Thurston County’s Resource Hub celebrates big win for community

Thurston County’s second annual Resource Hub Block Party saw more than 400 residents gather to access services that ranged from vaccinations to housing assistance to free haircuts. And last week, Thurston County recognized evergreenDIRECT Credit Union (eDCU) for serving as the title sponsor of the family-friendly event that helped community members and highlighted a serious purpose: providing upstream support that diverts people from the costly cycle of court and corrections involvement.

“This is what smart, collaborative government looks like,” Carrie Hennen, Thurston County director of pretrial services, said in a county news release. “Each time someone in our community gets the support they need to avoid the county’s justice system, that’s a better outcome for them and saves resources for our county.”

Since its launch, the county’s Resource Hub has served more than 5,000 people, according to the county in a news release. This year’s event, made possible through title sponsorship from eDCU, support from last year’s sponsor Molina Healthcare, and from 175 community partners, demonstrated the growing reach of the county’s program:

• Public health services: 58 children received vaccines, and 66 community health assessments were completed.
• Essential support: services like free haircuts, pet grooming, and showers were provided.
• Life-saving donations: the Lifestream Cascade Blood Bank collected 17 units of blood. Officials say that’s a record for them, according to the county.

For Thurston County Commissioner Rachel Grant, who spoke at the event, the Hub’s impact is clear.

“The heart of this place isn’t the services; it’s the people — people who deserve to be seen for their potential, not their past,” she said.

eDCU CEO JohnPaul McGee echoed the sentiment, noting the alignment between the credit union’s mission and the Hub’s vision.

“We’re focusing on helping people with low and moderate incomes grow stable roots in this community,” he said. “That means access to financial tools and education, which helps create long-term stability.”

That alignment is what makes the Hub more than just a one-day event, said Thurston County Resource Hub Program Manager Nathanael Block.

“We’re building a network that connects public health, human services and financial literacy with the people who need them most,” Block said. “Each sponsor, each service provider, each resident who shows up — together we’re building momentum in the right direction.”

To learn more about Thurston County’s Resource Hub, visit https://tinyurl.com/2ps8jp5b.