Resources for Youth in Olympia

By Miracle Negron

In Olympia, there are many resources that are available to youth in the community. The three resources I found to be the most beneficial are Community Youth Services, Brighter Futures Youth Center, and the Thurston County Food Bank. All of these services are free to utilize. These facilities are very convenient in that they are downtown and within a mile of each other.

Community Youth Services' main mission is providing services for youth to reach their full potential, making sure their home situation is stable, as well as promoting self-advocacy for the youth. They have many programs to help with this such as Independent Living Skills, Transitional Housing, and Haven House. Independent Living Skills helps youth who have been in, or currently are in, foster care with basic life skills. Transitional Housing helps provide young adults and families who are homeless, exiting foster care, or in unsafe situations with safe housing. Haven House is a crisis shelter that is education and home based. They take in youth from the ages of 12 and 17. The purpose is to address the crises the youth is experiencing at home and act as a mediator. If the youth cannot return, the staff are able to find more appropriate living situations for the youth.

The Brighter Futures Youth Center stems from Community Youth Services. This center has been a great resource in that it provides shelter for up to six youth ages 18 to 24. They also have Gravity High School which has helped many to obtain their GED as well as find employment. Rosie's Place is another good resource at Brighter Futures. Youth can drop-in and receive meals, a safe place to hang out, survival gear, as well as access to other resources they may need.

The Thurston County Food Bank is another resource that not only youth can access, but anyone who needs some extra help. They are open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, from 11am-3pm, as well as the 2nd and 4th Wednesday evenings from every month. They have fresh produce, frozen meats, cannedand dried goods, and even dairy products.

The Food Bank, as it is commonly called, also has baby food, pet food, and even nutritional items like PediaSure, Ensure, etc. on an available basis. This service follows a grocery store like environment. In addition to the food, they also provide services such as helping people apply for health care, food stamps (also known as SNAP: Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program) and even information about other resources around the community.