Program areas at Belly Brigade
Cascadia Cares Community Building and Direct Aid: Cascadia Cares, operating in the Longview/Kelso area as Belly Brigade, has provided food, water, clothing, tents, tarps, blankets, and sleeping bags to individuals experiencing houselessness. Belly Brigade also provided assistance to individuals seeking addiction recovery services and helps needy families and individuals by providing referrals to other local organizations. We also provided holiday gifts to families experiencing hardship in Longview, WA, conducted holiday outings for individuals with mental health diagnoses in Centralia, WA, and provided holiday gifts for individuals who are greatly isolated because of their severe and persistent mental illness.
Cascadia Cares Free meal programs: Belly Brigade: formed in 2016, the Belly Brigade provides meals to hungry individuals on the street in Longview and Kelso. This meal is provided without cost or pre-requisite. Free Hot Pizza: formed summer of 2022, volunteers cook and provide free pizza in Washington Park in Centralia. This meal is provided without cost or pre-requisite. Pantry: since 2017 Cascadia Cares has provided a no-barrier food pantry. This was originally located at the "Free Store" at Cascade Mental Health and moved down to the Clubhouse when the center opened in 2019. Individuals may select food items from the pantry without cost or pre-requisite. The pantry is open to everyone regardless of income or need.
Cascadia Cares Support for Other Organizations: Phoenix Clubhouse: Cascadia Cares has provided a warm meal at the Phoenix Clubhouse since summer of 2021. The food is donated to a local partner restaurant where it is cooked and delivered to the center for lunch. Cascadia Cares has also supported the Brenrose Foundation in forming their 501c3. Brenrose hosts "Housing for Hope" which is a house in Olympia that shelters youth as they age out of the foster cares system. Cascadia Cares, operating as Belly Brigade, has supported organizations in Cowlitz county that align with our mission to connect people in need in the community with resources. Grants have been disbursed to mental health and addiction/recovery organizations, those that help houseless and near- houseless individuals and families, and even PetsRpeople2, an organization that helps with pets that belong to unsheltered people.