South Kitsap Severe Weather Shelter for the Homeless Nearing Reality!

Some Port Orchard residents live in tents in Black Jack Creek, in the remote regions of Jackson Park or down in the wooded waterfront areas. They sleep in their cars in obscure locations so as not to be disturbed. They have kids and personal pets. Their kids go to our schools and they shop along side you whenever they have the funds. They frequent the food bank on Mitchell Road to get a few extra things to eat. They receive a monthly allotment of funds on their EBT card to buy food. They also manage through when the temperatures dip below freezing like it has for the last few weeks. 

The body of Jesus Christ must do something about this in South Kitsap. We can not and must not ignore the problem while focusing our energies on our church activities inside our warm buildings. 

Next Thursday evening there will be a training for all volunteers who would like to help with the Severe Weather Shelter that will be opening up in a few weeks. We have secured the permission to use the United Methodist Church in downtown Port Orchard for the shelter and the training next week will also be held there. If you would like to participate you will need to sign up on the DEM (Department of Emergency Management) web site for this training.

register at www.kitsapdem.org/classes.aspx

They will provide you with a downloadable application which will require you to provide your social security number for a background check. Bring your application to the volunteer training on Thursday evening. 

On Wednesday this week a group of us met for a final planning session at the First Lutheran Church.  We represented five local churches, a Red Cross representative and the DEM (Department of Emergency Management) coordinator from Kitsap County who will do the training.  This training will occur on Thursday evening, January 19th from 6pm until 9pm at the United Methodist Church (UMC). 

Supplies Needed For the Shelter

The Shelter will also need supplies to make the program happen. We will need cots, plastic covered mattresses, disposable pillows (cheap ones), blankets, and many other diverse supplies. I (Tim), Joel Faust from Harper Church and Roland from United Methodist have been tasked with securing the needed supplies. Donations are being received and coordinated at the First Lutheran Church. Their web site has a place you may donate to help purchase the needed items.  http://www.firstlutheranpo.com

 If you would like to purchase some of the needed items you may drop them off at the United Methodist Church on Mondays, 1/15, 1/22, 1/29 & 2/6 from 12:00noon to 2:00pm. You may also give your purchased items to Tim Blair and he will take them to the United Methodist Church. 

Needs List for Shelter

1. Pillows- 20-40 

2. Comforters (full sized) 20-40

3. 20 Mattresses- plastic covered- $90.00 per

4. contractors garbage bags

5. duct tape

6. rubber gloves

7. Hats, scarves & gloves

8. child & adult diapers

9. puppy pads for the beds and cots

10. cup o' noodles

11. decaf coffee

12. Lysol/ air freshener

Goodmans' Moving Party

Sound View Christian Camp- Group Coordinators & Caretakers 

On Friday, January 13th the Goodman family will need assistance loading their rental truck for their move out to their new home at Sound View Camp. 

The Goodman family at the entrance to their new camp