Be a part of the solution at the rescue mission
Published 10:50 am Thursday, April 28, 2016
The reasons for homelessness are many. There’s a saying that many of us are one financial crisis away from being homeless. That saying becomes reality for many people in Kitsap County every day.
Our local safety net, which helps our neighbors bounce back, helps keep our community strong: Shelters, food programs, assistance keeping the utilities on and rents paid, job training and job-search assistance. Perhaps we’ll never completely eradicate homelessness. But we can ensure that the most vulnerable among us are cared for, that we are doing what we can to break the cycle, that those who need a hand up can find it.
Kitsap Rescue Mission is an important part of the safety net. But it, too, needs help.
The rescue mission makes a difference in people’s lives every day in Bremerton. Every day, the rescue mission provides meals at six sites, provides a place for people to shower and have a safe place to sleep at night, connects people in need with case managers and provides emergency overnight shelter.
It all takes volunteers — specifically, two people per overnight shift: 6:45-11 p.m., 10:45 p.m. to 3 a.m., 2:45-7 a.m. Because of a lack of volunteers, the rescue mission had to close for the night on recent weekends.
In a story in the April 22 Bremerton Patriot, rescue mission director Walt Le Couteur talked about the importance of the overnight shelter.
“First of all, we get them off the street, and nobody in town likes them on the street,” he said.
“Second of all, it provides a place for security and safety. One of the biggest problems with the homeless is being harassed by the police because they’re sleeping in some place they shouldn’t be or being harassed by local residents or being harassed by other homeless people. None of that goes on in here. When they’re here, they’re safe and secure.
“And the other important point is connecting them with other services in town that are available to get them out of that homeless situation.”
Volunteering is easy: “There’s not a whole lot of work to do other than maintaining the place and making sure everyone’s safe and secure,” Le Couteur said.
And the reward? “There is a human sense of helping another individual, and that probably is the biggest reward that comes out of that,” Le Couteur said.
Volunteer applications are available at www.kitsaprescue.org. Or call 360-373-3428.
