Showing posts with label social services. Show all posts
Showing posts with label social services. Show all posts

Heroes' Café hears from Carol Janssens and Faith about volunteering with Red Cross to aid Hurricane Ian victims

Monday, March 20, 2023

Service dog Faith wearing her 
Heroes' Cafe badge
Photo by Doug Cerretti
By Doug Cerretti

Carol Janssens and her four-legged friend, Faith, are volunteers for the American Red Cross Northwest Region. 

Faith, a Labrador, is trained as a support and therapy dog. They have two areas of expertise. The first is the Service to the Armed Forces (SAF) program which supports military personnel, veterans, and families including monthly visits to Heroes Café in Shoreline and Heroes Café in Lynnwood. 

Their second function is disaster relief: sheltering and reunification of families after fires and natural disasters such as tornadoes, floods and hurricanes. 

Damage around Ft. Myers
Photo courtesy of Carol Janssens
At Heroes Café Shoreline last Tuesday, March 14, 2023 Carol told attendees about their deployment to Florida after Hurricane Ian last fall. 

Hurricane Ian was the third-costliest weather disaster on record and the deadliest hurricane to strike Florida. 

The American Red Cross Northwest Region deployed 27 volunteers including Carol and Faith. 

After landing in Orlando, the team rented cars and drove to Ft. Myers near the center of destruction and joined FEMA in disaster relief.

Carol Janssens and Faith
Photo by Doug Cerretti
The destruction was widespread with 1000s of families in need. Carol served as the Reunification Manager directing 19 team members to help in the reunification of families. 

With power outages and cell towers destroyed communication was impossible except for the phone service Carol’s team had which allowed families to communicate with each other i.e., to let their families know they were safe. 

They also made wellness visits, arranged for doctor visits if needed and acquired needed medicines. 

Carol and Faith stayed in one of three FEMA tents which housed 2000 people. Fortunately, the tents were air conditioned as the temperatures in the Ft. Myers area rose to 90 degrees.

The dining tent fed 2000 aid workers
A fourth tent served as a dining hall and specialized trailers were on site that provided bathrooms with flush toilets (much better than Honey Buckets), showers and laundromats. 

After 2 ½ weeks Carol and her team moved to a hotel once their power was restored. 

Volunteers were given debit cards and encouraged to visit restaurants and stores to help the local economy. Carol and Faith returned home after 4 ½ weeks.

Legion member Fred Cornelius, Jr shared a
photo of his home near Ft. Myers
At the end of Carol’s talk, Shoreline’s American Legion Post 227 member Fred Cornelius, Jr. related that his house and car in North Port, 20 miles from Fr Myers was severely damaged. 

Only now, 6 months after the hurricane was Fred able to get a new roof and is now able to repair the extensive water damage to the interior. 

Mold fills the interior of Fred's home,
a result of 19 inches of rain and no roof.
Photo courtesy Fred Cornelius, Jr.
That happens when you get 19 inches of rain with no roof. Fred said it will take a long time for he and others to recover as there is a scarcity of most everything: contractors, building materials, gasoline and groceries. 

Food trucks make daily visits to his community. Power has not been restored in many areas and several roads are still impassible. Carol said that it will take years for things to get back to normal and for some, it may never get back to normal.

It will take years for Ft. Myers to get back to normal
It should be noted that the vast majority of American Red Cross people like Carol are volunteers. They are not paid except for expenses, whether helping families find housing after a local apartment building fire or traveling 3300 miles to Florida to aid hurricane victims. What a wonderful group of dedicated people!

To help the American Red Cross mission please donate money or, just as important, donate blood as there is a critical shortage. 

BLOOD DRIVE 

The Starr Sutherland, Jr Post 227 of The American Legion, 14521 17th Ave NE, Shoreline, WA 98155, is sponsoring a blood drive from 1 pm to 6 pm Friday, March 24, 2023. You can make your reservations for the Blood Drive using the "Shoreline" sponsor code at www.redcrossblood.org.

Heroes' Cafe Shoreline meets the second Tuesday of every month from 9:00am to 1:00pm at the Seattle Scottish Rite Center, 1207 N 152nd St, Shoreline, WA 98133. Veterans, Family, Friends and the Community are welcome.



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North Helpline Empty Bowls event at three locations on three days March 24-26, 2023

Monday, March 13, 2023

North Helpline is inviting everyone to join them for a 3-day pop-up event to raise awareness around food insecurity and funds for their essential programs! 

Empty Bowls 2023 will run from Friday, March 24th to Sunday, March 26th. North Helpline will be at three locations around the community offering free soup and selling locally-made handcrafted bowls. 

Join in person and through the online auction! Purchase a bowl, donate, register for the auction here.

Empty Bowls 2023 (EB23) is a free community meal that raises awareness about food insecurity in Seattle and funds for North Helpline. North Helpline is a local nonprofit organization that provides access to food through two food banks and a home grocery delivery program. 

North Helpline also works on homelessness prevention through a direct financial assistance program for rent, utilities, and moving costs.

Rampant inflation, supply chain issues, and the ending of COVID-era funding for programs like SNAP are putting increasing pressure on our north end community.

When: March 24th, 25th, and 26th. 4-6pm each day.

Where:
Who: Everyone is invited to attend, enjoy a meal, and learn about the work we can all do together to keep food on the table and a roof overhead for our neighbors.



