SWONA 5/13 Mini-Meeting Recap

Plus Upcoming Opportunities to Get Involved

Author

Grace Fletcher
May 16, 2025

Hi neighbors,

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our May 13th mini-meeting! Below is a recap of what we covered, along with ways to get involved and stay connected:

1. Gloria Dei Lutheran Church Community Feedback Request
Nancy Faaren from Gloria Dei’s Planning Committee is asking for input on how the Gloria Dei Lutheran Church can best support our neighborhood. If you have ideas, please email her at [email protected] and note that you're a SWONA resident in your message.

2. $3,250 Neighborhood Matching Grant Awarded!
We’re excited to share that SWONA received a $3,250 matching grant from the City of Olympia! This will fund:

  • Supplies for a summer picnic

  • Printed flyers for outreach

  • Materials for a community garden project

  • Supplies to support a neighborhood gleaning initiative

Note on community garden boxes:
Per directive from the City, grant funded community garden boxes must be placed on public planting strips (the grassy strip between the sidewalk and the road) and no digging can be done into the ground—boxes must sit on top of the soil.
We're currently seeking clarification from our city contact for homes without sidewalks or defined planting strips. We'll send an update once we have more guidance.
If you're interested in hosting a garden box near your home, please reply to this email and let us know.

3. Neighborhood Emergency Preparedness Initiative – ThurstonCSF Grant Recipient
SWONA received a $750 grant from the Thurston Community Sustaining Fund to expand our neighborhood emergency preparedness efforts. Funds will go toward:

  • GMRS radios and first aid kits

  • Mapping and organizing block captains throughout SWONA

Our long-term goal is to establish 17 block captains per year over the course of 5 years.  The goal is to ensure we have a plan to check on each household during emergencies, especially vulnerable neighbors, and to foster neighbor-to-neighbor support when it’s most needed.

  View our evolving map here:

If you're currently listed as a block captain but are unable or no longer interested in participating, please let us know and we’ll update the map—no pressure at all. We’ve assigned based on expressed interest in our Emergency Preparedness Initiative, and we’d love to confirm participation. We truly appreciate everyone who's stepped up so far!

Apartment zones on the map are tentative. We'd love to collaborate with block captains and apartment managers in those areas to determine what makes the most sense for each complex. 

Interested in being a block captain?
Even if your block is already assigned, we’d love to add you as a co-captain or assign a nearby unclaimed area. Blocks shown in color have a captain; grey blocks are still available.

4. Outreach Flyer – Thank You Bethany & Vanessa!
Huge thanks to Bethany Weidner and Vanessa Rabito for their amazing work on the SWONA outreach flyer. This will support door-to-door neighborhood outreach/block captain introductions to inform residents about all the projects SWONA is working on. We'll be printing and distributing flyers soon—if you’d like to help, let us know!

5. 2025 Neighborhood Garage Sale – June 21–22
Flyer distribution will begin soon (once the rain clears!). We're posting them on bulletin boards and around Olympia. If you’d like to help pass them out, please join our WhatsApp group for coordination:

Want to be added to the garage sale map?
Please reply and let us know:

  • Your name & address

  • If you’re participating Saturday (6/21), Sunday (6/22), or both

  • Your preferred start and end times each day

6. May 21 – Housing Affordability Forum
A forum on Olympia’s housing affordability is being held on Wednesday, May 21 from 5:30–8:00pm in Olympia City Hall Council Chambers, 601 4th Ave. E, Olympia WA. This is a great opportunity to learn more and/or voice your thoughts or concerns about affordable housing in our city.

Additional details:

7. SWONA General WhatsApp Group
Stay connected with your neighbors via the SWONA General WhatsApp group! It’s a quick way to ask questions, connect directly with neighbors, and get updates on what’s going on.

Need help joining? Let us know and we’ll find a time to help get you set up.

8. Interest Check – Monthly SWONA Happy Hour at TOSS Taps?
We’re gauging interest in hosting a casual monthly SWONA happy hour at TOSS Taps to connect socially and unwind together. If you’d be interested in attending, reply to this email and let us know!

Thank you again to everyone who attended!
We're grateful for your time, energy, and ideas—and excited about what we’re building together as a neighborhood.

Warmly,
Grace Fletcher, Treasurer
[email protected] | [email protected]