Blog - Olympia

StandUp for Kids Commits to "48 Hours on the Streets" Campaign to Help Homeless Youth

April 14 2022

Volunteers across the U.S. to meet homeless youth where they are, while raising awareness of the dangers typically faced in the first two days without shelter Atlanta, GA--(PRNewswire)--StandUp for Kids, a national non-profit organization dedicated to ending the cycle of youth homelessness, announced that its "48 Hours on the Streets" public service campaign - an annual event since its founding 31 years ago - will take place from April 22-24. StandUp for Kids hopes this call to action will elevate awareness of youth homelessness and the dangers typically faced in the first two days without shelter, which often include being approached by drug dealers and being lured into ...

StandUp and Move Finishes as a Major Success

November 4 2020

StandUp and Move, a national virtual event that took place from October 8 through 12, 2020, attracted 275 participants, 340 donors, and 8 sponsors. After shattering our first goal of $50,000 before the event kicked off, we ended 19% over with proceeds totaling $59,605! As the first event of its kind to end the cycle of youth homelessness, all participants got to choose a time, distance, and location to move. And did they ever: They ran, walked, biked, wheeled, skated,danced, and they cheered others on. Today, thanks to this community of friends, StandUp for Kids is able to face the critical issue of youth homelessness a little bit ...

Join Our Virtual Run/Walk/Bike Event

September 12 2020

The work we do to help homeless youth across the country get back on their feet would not be possible without amazing volunteers and supporters like you. It’s because of your dedication that we have a 30-year history as a nationally-recognized organization fighting to end youth homelessness. To show our thanks, we’ve created a virtual run/walk/bike event that will unite us all together in a safe, healthy way for an important cause. Register or donate today to our first ever virtual nationwide event, StandUp and MOVE, taking place across the country October 8 through 12, 2020. Register to MOVE! This virtual event is like no other. You will ...

Will You Be A Yes?

August 11 2020

StandUp for Kids - Olympia/Thurston County We are volunteers who want to help unsheltered at-risk youth in your community. We are pleading with you to support a youth 18-24 years of age into a safe place to call their own. If you are that person, group, or community who can help provide a safe haven, please donate. Your donation would help put four youth in a rental apartment which cost $1400 monthly. Give what you can. Every little bit helps us help them. Homes are where youth expect to be safe, comfortable, and healthy, but this is not the case for millions of youth who are at risk of poor health outcomes because of problems with housing quality, housing instability, and lack ...

Adopting Hope

May 13 2020

StandUp for Kids - Olympia/Thurston County Adopt a pet, Adopt a highway, Adopt a child in need, Adopt a homeless youth. They have the same needs, wants, desires, likes, dislikes, FEELINGS, pain, hurt, happiness, and LOVE, just like everyone else does. They (We) are all human. When's the last time you felt bad about doing something good for someone else? It's up to us to help each other out and not walk on each other!!! Everyone has a story. You can spend years making it up the social ladder of society and one mistake can make you lose everything. No matter if it's big or small. Who doesn't make mistakes? Who doesn't break? Who doesn't lose their mind sometimes? Share your happiness, share ...

Thank You Kia Motors!

April 29 2020

StandUp for Kids - Olympia Recently, Kia motors announced that they were donating $1 million to organizations working in youth homelessness, and StandUp for Kids is one of their chosen organizations! Kia Motor’s dedication to our mission and investment in our staff, volunteers, and the work we do is heartening. Throughout Covid-19, our incredible StandUp For Kids – Olympia team has continued to reach out to youth, delivering snacks bags, hygiene packs, masks, and other essentials. The streets that were once filled with bustling restaurants and lively shops are now quiet, and our homeless youth are feeling the isolated effects the virus has taken on our community. The need for ...

Our Youth Need Our Support. Will You Help?

April 7 2020

StandUp for Kids - Thurston County Over the past month, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has risen drastically in Olympia, grocery stores are emptying out of necessities quickly, and countless jobs and hours have been lost. For all, this has been a time of uncertainty and fear. For our homeless youth, this is a magnified normal of isolation, fear, and lack of resources. We need your help. Click here to support our youth. Many of us are lucky enough to be able to shelter in place and quarantine with the security of loved ones in a familiar and comfortable environment, but for our youth on the streets, this is not an option. They do not have easy access to gloves, masks, running ...

Buy or Sell a Home and Support A Kid in Need!

February 11 2020

StandUp for Kids - Olympia/Thurston County We so excited to announce this new partnership with Commission for Kids! Commission for Kids is a real estate marketing company, building a nation-wide membership community of licensed real estate agents, mortgage brokers, attorneys, title companies, appraisers, insurance agents and inspection companies through its marketing program, who make a commitment to donate a portion of their commissions and fees back to their local K-12 schools and 501c3 youth organizations. StandUp For Kids - Olympia is now one of these organizations! When you buy or sell a home through a Commission for Kids agent member in our network, upon your request, ...

