This is our 7th year. Every year the Winter Welcoming Center sees more people who are living in tents and cars. Nationally it is estimated that from 2022-23 to 2023-24 there has been an 18% increase in homelessness.

I am raising money for two entities: The Winter Welcoming Center which is a 501C3 and The Help Now Fund that is a Washington State Not for profit.

The Winter Welcoming Center just received a bill for nearly $2,000 from Mom's Laundromat for giving out laundry vouchers for 2 months when the Health Dept. ran out of funds to support this at the end of last year. There funding has recently been restored. We are also seeing increased costs for supplies because prices increase and we are serving more people.

The Help Now Fund helps the unsheltered and the sheltered with a variety of needs. On this cold night I am buying dinners from Shanghai to feed the shelter residents. (Shanghai gives me a great deal!) I have also put someone who is quite ill and another couple who needs to get out of their car for a night into in a hotel. I am helping another advocate buy propane to keep people living in tents warm, as well as gas and tabs to keep residential vehicles legal and moving. Phones and minutes are a constant need also.

1/3 of what I raise will go to the Winter Welcoming Center and 2/3 will stay in the Help Now Fund. If you wish to give directly to the Winter Welcoming Center you can do so at: Jefferson Interfaith Action Coalition.

Finally, because I now live past Cape George my vehicle expenses have increased, so if you are interested I have started a Patreon account where I will be attaching the various writings etc. that I do around the issues of marginalized people I engage with.