Calling All Volunteers: It’s Time to Get Wild at the Labor Day Getaway 2025!

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Volunteers Wanted!
Jungle games, glow paint, and unforgettable memories await.

If you’ve ever been to a REACH Labor Day Getaway, you know it’s not your average weekend. It’s laughter echoing through the trees, late-night campfire chats, spontaneous dance parties, and bonds that last way beyond the weekend.

Well… we’re doing it again. And this year, it’s going to be WILD.

Volunteer registration is officially OPEN, and we’re bringing the energy for this year’s Labor Day Getaway! Whether you’re a seasoned camp pro or thinking about joining us for the first time, we want you on our team.

💥 This Year’s Big Theme: Resilience
We’ve all been through a lot these past few years—and this Getaway is about celebrating how far we’ve come and the strength we carry forward. But don’t worry, we’re keeping it light, loud, and fun. Because at REACH, resilience doesn’t have to be serious all the time—it can glow in the dark.

🌿 Day 1 Theme: Jungle Resilience
We’re diving headfirst into the jungle—figuratively, of course (though rumor has it the Reptile Man might show up). This day is all about unleashing your wild side with team challenges and tribe spirit.

💡 Think:

  • Survivor-style challenges (minus the TV drama, plus more laughs)
  • Tribe games and chants
  • Creative chaos, and maybe even a few surprises

⛈ Day 2 Theme: Weather the Storm
Grab your rain boots and your grit— This day’s theme is all about tapping into the strength, silliness, and spirit that make our REACH community unstoppable.


💡 Think:

  • Mini Olympics
  • Glow-in-the-dark paint parties
  • Team relays and inflatable madness

 🎯 What’s in Store All Weekend Long:

This isn’t your average weekend away—it’s a full-on REACH-style adventure with all the good stuff included:

🍽 All meals & snacks provided – 3 delicious meals plus 2 snacks a day (no cooking, no clean-up, just enjoy!)
🛏 Hotel-style accommodations – Rooms with real beds, linens, and a bathroom—no tent camping!
🎨 Creative Expression sessions – Art-based outlets for all ages to create, unwind, and connect
🌳 Outdoor adventures – Pool time, archery, inflatables, and wide-open spaces to explore
🦸‍♂️ Counselor Crew – Each counselor is paired with 2–3 kids, building friendships and sharing the full camp experience together from breakfast through bedtime
🌈 Theme nights & social events – Jungle games, glow paint parties, and nighttime socials for kids, teens, and adults
🔥 Campfires & connection – Music, s’mores, and late-night laughs under the stars

Whether you’re cheering at the Mini Olympics, getting messy with paint, or just soaking in the joy around you—this is a weekend that fills hearts and builds lifelong bonds.

We may not have kayaks or zip lines this year, but we do have everything you need to make memories, build connections, and create a weekend full of laughter, movement, and meaning.

Whether you’ve been volunteering for years or this is your first time, you’ll be part of something that matters. You’ll help create joy, build connections, and give families a weekend they’ll never forget.

📝 Ready to jump in?
Volunteer registration is officially OPEN! Spots go fast, and we’d love to see some familiar faces (plus a few new ones).

👉 Sign up here

Let’s make this the wildest, most joy-filled Getaway yet. See you in the jungle! 🐒✨

New Labor Day Getaway Location

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Our REACH community is growing, as more and more people living with HIV join us. And we found a new Labor Day Getaway location that’s just the right size! It’s still in the “north of Seattle” region, but will be a brand new experience.

REACH staff visited the venue for an in-depth tour last week and got even more excited than we were before. The camp staff can’t wait to welcome REACH participants, and they share a similar heart for creating spaces for everyone to be accepted and flourish.

Whether you’re a potential volunteer or potential guest, we hope you’ll join us August 29-September 1! We will certainly be welcoming many first-timers and it will be a special year of Getaway.

Videos: 30 years of REACH Impact

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This is REACH’s 30th anniversary year!

Here’s a video of REACH Camp in the early years…

And here’s a video we made for the Circle of Hope celebration on May 8, 2025, highlighting direct quotes from current REACH participants; these are sentiments we expect to hear for years to come.