Kia Calls For Nationwide Blitz Against Youth Homelessness In Super Bowl Campaign

January 29 2020

News provided by Kia Motors America Kia Teams with Standout Rookie Running Back Josh Jacobs in 60-Second Spot Focused on Overcoming Adversity and Achieving the Impossible Dream Jacobs - who experienced homelessness growing up - gives his "younger self" valuable encouragement and advice For every yard gained during the big game, Kia's "Yards Against Homelessness" initiative will donate $1,000 to three charity partners dedicated to ending the issue of youth homelessness IRVINE, Calif., Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- What would you tell a younger you trying to make your way through the world? For Josh Jacobs, who rose from homelessness in middle school to football stardom, it is an inspiring ...

Kia Chooses StandUp for Kids for Big Game Campaign

January 27 2020

Kia Motors America has announced that their Big Game commercial this Sunday will address youth homelessness. What's more, the company has decided to give a major donation to StandUp for Kids and two other organizations caring for homeless youth in America! According to Kia, "This year, with more than 4.2 million young people experiencing homelessness in the U.S., the car company known to 'Give It Everything' will use its big game advertising platform to give back in a meaningful way. For every yard gained during the game, Kia will donate $1,000 to three charity partners dedicated to ending the issue of youth homelessness and transforming the lives of young people in ...

Compassion is Contagious Award

January 23 2020

StandUp for Kids - Olympia/Thurston County This month we were honored as the Lacey City Council recognized our Olympia/Thurston County chapter of StandUp for Kids with the Compassion is Contagious Award. This award, which is a part of Lacey's "Compassion is Contagious" Campaign recognizes individuals and organizations who help make our city a compassionate place to live. We are so humbled and thankful for this recognition and were thrilled to accept the award and celebrate alongside some of our amazing volunteers who made this possible. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you!

Join us for a Spectacular Benefit Concert!

December 12 2019

StandUp for Kids - Olympia/Thurston County StandUp For Kids - Olympia is thrilled to announce an upcoming benefit concert at Le Voyeur in collaboration with 6 incredible artists! With hip-hop influences and colorful instrumentals, there is something for everyone in this lineup. At the show, we will be collecting donated items for our homeless families and youth in need to round out the year. For more details, see our events page at https://www.standupforkids.org/thurston-county/events. Can’t wait to see you all there!

A Successful Start to the Holidays!

November 27 2019

StandUp for Kids - Olympia/Thurston CountyAfter a few hours of dedicated volunteer work resulting in 200+ beautifully wrapped gifts, our StandUp For Kids Olympia team is ready to kick off the holiday season by giving! Our Holiday Gift Wrapping event was a huge success and we could not have done it without our wonderful team of volunteers and donors. From blankets to books to socks and more, we were able to fill 3 huge Santa bags with gifts which will be delivered to local shelters around Thurston County and to youth on the street. In the midst of wrapping, our team took a moment to honor and remember those who have passed away on the streets, during a beautiful candlelit ceremony led by ...

See you in San Antonio

September 22 2019

Starting Friday September 27, the entire StandUp for Kids family -- from outreach volunteers, local leaders, and executive directors, to donors, national board, and staff -- will convene in San Antonio, Texas for mark our 29th year, and partake in one very special National Conference. The theme of this year's conference is "Remember the Mission," evoking the neaerby Alamo Mission's cry. We thought it would be fitting to tie in local roots with our own mission of "ending the cycle of youth homelessness." For the young people we serve, their own plea for independence rings ever so loudly in our ears and mobilizes us to take action. Together at this national conference, we have the ability ...

StandUp for Kids Has a New Look

July 24 2019

After nearly thirty years of serving youth in need, we are thrilled to announce that the StandUp for Kids brand had a makeover! Youth-Centered Our new logo captures the awesome potential of young lives when they know care, feel loved, and have the support they need to move quickly from surviving to thriving. Youth are the heart of our organization, so it was important to convey that. The logo is youth-centered, energetic, and a clever evolution of our former look. Proud to be the Purple People Purple often represents wisdom or creativity. To the youth we serve, it represents safety, care, and support. Our kids often call volunteers the Purple People. Youth know they can trust them to get ...

Volunteer Spotlight

July 3 2019

StandUp For Kids - Thurston County This month we would like to spotlight our wonderful volunteer, Ann Heitkemper! Ann began volunteering with StandUp For Kids - Thurston County in April of 2019 and has made a big positive impact in the lives of many of our homeless youth since then. "Outreach is challenging but yet rewarding. Kids on the street are skeptical of someone approaching them. It was explained that it is important to introduce yourself and chat a bit before giving someone a card with contact information to assure they can participate in the program. Even if they do not join us later for a social event or contact StandUp For Kids, they know that there are people that care about ...

