From Don Fornoff, the Bishop’s Taskforce on Homelessness:
This past week I was inspired by the story in the Everett Herald of a woman who started her own non-profit to feed people in Everett. To me, that is initiative, commitment, and love. What I take from that is anybody, any parish, can do something to serve folks who need a hand.
In this short piece, the Bishop’s Task Force on Homelessness understands that planning is necessary to identify what is needed to serve and how to get it done. This time of year is good for doing just that. The Task Force will continue to recognize those parishes for their actions to serve our unhoused neighbors. Yet, reviewing activities and goals is always good for improving the steps being taken. Our resource website is where to start: https://sun-ww.org.
Please consider these kinds of activities:
- Feeding programs, whether in support or doing it yourself;
- Support food banks;
- Safe Parking;
- Building Tiny Homes;
- Go to a tiny house village and ask how to help;
- Join an Ecumenical group to build supporters;
- Find out in your area what organization is serving people experiencing homelessness;
- Provide temporary shelter;
- Provide a Cooling Center (It’s gettin’ hot out there);
- Make Safety Pouches;
- Put together Manna Bags and hand them out; or,
- Consider Companionship Training through our Mental Health Chaplaincy.
There is much to be done. Our unhoused neighbors cannot wait for affordable housing to be built. Can we get on the job now? By living into our Baptismal Covenant.
From the desk of Don Fornoff, for the Bishop’s Task Force on Homelessness
