Twisp’s Room One Keeps Caring in the Time of COVID-19

How would you like to make a difference in people’s lives during this COVID-19 pandemic?

You can do this by supporting the programs of Room One, a nonprofit social services agency that offers a wide range of programs for residents in the Methow Valley of North Central Washington.

In response to the coronavirus crisis, the staff members and volunteers of Room One have been providing cash-strapped families with food, utility support, and sometimes rent and childcare services to help them get back on their feet. Gas and food cards have also been distributed to jobless individuals awaiting the 6 to 12 weeks processing time for unemployment benefits.

About Room One

For the past 22 years, Room One has been working tirelessly to improve the health and well-being of people living in the Methow Valley. Founded in 1998, this community-led organization is committed to helping the community’s most vulnerable members, “including marginalized youth and girls, new mothers, families living in poverty, those struggling with mental illness or addiction, and vulnerable aging adults.”

The staff is trained in advocacy-based counseling and crisis support. They are extensively trained in health and human service resources, domestic violence prevention and response, and suicide intervention.

How Room One Helps

• Families can visit the center to find the resources they need, including food, housing, parenting support, legal resources, and mediation. Senior citizens can also ask for assistance regarding Medicaid/Medicare, social security, disability, assisted living, and caregiver identification.
• The Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Outstation in Room One provides nutritional assistance and education to women with infants and helps families with children under five years of age. Coupons are provided to allow families to purchase healthy food such as milk, eggs and cheese.
• Room One also provides local, high-quality organic vegetables at no cost to low-income families and to those who visit the One Stop Support Center. The health and wellness resource center also organizes a breast cancer support group, offers childbirth education classes, and conducts a Healthy Relationships & Sexuality Program at public schools.

How You Can Help

You can choose to support advocacies such as Food Access and Nutrition, Family Support, Youth Services, Mental Health Support, and Domestic Violence Prevention:

• Big-hearted individuals can donate baby furniture (strollers, high-chairs, cribs, etc.), clothing for children ages 0 to five, and maternity clothes. The collected strollers, changing tables, infant bathtubs, rockers, nursing pillows, etc., are given away for free during the Baby Item Exchange that takes place every Friday.
• Volunteers can help provide respite childcare or deliver food to elders who are housebound.
• Room One is also working on a Methow Valley Host Home program, which aims to provide host homes for youth who have lost their homes or are in an unstable housing situation. Updates on how to get involved will be posted on their site.

Pick an advocacy that is close to your heart and make a difference in the lives of those residing in Twisp, the largest town in the Methow Valley. To volunteer and donate to this worthy cause, click here.

For the latest updates on COVID-19 in Okanogan County, check out Okanogan Public Health’s website.

Browse our blog for more information on what life is like in the Methow Valley and get in touch with us at Coldwell Banker Winthrop Realty for your Twisp real estate needs. Call us at 509.996.2121 or drop us a note at info(at)cbwinthrop(dotted)com.