Volunteer Highlight: Adrienne

April 5 2019

StandUp for Kids - Thurston County/Olympia Kicking off our volunteer highlight this week is Adrienne Nelson! Adrienne started volunteering with StandUp for Kids just about a year ago and is now serving as our Director of Kid Support. She is wonderfully generous and manages to make everyone around her smile. "It gives me joy in my heart to go out and engage with the kids; our Executive Director has taught me so much about how important it is to build trust with them. Helping the kids and just taking a moment to listen to them is worth it. Volunteering with StandUp for Kids has opened my eyes to how real the issue of youth homelessness is and I wish I could help each and every one ...

Brave Connections

April 2 2019

StandUp For Kids - Thurston County/OlympiaBy Maija Sandberg “I'm in here!! It's me! It's you! It's you!!,” a small clear voice called out from somewhere in the corner of a field of orderly green and blue tents. We'd been walking the city's temporary managed encampment looking for teens and young adults who might be ready to talk to someone about options for their future, or just their current needs. The snow had nearly all melted. A tent quivered as we walked toward it, following the voice. Someone inside struggled in haste to open heavy black zipper that formed a C shaped front door. Stepping out, a young woman about 5 feet 2 inches tall threw her arms open wide, ...

Meet Carter Wilson, A Local Artist Doing Good In The Community

February 5 2019

This blog post was written by StandUp for Kids - Olympia/Thurston CountyIn short, tell us who you are. I’m a community member, artist, and organizer. I believe in the strength of connectivity. Intentional communication fosters specific action and lasting impact and I do what I can to create opportunities. I am a champion of authentic expression and I live by my word. Why StandUp for Kids? What made us stand out above the rest? StandUp For Kids stood out to me because of the simple word used in their mission statement: ‘empower’. A child has very little control over the circumstance they are born into. I am in support of every organization that operates with that ...

Nina's Story - SUFK - Olympia

December 4 2018

How did you meet StandUp For Kids? At Artesian Well in August 2018 through an outreach event when you brought musical instruments. I was at Purple House but I kept seeing fliers and was drawn to the idea of peer counseling. I did not like staying in shelters or in tent city so I decided to take the steps to make a change. Originally I thought you were like everyone else, someone who just handed out food or supplies. Tell us your storyI was in foster care and was not allowed social media, I could not talk to others my own age to share what I was dealing with. I would self-harm and stuff because I was attempting to cope. I had a suicide attempt ...

The Chance for a Better Life

September 24 2018

How a helping hand changes lives Richmond and his girlfriend were living with her sister until they got kicked out, along with their baby girl. They were living on the street in downtown Olympia when they saw the StandUp For Kids street outreach team and decided to ask for help. Since that day, StandUp For Kids has provided the family with mentorship, apartment resources, food and help getting a driver’s license – all to aid them in their goal to become self-sufficient. “StandUp For Kids has given us a chance for a better life,” he said. “They have always been there when I was in need. They provided us with confidence and self-worth.” In addition to the ...

Look What We Did Together in 2017

January 25 2018

A year of highlights from Eddy Ameen, PhD, National Board Chair Your support and involvement in our mission has helped make 2017 a standout year for StandUp For Kids. Our central responsibility is to our nation’s young people faced with homelessness, whether temporary or longer term. No matter the circumstances that got them there. No matter the work that needs to be done to help them transition them into safe, stable chapters of their lives. We are deeply humbled by this responsibility, and held fiercely to it through the political tumult of 2017. When some of our youth felt unwelcome, we stood taller to welcome them. In 2017, we worked with over 2,200 youth for the first ...

In 3 Years, Irene Has Helped 1200 Youth

November 22 2017

Volunteer Spotlight If given the opportunity to help youth experiencing homelessness, how far would you be willing to go? How many hours would you be willing to put in to make sure homeless youth are safe? Meet Irene. She has volunteered with our program in Olympia for three years. Irene travels two hours, three days a week to conduct street outreach with our youth to make sure they feel safe and have their basic needs met. Danny Burkett, Olympia’s Executive Director says, “Irene has been a great asset to the team. When I first became the Executive Director, she was quick to help by taking on many hats. It was a stressful transition for us all, but she has such a big heart ...

A Celebration of You: Martin Luther King Jr Day 2017

February 27 2017

AmeriCorp and StandUp For Kids - Olympia brought a safe place for homeless youth and young adults on Marting Luther King Jr. Day.Twenty- six youth and young adults were served, we distributed 4 camp packs, 6 tents, 7 tarps, 6 ropes, 10 flashlights, 7 sleeping bags, 10 toiletry bags and over 150 novels & books totaling over $2,000 in In-Kind Donations! Special thanks to Orca books, Half Price Books of Seattle, Friends of the Timberland Library, San Francisco Street Bakery, Bagel Brothers, Olympia Eagle Club and Alpine Experience for your support and donations.

1 2 3 4