Safe place Archives - Page 3 of 4

SPiN dinners return

Posted on February 26, 2022February 26, 2022

Persistence pays off, once again. It took a couple of years, but it was dogged persistence,it was relentless, and it was confident, knowing there will be good days ahead.

SPiN Executive Director Michele Chapman has announced that, on March 15, SPiN and St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church will once again welcome guests for dinner.

St. Stephen's welcomes SPiN guests — Welcome home, friends. We’ve missed you.

Evening meals will be served from 4:30 – 5:30 PM on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays in the St. Stephen’s parish hall, 555 SE Regatta Drive in Oak Harbor.

Volunteers will be needed. Volunteer information is available by clicking here.

“It’s a win, right?”

Posted on February 18, 2022February 18, 2022

Michele Chapman made the introduction, with a twist. SPiN Cafe’s Executive Director, full of gratitude and admiration, presented David Thorson, saying: “You can’t be The Morning Person without being a morning person.”

It sounds obvious, but it’s still impressive. Not everyone can pull off what David Thorson does, with the enthusiasm David brings with him every morning. And he’s so matter of fact when he describes arriving at SPiN daily at 6AM. Listen close, and you’ll hear the smile in his voice.

No doubt, there’s a smile behind that mask.

“I unlock, prepare SPiN for guests to arrive, get the coffee going, breakfast and snacks ready.” And most important, David says, “I’m there to make SPiN Cafe comfortable and safe for our guests. Especially safe. That means sometimes I have to go over our code of conduct with them, and when I do, it’s all about safety.”

Compassion is Good Business

Posted on February 17, 2022February 17, 2022

The opening question comes in pretty soft.

Bryan and Carrie Stucky glance at each other in response, like they know their answers will be different.

The question, for the record, was, “How did you get involved supporting SPiN Cafe?”

As a business owner considering a run for City Council last year, Bryan needed to learn more about the people of our town and the issues they face. He’s a board member at North Whidbey Help House, where he sees the business side but is a bit removed from the services they provide. So he started asking questions, and he connected with SPiN Executive Director Michele Chapman, who was happy to help him expand his knowledge.

“It was mostly from a practical perspective,” Bryan says. “It was about business. My wife Carrie looks at it with, I’d say, more compassion.”

Across the table, Carrie smiles and shakes her head. She’s not so sure she has more compassion than Bryan. “But it makes me so sad to see the lack of kindness and understanding in our community about homelessness and poverty.”

Facing a cold-weather crisis, together

Posted on January 26, 2022January 26, 2022

It took a team to make it happen.

With local resources stretched thin for people living outside in freezing temperatures, SPiN Café stepped up along with Island County Human Services, The Haven, supportive churches, and individual community members to keep guests safe and warm. A Whidbey News Times article featured words from our own Michele Chapman, SPiN Executive Director. Take a look right here:

Agencies work together to provide shelter from the cold

Make Giving Tuesday a SPiN Day

Posted on November 12, 2021November 12, 2021

As our fall weather gets wetter and colder, SPiN’s guests find themselves more in need than ever of shelter and warmth. And as our days get shorter and darker, SPiN continues to be a beacon of friendship, dignity, and hope.

Be a part of Giving Tuesday and support SPiN on November 30.