Volunteers and donations needed.

–EDITED 12/7/16, 1:07 PM, to update shelter hours, volunteer opportunities and items needed. Also, the city has asked that the shelter be kept open for the evening of 12/8 through 7 AM 12/9.–

Who operates the shelter?

In partnership with the City of Kent and Catholic Community Services, Kent Lutheran Church (336 2nd Ave. S., Kent, WA 98032) serves as one of the South King County locations for a Severe Weather Shelter when the City of Kent declares the conditions warrant it.

When is the shelter open?

Working closely with Catholic Community Services, Kent Lutheran Church is prepared to open its doors to homeless people between November 1 and March 31. It is also the only emergency shelter in South King County with a generator if there is a power outage affecting the downtown Kent area.

The shelter will be activated by the City of Kent Housing and Human Services Manager when temperatures fall below 32 degrees for 24 or more consecutive hours and/or snow accumulation exceeding or expected to exceed 3 inches in depth and/or other conditions deemed severe enough to present a substantial threat to life or health of homeless persons.

On nights when the shelter is operated, the doors typically open at 9 PM and registration is required. The shelter closes at 7 AM and clients must leave.

On Dec. 6, 7 and 8, they will open at 5 PM and serve dinner around 6 to 6:30 PM.

Who is eligible?

Capacity at the Kent Lutheran Church shelter is 50 people. Kent Lutheran will accept residents who are referred to Kent Lutheran by service providers, emergency services, faith groups, walk-ins, or other referrals. All are welcome, but priority is given to homeless families with children who are living on the streets or in vehicles. Men are housed in one room, women are housed in another, and families are housed in a third area.

Volunteer support

Kent Lutheran Church will supply volunteers to help prepare shelter mats to be used; prepare meals for shelter residents; sanitize, clean and store shelter mats; and clean the shelter area. Volunteers will be on hand to monitor over-night shelter with guidance of the paid staff of Catholic Community Services.

Volunteers are needed to serve dinner and breakfast, make lunches and wash blankets and pillowcases. Also, donations of lunch meat, peanut butter bottled water and juice boxes for lunches are needed, along with milk, sugar, coffee, powdered creamer and plates and cups.

If you’d like to sign up, please visit this Google doc to indicate how you can help. You can also contact Toni Troutner via email at [email protected] or by texting 253-951-7765.

Questions?

Contact Kent Lutheran Church at 253-852-2057 or Housing and Human Services at 253-856-5070.

If you know of an individual or family who needs shelter on cold nights, please tell them about the shelter or refer them to Housing and Human Services or Kent Lutheran Church.

Dana Neuts

I am a full-time freelance writer, editor, marketing pro and the publisher of iLoveKent.net.

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