Teen, family give back; KentHOPE receives some generosity

Reporter staff

Leslie Perez was determined to make a boy’s wish come true.

Perez, a humble, warmhearted 16-year-old sophomore at Auburn Mountainview High School, saved up enough money from babysitting to buy a bicycle for the boy, whose family has struggled with homelessness. The boy’s mother, who has been a guest of the KentHOPE Women and Children’s Day Center, requested the bike for her son.

“When I saw the wish list at my church, I wanted to help,” said Perez, whose family attends HighPoint Church of Kent. The congregation, which meets at Mill Creek Middle School, supports the day center, having donated meals to the home.

The Perez family, who live in Pacific, delivered the $80 mountain bike to the boy and other gifts to the family in need during the holiday season.

“Awesome,” Cindy Perez said of her daughter’s gesture. “She doesn’t always say it but she has the heart of giving.”

“She even asked us for permission to do it,” said Leslie’s father, ‘Dre Perez.

Sam Pace, a family friend who attends the same church, said Leslie is an amazing young lady who is willing to help and make a difference in the lives of others.

“Leslie doesn’t have a lot of money, so what she did says a whole lot about the kind of person she is,” Pace said. “It also says something that she gave away a brand new bicycle rather than keeping the new one for herself and giving away her old bike.

“Leslie has a heart for helping people. Her gift of a bicycle was not a surprise to folks who know her,” Pace added. “In fact, the week before she purchased the bicycle, she showed up at an outdoor event to help homeless folks in downtown Kent. It was a really cold night. The weather was brutally nasty, with hard rain and sleet blowing sideways at times. But Leslie was there, helping to provide hot food, clothes and supplies – and her tremendous smile – to brighten the lives of folks on the street.”

Other churches, individuals, groups and organizations recently donated gifts to the day center and its guests.

Among the contributions:

• Long Building Technologies awarded $4,000 to KentHOPE as a recipient of its Bless Fest.

• Dr. Sue Hollinsworth’s dentistry office staff decided to forego a gift exchange this year and instead purchased a vacuum cleaner, carpet shampooer and keyboard for the day center.

• First African Episcopal Methodist (FAME) Church of Auburn, which has provided meals in the past, organized a shoe drive, donated more than 50 pairs of shoes to guests and treated them to a brunch.

• Real Life Church donated 70 purses filled with toiletries, accessories and other useful items for the guests.

• Kent United Methodist Church hosted a Christmas party for day center guests and Safe Parking families. The party included a festive lunch, cookie baking and decorating, karaoke and gifts for the children.

• Faith Church invited guests to a Christmas event and provided transportation.

• Kathy Sanchez painted designer nails for guests.

• Kent Covenant Church’s Women’s Bible study provided two “starter kits” to guests who found housing. A starter kit is a big laundry basket with towels, pots and pans, shower curtain, cleaning supplies, etc., for day center guests entering their new home.

• 47th District Democrats led a sock drive in December for KentHOPE.

• Silver Sounds, a senior choir, donated 15 tickets to its Christmas concert.

• McDonald’s, on 256th Street, across from Kent-Meridian High School, donated 40 meal gift cards and some breakfasts.

• On Christmas Day guests were served a brunch at Calvary Chapel South, and all who attended got gifts.

“In the season of goodwill and giving, we are blown away by the generosity of our community,” said Susan Sommerman, KentHOPE communications director and board member. “With overflowing hearts, we want to thank (the) groups who have given generously to encourage our Women and Children’s Day Center.”

KentHOPE offers hope, healing, housing and jobs to homeless women and children. Visit KentHOPE.org to learn more about volunteering, providing in-kind donations or donating online.