We want to share these videos broadly to help more people understand REACH’s long-lasting impact.

What a privilege it is to serve with REACH.

Positive Adults connect over HIV and more

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This week at Positive Adults Group, after introductions and some games…

  • One person shared about their joy at work, daily lifting the spirits of people who are sick and aging.
  • Another shared that their job is safe from recent cuts, but there’s an abiding sense of insecurity.
  • One person shared that they are reaching out to a friend whose husband died of cancer.
  • Another shared that their weight loss journey is going well but getting expensive so a different decision may be coming.
  • One person shared that gardening is their best therapy after the sudden loss of a spouse.
  • Another expressed grief over poor health and a long stay in a hotel because of ADA issues at their apartment.

Clearly, the sharing and life experiences were diverse. But at closing, every person expressed appreciation at having a safe place to talk about HIV and more. They emphasized that this is the only place they have to connect with other adults living with HIV and that’s why they come back group after group. The consensus was that everything feels just a little bit better and a little bit brighter after group.

What a privilege to create spaces like this where people can be authentic, caring, and present to each other.

Puyallup Tribe’s Generous Grant Expands Life-Changing HIV Support & Community Events

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We are thrilled and deeply grateful to the Puyallup Tribe for their generous grant, which will help us expand our programming in incredible ways. This funding will support our Spring Getaway, our Labor Day Getaway, and two new family connection events hosted at our referral partners’ locations this spring. Thanks to this grant, we can continue to offer these life-changing events free of charge and welcome even more individuals and families into our community.

At these getaways, families will experience a fully funded weekend retreat, including food, lodging, and engaging activities designed to foster connection and joy. The grant helps cover lodging and meals for 40 attendees, activity packages that include outdoor adventures, team-building experiences, and recreational fun, as well as craft supplies and snacks to ensure every participant has a meaningful and enriching experience. Additionally, the two new family events will take place at our referral partners’ locations, providing a safe and welcoming space for connection and shared experiences. These events will include hands-on crafts, refreshments, and engaging activities that bring families together in a supportive environment.

This is the second time we have received a grant from the Puyallup Tribe, and it means so much to us. Their generosity allows us to strengthen the connections that make REACH Ministries a safe and supportive space for children, families, and individuals living with HIV. These getaways and connection events are vital opportunities for our families to find belonging, build friendships, and experience the joy of community without fear of stigma or rejection.

The Ongoing HIV Stigma

HIV is not talked about the way it was in the 1980s and 1990s, but the stigma and misinformation remain just as strong. Many believe HIV is no longer prevalent, yet 1 in 300 Americans is HIV-positive. Unfortunately, those living with HIV often feel the need to hide their status due to the fear of rejection. Misinformation about how the virus spreads persists, reinforcing harmful myths that contribute to isolation. Through our programs, we provide a safe space where families can find support, education, and community without judgment.

A Lasting Impact

Grants like this one don’t just fund events; they create lasting ripple effects in the lives of the families we serve. The connections made at our getaways lead to lifelong friendships, stronger support systems, and a sense of belonging that many families impacted by HIV struggle to find elsewhere. By removing financial barriers, we ensure that every family—regardless of their circumstances—has access to a judgment-free space where they can simply be themselves, find encouragement, and experience the joy of community.

About the Puyallup Tribe Foundation

The Puyallup Tribe Foundation, in their own words:

“The Puyallup Tribe of Indians serves its members and community with generosity and is committed to building a sustainable way of life for future generations. As one of the most urban tribes in the United States, the Puyallup Tribe is committed to being a good neighbor. It is consistently one of the top 10 employers in Pierce County, it fights to protect the environment, its economic development projects create jobs, and it donates millions of dollars each year to charitable organizations through its Charity Trust Board and through donations made directly by the Puyallup Tribal Council.”

“Since 2012, the Puyallup Tribe has donated more than $18 million to hundreds of local organizations through its Charity Trust Board. In 2022 alone, the Tribe donated more than $2 million to over 100 qualified organizations through the board.”

