YOU made a difference! THANK YOU!
East Shore has just participated in our 29th year of serving homeless men at ESUC through PorchLight – formerly: Congregation for the Homeless (CFH). This program is part of the year-round rotating shelter program giving the men a safe place to sleep, obtain meals (including a hot dinner), laundry, showers, case managers and stability! Typically, every month, the men rotate to a different church on the Eastside. ESUC hosts the men in October.
This year, about 15 men occupied our Sanctuary and North Room from 6:00 pm through 8:00 am each night beginning September 29. They also “stayed in” on Saturdays, October 7 and 21. PorchLight provided a full-time staff member to be with the men at all times. The men have been kept safe and healthy throughout the year.
ESUC provided cleaning material, toiletries, food for breakfast and lunch. The men were able choose from cereal, yogurt, protein bars, snacks, fresh fruit, etc. Several members of ESUC volunteered to deliver groceries and supplies to the North Room. Thank you to Marty Wilhelm, Laurie Wick, Priya Vaidyanathan, Maureen Campbell, Tom and Kristi Weir and Don Durenberger! These items were provided by your pledge to ESUC or through generous donations of the shoppers.
Every night the men were provided a hot dinner – ready to go at 6:15 each night! ESUC provided meals all month long with some assistance from a few outside contributors. Cheryl Jurrus, Andrea Feist from St Andrews Lutheran Church; Jim and Ellen Minish. The Hyatt of Bellevue provides dinner the 1st and 3rd Monday of every month and the Muslim Community Resource Center (MCRC) provides dinner the fourth Saturday of the month, regardless of where the rotating shelter is located. ESUC dinner providers were represented by covenant circles, individuals, RE program, the Choir, and families. Thank you to: Karen Ramsahai, Mike Radow, Eric Horner, Sarah and Rick Bergdahl, Ramsey-Kerlee Covenant Circle, RE Families, Leta Hamilton, Pam Monger & friends, Deborah Boehm-Davis and Stu Davis, Andrea Kline and the Silver Glen group, Monday Night Covenant Circle, Emily Dickinson Extended Family, Bob Weiss, Laurie Wick and Evelyn and LeRoy Smith, Ann Carlstrom, Azar Bergerson Hanson, Priya Vaidyanathan, Dushyant Giniya, Katie Gill, ESUC Choir, David Langrock and family, and Craig Nelson.
Also, each night, a member from ESUC was present to host the men and assist the dinner providers. Thank you to Doug and Amanda Strombom, Grace Colton, Mike Radow, Bert Velasco, Priya Vaidyanathan, Susan McDonald, Carol Sinape, Rev, María Cristina, Caroline Haessly, Sarah Bergdahl, Azar Bergerson Hanson, Beth Wilson, and Margot Horn. Many of the hosts were present multiple nights!
A very special thanks go to our ESUC staff. Without their support, it would have been impossible to continue hosting this year. Through their support, we were able to move the men from Spring Hall to our Sanctuary building. The men were able to continue using the showers and laundry facilities in Spring Hall. Special thanks to Dianne and Rebecca for spearheading the adjustment, to Celil for his never-ending support in all ways “building”, to Nicole for assistance in publicity, to Rev María Cristina for her support and providing host duties and to Amanda for actively engaging the RE program in multiple ways from dinner to breakfast, etc.!
Funding for this ministry is provided through our Operating Fund. Your pledges are important!
As you can see – this is a big project that involves our entire congregation. Thank you to each and every one who was able to help in some capacity!
At the time of this writing, we are still in the midst of our ministry. A more detailed report will follow. Please know your kindness and generosity are so very much appreciated. The ministry team of Priya Vaidyanathan, Doug Strombom, Ralph Lutz, Milly Mullarky, and Peggy Phillips could not have done this without each of you! Please consider joining our ministry team for October of 2024! We would very much like to hear from you. We are happy to answer questions about the program. The yearly commitment is quite limited to August and September (preparation) and October when the men are present. Many hands make light work and the work is so worthwhile!
Porchlight Dinner
If you would like to hear and learn more about PorchLight, consider signing up for their annual luncheon and fundraiser at: Bellevue Homeless Shelter – CFH (porchlightcares.org). Some members from ESUC will be attending.
Thank you for your support! Contact Peggy Phillips with questions.
by Peggy Phillips