledge and empowerment are at the roots of this organization’s mission. Events centered on community and inclusion are vital for queer youth, particularly during the holiday season, when many may feel isolated by their loved ones. To get involved or learn more about the QYRC, email the organization through info@qyrcvancouverwa.org.
Cowlitz Indian Tribe
The Cowlitz Indian Tribe provides health and youth services to Cowlitz Indian tribal members and other American Indians. Their services provide traditional, modern and culturally sensitive medical practices, which aim to create balance in the physical, mental and spiritual components of life, according to their website. The Cowlitz Indian Tribe also provides childcare, housing, transportation and cultural and educational resources to Native community members. The Cowlitz Indian Tribe’s office is located at 7700 NE. 26th Ave, Vancouver, WA, and visitation hours are every weekday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Young Women’s Christian Association of Clark County
YWCA is part of the largest and longest-running multicultural women’s organization in the world. According to the organization’s website, their services strive to fight for social justice, and provide safe places for women and children to escape violence and oppression, build strong women leaders and advocate for women’s rights and civil rights in Congress. For the holiday season, YWCA plans to provide gifts to more than 12,000 families, children, youth and adults in Clark County. Gifts and donations can be sent at 3609 Main Street, Vancouver, Washington, by December 16, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 to 4 p.m. every weekday.
The Giving Closet
Regarded as a community store providing impoverished groups with basic life essentials, The Giving Closet supplies items including clothing, toiletries, emergency food and necessary household items. Opening its doors in the Vancouver Church in 2000, The Giving Closet has expanded into a warehouse space of 9,000 square feet, and established itself as an independent nonprofit in 2011. The Giving Closet is located at 2804 A NE. 65th Ave., and shopping appointments are scheduled online. On Thursdays between 2:30 and 3:30 p.m. The Giving Closet also provides people facing homelessness with a warm meal, hot drink and winter clothing. Donation hours are Tuesdays from 1 to 3 p.m. and Friday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Loving Them Forward
Operated by family and elderly caregivers, Loving Them Forward provides resources for senior citizens and caregivers in the Clark County area. The nonprofit collaborates with organizations like Elfin Services, a home care center, to promote accessible and diverse resources. Loving Them Forward connects caregivers with support services such as in-home care, medical equipment, senior living, counseling and mental health, veteran’s assistance and more. On Dec. 7, Loving Them Forward is giving gift bags to caregivers at the Clark County Fairgrounds. It will be a drive-thru event, and caregivers will need to register online. As stated on their website, the organization’s second annual Caregiver Christmas provides a space for both private and family caregivers to feel seen, heard and valued.
While the holidays bring financial burdens and stress among families and impoverished individuals, giving back can feel like a gift to one’s self and the greater community. For those experiencing hardships, Clark County and Southwest Washington offer a plethora of resources to aid those in need during the winter season.
Arabelle is a senior studying English at WSU Vancouver.