Cup of Cool Water

Cup of Cool Water (CCW) is a nonprofit ministry in downtown Spokane that walks alongside youth who are homeless on their journey of reconciliation with themselves, God, and society. Officially recognized as a 501(c)(3) in August 1997, we’ve been serving youth experiencing homelessness with compassion and love for more than 21 years. Through the gospel of Jesus Christ, we build healthy relationships and provide youth with basic services. We carry out our mission through a drop-in center, street outreach, mentorship, life skills, and bike shop programs emphasizing our core values of community, unconditional love, relationship and empowerment.

CCW staff and volunteers reach out to Spokane youth weekly, walking the streets of downtown to meet youth where they are. The primary purpose of our Street Outreach Program is to establish rapport and encourage youth to visit our drop-in center to receive additional services.

At the CCW drop-in center, volunteers and staff create a safe and consistent environment where youth can eat a meal and have some of their needs met within a loving, caring community. The drop-in center serves as a connection point between youth and our community partners including housing specialists, social service agencies and mental health professionals. It also provides youth access to clothing, showers, laundry, internet and personal hygiene supplies.

Our Life Skills classes are dynamic and empowering, equipping youth with skills essential to exiting street life. Community partners who are subject matter experts in the fields of housing, employment, money management, substance abuse and physical health teach our life skills classes. Small class sizes create an intimate learning environment focused on personal growth.

Our Mentorship program helps youth to develop self-care, self-sufficiency and relationship-centered skills. This 16-week program consists of weekly classes, one-on-one meetings with a mentor and 2 hours of community service each week. This program increases a youth’s ability to advocate for themselves, manage time, set goals and generally make better life decisions.

Lastly, Cool Water Painters is our social enterprise that gives youth opportunities to learn skills through paid job training while developing skills vital to not only gaining, but keeping employment.

Cup of Cool Water is an interdenominational Christian organization that serves youth ages 14-24 without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, gender identification, sexual orientation, marital status, the presence of any physical or mental medical condition or disability, or any other legally protected status.