TRAFTON — Since October of last year, the Oso Community Chapel has provided low- and no-cost community services to the Trafton and Oso region, many through the former Trafton School building, from a fall festival and food distribution to square dancing, self-dense workshops, Zumba workouts and classes on computers, guitars and knitting.

According to Randi Ray, coordinator of these programs, the Oso Community Chapel is seeking to expand these services into a “Community Co-Op” program, which community members can learn more about at the Oso Fire Department on Saturday, March 31, starting at 10 a.m.

“Would you like to live in a community where there are folks you can call on, and friends who will be there when you need them?” Ray asked. “A community where there are good entertainment, recreation, educational, spiritual and fellowship options for your family? Would you like to live in a community where people help, share, trade, and barter goods and services? This is the kind of community we at the Oso Community Chapel are trying to advance through the creation of the Community Co-Op program.”

Ray explained that the Community Co-Op program is intended to be about neighbors helping neighbors to network and identify resources, so that the community can become closer, stronger and “better able to endure should tough times come to our state or nation.”

The Community Co-Op program features five main components:

• Providing low- and no-cost YMCA-style recreation and educational activities at the Trafton School building and Oso Community Chapel.

• Making the Trafton School building and Oso Community Chapel available for community meetings and gatherings.

• Providing for the spiritual needs of the community through the Oso Community Chapel’s chaplain service, teaching, 10 a.m. Sunday worship services and programs for young people, adult men and women, and seniors.

• Identifying community and resident needs, and organizing services and volunteers to meet those needs.

• Coordinating a community website to offer calendar information, community news, and information regarding goods and services that residents are interested in selling, trading, loaning, sharing or using for barter.

Please contact Randi or Gary Ray via email at TraftonCC@gmail.com, or by calling 360-862-3550 for additional information.