The City of Oak Harbor issued the following press release on Mon., Nov. 18, 2024 on the city’s website.
OAK HARBOR, WA — In response to questions and concerns from the Oak Harbor community regarding SPIN Cafe, a public conversation and presentation will take place at City Hall to provide transparency and encourage open dialogue. SPIN, (which stands for Serving People in Need) Cafe provides services to the city’s underserved population. The presentation, hosted by the SPIN Cafe Board of Directors, will take place at 6:00pm on December 4th at City Hall (865 SE Barrington Drive).
SPIN Cafe has been a trusted resource for the homeless and low-income residents of Oak Harbor since 2012, offering a safe, welcoming space where individuals can access hot meals, shelter, and other essential services. The Cafe operates as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, partnering with local agencies, volunteers, and the community to support some of the city’s most vulnerable populations.
“SPIN Cafe has always been committed to helping those in need while ensuring a safe and respectful environment for all,” said Marc Stroud, President of the SPIN Cafe Board of Directors. “Our mission has been and will continue to be, to provide food, shelter, and connection for individuals who need assistance. This event will allow us to address the community’s concerns and share how we work together with local agencies, volunteers, and law enforcement to serve those who are struggling in Oak Harbor.”
During the conversation, the SPIN Board will outline its ongoing partnerships and the ways it serves the community. The event will also include an open Q&A session, where attendees can ask questions and discuss how SPIN Cafe operates in the context of the Oak Harbor community.
SPIN Cafe’s mission is centered on offering a hand up, not just a handout, by providing a safe space where guests can access support services and receive a meal. It serves as a critical point of contact for individuals struggling with homelessness, many of whom are local residents facing challenges related to mental health, addiction, or economic hardship.
The public is encouraged to attend and participate in this important conversation to better understand the role SPIN Cafe plays in the Oak Harbor and to engage in a conversation about the challenges and opportunities of addressing homelessness locally.
For more information or media inquiries, please contact:
Magi Aguilar
Communications Officer | City of Oak Harbor
maguilar@oakharbor.org
Letter from SPIN Cafe Board President Marc Stroud
SPiN Cafe has been an active member of the Oak Harbor community since 2012, offering a helping hand to the city’s needy and homeless population. In regards to this, SPiN Café has been a responsible neighbor providing a safe and secure space for anyone in our community needing help.
Our mission throughout these 12 years has been to reach out to our homeless poor and get them off the street, providing for their needs in a safe and friendly atmosphere. Food, shelter, and other basic resources are offered at SPiN.
SPiN Café is recognized by Federal, State and County agencies as a (501c3) non-profit organization. In cooperation with the government and other like-minded non-profits in Oak Harbor, we work in coordination with community representatives and the local Oak Harbor Police to fulfill its mission in the Oak Harbor area.
The café has served thousands in need. This has been accomplished primarily because the people of Oak Harbor community have stepped up to the plate to volunteer. Volunteers from all over the city, all the churches, the Lodges, and the Navy Base are there to make and serve the meals and to make sure the Café is open for service.
SPiN receives support financially from local citizens, county funding and HUD monies.
Our base of support from local volunteers is especially unique because they are committed to taking time to listen ands socialize with the guests and treat them as a friend and neighbor.
SPiN Café deals with troubled people, that is true. Homeless people are all too often burdened by addiction or mental health problems. We cannot begin to solve the problems that our guests are dealing with, but we can offer a helping hand. We cannot change the face of poverty by closing the door or driving them out into the streets or pushing them to larger cities to deal with. Oak Harbor is the home of our guests and very often they are from local Oak Harbor families who cannot manage their relative. SPiN Café provides a meeting place where county and public resources can be administered. They are “our” people, to help and nourish.
President, Marc Stroud, Chairman of the SPiN Board of Directors