We are honored to be among the organizations supported by the Puyallup Tribe. Their commitment to building a stronger, more connected community aligns perfectly with our mission at REACH Ministries. With their support, we can continue breaking down barriers, fighting stigma, and ensuring that no child or family impacted by HIV has to face their journey alone.

Thank You, Puyallup Tribe!

Thank you, Puyallup Tribe, for your generosity and partnership!

Our Executive Director and Event coordinator at the Puyallup Tribe
Photo courtesy of the Puyallup Tribe Communications team

 

#PuyallupTribe #CommunitySupport #HIVAwareness #EndingStigma #REACHMinistries #StrongerTogether #FamilyConnection #NonprofitImpact #Gratitude #BuildingCommunity

Happy 2025!

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The year 2025, REACH’s 30th anniversary, is brought to you by the letter R!

More to come…

Christmas party heightens joy and decreases heaviness for people with HIV

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The REACH holiday party took place on Zoom, making it accessible to participants all over the Northwest during this busy time of year. Last weekend 25 guests signed on from along the I-5 corridor as well as Eastern Washington, Oregon, and Montana. One even joined from a hospital room where she was keeping watchful care over her young child.

This party demonstrated that REACH people are getting comfortable on Zoom – the full hour was energetic sharing of anecdotes, comments, jokes, and traditions. The games we planned only fueled the fire of joyful storytelling and visiting. The quieter participants never had to worry about being “called on” since the air space was already full!

Amidst the hilarity, our guest from the hospital room participated quietly, writing comments in the chat and playing group games via the shared white board. At the end, just before saying goodbye, we rallied around her saying we would be thinking of her and her child and those of us that pray would be praying. She visibly teared up.

Thankfully, two days later she let us know that her child’s lab work came back with signs of hope and healing for the first time since being hospitalized and quarantined four weeks ago with a concerning AIDS-related infection.

Isolation comes in many forms for our participants: Fear of rejection and stigma. Life alone in a new country. Or the literal four walls of a hospital room. REACH has the privilege of being a constant presence and a steady voice of encouragement, belief, hope, and care.

The ideal atmosphere for people affected by HIV

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There’s something that frequently happens at REACH gatherings… but few other places. It could be called peace. Good vibes. A sense of coming home. Contentment. Whatever you call it, even our first-timers can sense it.

On Saturday, 32 people from the REACH community gathered for an early Thanksgiving meal. The night was rainy, and traffic was miserable as people trickled in the doors of the party. There were toddlers, children, teens, young adults, older adults, and people in wheelchairs or using canes. Food items were organized, nametags put on, and lots of introductions were made. At times food was dropped and drinks spilled; kids ran around; we played cup-flipping games, and a game called Medusa. All this might sound like a recipe for chaos, and yet that sense of peace remained.

Is it because REACH is trustworthy and confidential?

Is it because of our commitment to unconditional acceptance?

Is it because no one worries about judgment or rejection here?

Is it because of love? God’s presence? Long history? Smiles? Hugs? Attention to detail?

Rather than try to figure out its precise source, so we can “bottle it” or replicate it, we’ve learned to just notice it and enjoy. “It’s happening again,” we tell each other with a smile.

If you know anyone with HIV who could use a place to relax their shoulders, slow their breathing, settle in and be safe… make sure you tell them about REACH.

Upcoming Events December

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Upcoming December Activities at REACH Ministries

We have a wonderful lineup of events this month, offering opportunities to connect, share, and support one another. Mark your calendars and join us!

  • Sunday, December 8th: Kick off the holiday season with our festive Holiday Party on Zoom at 3 PM.
  • Wednesday, December 18th:
    • The Teen Zoom Group meets at 6 PM for connection and fun.
    • The Lifetime Survivors Support Group follows at 7:30 PM for meaningful conversations and support.
  • Thursday, December 19th: The Positive Adults group will meet at noon to foster community and share experiences.
  • Saturday, December 28th: Brighten your morning with the Ladies Zoom Chat at 9:30 AM.

We’re excited to see you there and share these meaningful moments together!