SPiN Cafe Archives - Page 2 of 5

Bright notes! …and challenges

Posted on September 16, 2022April 9, 2026

Treasurer’s report by Tom Saunders, SPiN Treasurer

The Board of Directors of SPiN Cafe are proud to say that we have a very strong balance sheet and have increased our budget from approximately $100,000 in 2021 to over $250,000 in 2022 which has allowed us to provide services to our guests that surpass our pre-pandemic levels.

This increase in services — we now open our day center 11 hours M-F, serve lunches on weekends, and employ an Executive Director and other paid staff, all while facing inflation in costs of serving our guests — has challenged us to find new financial resources. To date, we have met this financial challenge as a result of individual donations and public grants made available from the America Rescue Plan (ARPA). Our service levels today are also a result of great cooperation between SPiN and Island County Human Services as well as many other nonprofit local organizations. We are pleased with the direction we are heading and the support we currently have in our community.

We greatly appreciate our local donors and we continue to need your support more than ever.

Summer News: Dinners and a Garden

Posted on September 14, 2022September 16, 2022

by Michele Chapman

Along with the exciting return of SPiN Cafe dinners, this summer saw new growth of a different kind. Our afternoon staff member Amira was instrumental in the formation of the small garden area across from the front door of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church where we operate. She gathered quite a few SPiN guests, some materials, plants, and hard work to transform a neglected patch of ground into a beautiful giving area.

First quarter service report

Posted on May 8, 2022May 8, 2022

Welcome to Spring!

2022 got off to a frigid start in Oak Harbor, but SPiN was able to step up and offer round-the-clock shelter for two weeks courtesy of our hosts at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church. For more on that story, take a look here:

Facing a cold-weather crisis, together

In the first four months of 2022, SPiN provided 2,442 lunches – at St. Stephen’s during the week and at Hal Ramaley Park on weekends – and served on all 120 days in those months, for an average a little over 20 meals a day.

It’s spring! Let’s Fling!

Posted on May 4, 2022February 5, 2023

Are you all about great music, excellent food, and time with neighbors who care about SPiN Café?

Get your tickets today for SPiN’s Spring Fling!

Spring has certainly sprung around our gorgeous island. At SPiN, even in the season’s promise we’re reminded of the hard work we need to do every day to serve our community’s most vulnerable citizens – and to keep them safe, fed, and healthy.

SPiN’s Spring Fling is your chance to play a part as we keep that mission going.

City leaders splash for SPiN

Posted on May 3, 2022May 3, 2022

Holland Happening is an Oak Harbor tradition. In its sixth decade, the annual spring festival celebrates the town’s Dutch heritage along with the diverse cultures that call North Whidbey Island home.

2022’s event featured an extra fun dive into the deep end of fun. And fundraising.

According to SPiN board member Carol Wall, “we had a great response to our Dunk Tank at Holland Happening. The tank was a benefit effort for SPiN Cafe and the North Whidbey Sunrise Rotary Walk for Water project. These community leaders brought out lots of people to see them go into the dunk tank. It was a fun event and our two groups raised over $2,300.00 to split between us!”

Shane Hoffmire: “this will be a long cherished experience.”

Community leaders who took a bath for SPiN included City Council members Shane Hoffmire, Jim Woessner, Bryan Stucky, and Dan Evans, as well as New Leaf CEO Steve Jacobs and First United Methodist Pastor Dave Parker.