What We Do
~ We Promote Awareness
Income inequality, food scarcity, homelessness, and at risk groups are often invisible to the masses of people focused on their own needs of a busy daily routine. We advocate for awareness of community members who may feel marginalized or unable to represent themselves in a positive way. We normalize discussions around topics which are important to providing a better quality of life for all.
~ We Provide
Food scarcity is certainly nothing new. Even before more people than ever started having their needs met by ‘fulfillment centers’, small grocery stores started to disappear creating virtual food deserts in the heart of our communities. Combined with lack of availability, the present economic landscape leaves low income families struggling to afford and find adequate nourishment. We work to source and provide Free Food Pickup points where anyone in need can supplement their cupboards with no questions asked.
~ We Share The Love
When we get donations and grants, we don’t just use this to fund our own projects. We find and support other non profits who’s mission align with our own goals. Additionally, we work with those groups to help shape and support their efforts, serve on their board, and collaborate with their teams to help maximize the results they can achieve.
~ We Serve
In Addition to the Dry Goods access points, we also serve weekly hot meals in multiple locations. Several times a year we organize outreach campaigns with various clothing and toy drives, free organic garden starts, and generally distribute donated goods of any type we’re able to acquire.
~ We Collaborate
We see ourselves as a conduit of positive possibilities. We’re always excited when another organization or group is doing good work. For this reason we often promote awareness campaigns, giveaways, fund raisers, social programs, advocate resources, and more. We’re selective about the organizations we work with and only choose to publicly promote groups that don’t discriminate when it comes to the assistance or support they offer the community.
~ We Do Community Outreach
We operate several Facebook pages and network with other groups to provide everything from clothes, to furniture, to safe shelter for those in need. People in need can ask for help and those looking to volunteer or donate can post what they have to offer.
We hold fundraisers several times a year drawing crowds to spread awareness and use these funds to promote community involvement, recognize local educators, and procure supplies needed to donate or distribute.
Keep An Eye Out For Us
Free Hot Pizza In The Park
Join us in George Washington park every sunday at noon. Either to help deliver Free Pizza or to enjoy some!
Free Food Panty
Pizza isn’t the only way we nourish bellies, we stock up food pick up locations with ingredients for people to feed their families.
Clothes Drive Donations
Winter is especially hard on members of our community. We help distribute donated clothes and other items to anyone that needs them.
Free Plant Starts
What could be better than giving away free food? Giving people the opportunity to grow their own. We’re proud to inspire everyone to “Eat Your Yard!”
Belly Brigade in Cowlitz Co.
We try to reach as many people as possible. In Cowlitz County The Belly Brigade serves Free Food and provides other services as a Cascadia Cares Project.
Free Hot Soup!
Delicious soup soothes the soul and nourishes the belly. That’s why we are proud to collaborate with the Amazing Emily to serve soup to the masses!
Our Upcoming Events - Come Say Hello!
Featured Event - Grow Your Own Tomatoes!
What could be better than giving away free food? Giving people the opportunity to grow their own. We’re proud to inspire everyone to “Eat Your Yard!”
May 7th: We will be at:
The Nature Nurture Farmacy 9 to 11:30 am
George Washington Park in Centralia From 12:30 to 3 pm
*Times may be delayed due to weather or logistics, message us on Facebook for more details!
Our Mission
What We Do:
More Like What Won't We Do...
When Cascadia Cares was started it was from a simple understanding that many people in our community were struggling at times and we wanted to make a difference.
It seemed like one of the clearest ways to help those around us was to start with the basics. So we began by offering free food whenever and wherever we could. At first it wasn’t clear how long we could sustain this effort, but that didn’t matter as much as the chance to do something good for no other reason than it was the right thing to do.
Much to our joy, others noticed our efforts and offered to support our goals. We received donated goods like warm clothes, flashlights, basic toiletries, and food to distribute for free to anyone that needed it with no questions asked.
We kept the basic idea of “Humans Helping Humans” intentionally vague as to not be defined or branded by any narrow scope of help that we could provide. We continue to welcome new ways to serve our community with donations and collaborations that align with our overall principles.
When life hands you a box of lemons, open a free lemonade stand!
— Our Mission
Cascadia Cares is a non-profit organization whose mission is to connect needs and resources to people. We are Humans Helping Humans.
— Our Vision
Since our inception in 2015, our larger vision has been to see a world where our services are no longer needed. That said, with a growing wealth divide and increasing food deserts it seems as though this work will not come to an end in our lifetimes. Perhaps some day people will live in harmony with the land and not horde more resources than they could ever use. Until then, we will continue doing what we can to be the change we wish to see in the world.
— Our Story
Cascadia Cares founder, Kat Thompson grew up in Midwest until 2001 when she left to see more of the world. After experiencing the counter culture lifestyle of The Rainbow Family Of Living Light, she was inspired to give things away freely to those that needed them.
While attending Evergreen College in 2015, Kat formed the beginnings of Cascadia Cares with her dear friend Charles Nesmith.
After graduating from Evergreen in 2017, she continued to grow the organization while completing a Masters in Social Work and simultaneously working as a counselor at a non-profit community health center specializing in helping people experiencing acute mental health crises.
Now with a Masters under her belt, her pursuits have blossomed many times over. Although Charles passed away in 2021, Kat, along with an amazing team of other humans, continues to dedicate themselves tirelessly towards creating a better world through efforts large and small.