More than 400 people generated $91,000 to help homeless women and children find housing and other resources during the annual KentHOPE fundraiser at Green River College last Saturday.<\/p>\n
Lisa Candler, KentHOPE Ministries manager, highlighted the success of the Day Center for Women and Children. She said 319 women and children have found housing since the center opened in December 2013,<\/p>\n
“What you’ve done at KentHOPE represents our best chance at making homelessness rare, one-time and brief,” said guest speaker Lisa Gustaveson, program manager at Seattle University’s School of Theology and Ministry.<\/p>\n
Dave Mitchell, Seattle’s Union Gospel Mission chief operating officer, gave a sneak peak of the future KentHOPE Resource Center, which will be built on property leased from Kent First Presbyterian Church. A donation of $25,000 has already been given toward the building and 10 percent of everything donated at the fundraiser will support a future capital campaign with a goal of $2.5 million.<\/p>\n
KentHOPE Executive Board Chair Pat Gray thanked staff, volunteers and community groups for their support of KentHOPE. Volunteer Jim Teeters was honored and read poems written by KentHOPE guests.<\/p>\n
A woman, named Jennifer, shared her personal journey out of addiction and homelessness. Until Jennifer came to KentHOPE, she didn’t know there was a chance for change.<\/p>\n
“On that bus ride to KentHOPE, I had no clue at the time, but my prayers were being answered,” she told the audience. “I was welcomed with open arms. I knew I was home.”<\/p>\n
Since graduating from the KentHOPE program, Jennifer says she “gets to” pay rent, buy groceries, pay taxes, have a relationship with her children and become a contributing member of society.<\/p>\n