Letter | Thanks to many for successful shelter season

Published 3:19 pm Tuesday, May 26, 2015

I want to thank our amazing community for a very successful third season at the Snoqualmie Valley Winter Shelter.

This past winter, we opened at Mount Si Lutheran Church on December 3, and ended our season at Snoqualmie United Methodist Church on May 1.

This was quite an accomplishment and we are so grateful to our hosting churches and the city of Snoqualmie for partnering with us on this life-saving journey. We are also grateful to the hundreds of volunteers who provided hot meals every night, breakfast every morning and general donations.

This season, we provided overnight services to 94 individuals (77 men, 13 women and four children). All but five of these were from the Valley. The community provided 2,724 hot meals and our hosting churches provided 1,974 bed-nights to our vulnerable population.

Successes also included providing access to health insurance benefits, medical and dental care, substance abuse treatment, mental health treatment, food benefits, Social Security benefits, employment and housing.

Our number-one goal is to provide life-saving shelter to those experiencing homelessness. It is through our shelter that we build deep connections and lasting relationships with many who have been isolated from mainstream society.

During our off-season, we will be working with local government and area churches to build a strong foundation for our re-opening this fall.

For more on the Winter Shelter, visit www.valleyrenewalcenter.com.

Jennifer Kirk

Snoqualmie Valley Winter Shelter Director