The Subcommittee on Housing Insecurity and our volunteer cohort continues to make progress toward getting our parking lot ready for guests. We have also delivered letters to our neighbors with information about the project and an invitation to join Rev. Linda Hart, Safe Parking Network Coordinator Colin DeForrest, Site Host David Pettit, Volunteer Coordinator Breck Lebegue, and BOT President Cindy Hackett in a zoom meeting to learn more and ask questions. When you drive by the parking lot you might see:
- A handwashing station
- An outdoor shed donated by Jim Bilnoski and Cat Garretson-Bilnoski to hold outdoor equipment.
- New gravel delivered by Bob Hays and Patty McPhee, tamped and ready for a porta-potty
- Said porta-potty
- Refurbished and newly sanded and painted bench for the designated smoking area
- Concrete bumpers to help designate parking spots
We hope to be ready to welcome our first guests at the beginning of April. It may take a while for guests to appear; referrals will come from a variety of sources, including Rainbow Center in Tacoma. For those of you who don’t know, Rainbow Center (https://www.rainbowcntr.org/) has served as a resource hub for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, and allied (LGBTQ) community in South Puget Sound for more than 20 years.
If you are inspired to volunteer or have questions, please let the Subcommittee know: TUUCHousingSubcomm@gmail.com.
We are grateful to the support of you, the TUUC Congregation and staff, and the many volunteers who have come forward to plan, learn, week, pick up litter, rake, trim, sand, paint, install, move concrete, attend meetings and plan some more. We are widening our circle and creating beloved community within and beyond our walls.