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Veterans, Seniors, and Human Services levy up for renewal

Monday, February 20, 2023

King County Executive Dow Constantine announced his proposal to renew the six-year Veterans, Seniors, and Human Services levy (VSHSL) that builds on the investments made over the past 18 years and ensures a wide range of programming. 

Programming that helps people and families transition to affordable housing, get job training, find employment, access emergency financial assistance, obtain domestic violence advocacy, receive behavioral health treatment, and other resources and services. 

The proposed levy maintains the existing tax rate.

The first Veterans and Human Services Levy passed in 2005, and since renewed in 2017 with the addition of senior services, has successfully served more than 27,000 veterans, servicemembers, and their families with fewer eligibility barriers than many federal programs. 

The funding reached more than 100,000 seniors through expanded senior programming, funded 675 bonuses focused on employee retention at 55 human services agencies, and launched DVHopeline, a countywide, 24-hour multi-lingual and multimodal domestic violence hotline that received 16,000 calls or texts and referred nearly 7,000 of those to additional support.

“For those who served our nation in the armed forces, and those that built our community into what it is today, this levy is the opportunity to ensure that no person is left behind in King County,” said Executive Constantine. 
“Together we can continue our investment into the 300 programs led by more than 150 community-based organizations – organizations that help ensure seniors have connection to community and veterans have a place to call home. This levy has helped more than 185,000 people in the last six years and I’m excited to see what it can do in the future.”

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Sno-King School Retirees donates $500 to The Works

Saturday, February 4, 2023

L-R: Andrea Petrusky (Co-Chair The Works), Alison Buss (Co-Chair The Works), Bonnie Stieber, and Cathy Webb (SKSR Vice-President). Photo courtesy The Works
For the third year in a row, the Sno-King School Retirees association donated $500 to The Works, the Shoreline PTA Council clothing room.

The Association has donated annually to three organizations, located in the three school districts where their members taught.

Besides The Works, they also donate $500 to the Northshore Foundation for their Homeless Student Services and to the Washington Kids in Transition which serves the Edmonds School District.

All three organizations benefit the children in each school district.

Washington Kids in Transition benefits homeless students.

The SnoKing School Retirees also do a service project. "When we started out we helped to buy snack items for Washington Kids that they received on their school bus when being delivered to the place they were staying," said Board Member Jim Siscel. 
"Then we did a service project on a Saturday stuffing the snack bags. This snack bag project is not happening now after Covid. So this year the money will be used to purchase summer time art supplies. We will put the supplies together on a Saturday in April."

The $500 comes from their membership dues, donations at meetings and individual members.


Correction: names in photo caption were in the wrong order

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GBCIB Charitable Foundation grants $5,000 to Banchero Disability Partners

Monday, January 30, 2023

Clifford Sullam, GBCIB Manager of the Shoreline branch presents a $5,000 check to Banchero Disability Partners. Accepting the check are Farzana Rehman, CFO/COO, (left) and Carol Salter, Executive Director. Photo by BDP

Banchero Disability Partners (BDP) dedicates energy and funds to promoting healthy living for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities by enhancing clients’ medical, physical and emotional hierarchy of needs. 

The mission of BDP focuses on eliminating discrimination against individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in their local communities. Banchero Disability Partners empowers adults with developmental disabilities so that they may realize their potential, achieve their goals, and be active and contributing members of their communities. 

We envision a future where people with developmental disabilities are accepted, integrated, respected, and take an active part in living their lives to their highest potential. 

Staff teach tenants with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) how to shop for nutritious ingredients, prepare meals, balance checkbooks, pay bills, and clean their apartments. They identify activities in the community where they can integrate with those who may not have had exposure to individuals with developmental disabilities. 

Their staffing model provides a 1:2 ratio, with a few 1:1 services for those with significant disabilities. 

We strive to facilitate feelings of belonging and fulfillment, create a safe home, and emotionally meet their hierarchy of needs. 

BDP currently owns two apartment complexes, one in North Seattle and one in Shoreline, where they house individuals with I/DD and low-income individuals who are refugees or immigrants.

On January 25, 2023 GBCIB Charitable Foundation representative, Clifford Sullam, local bank Manager, presented BDP with a $5,000 grant to further our mission to Carol Salter, Executive Director, and Farzana Rehman, CFO/COO. 
The BDP Board of Directors and senior administrators are committed to providing the most accurate and updated education and training to our staff who provide medical and emotional support to the 34 adults we serve. Funds received will allow us to access training for staff and clients and will include: mental, emotional, nutritional, and physical health interventions.

The GBC International Bank (GBCIB) Charitable Foundation’s goal is to support organizations that offer health care, human services, and education for youth and the elderly. GBCI is a full-service community business bank established in 1976 as the “First Women’s Bank”, whose mission was to fight discrimination in the banking industry on the basis of sex. 

The Shoreline branch is located at 16001 Aurora Ave N, Shoreline, WA 98133.

Since then they have expanded that non-discrimination model to the present Charitable Foundation supporting initiatives for healthy living for seniors, educating youth, and supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in their local communities. 

"BDP’s similar mission to GBCIB Foundation is the reason we chose GBCIB as our full banking partner."



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Fund for Suni's raises $12,000

Friday, January 13, 2023

Per Tyler Stroud of Shoreline Caring, the fund set up to help the Kyrkos family pay their employees has been closed and the money transferred to owner Chris Kyrkos.

Suni's Pizza was destroyed in an arson fire on January 2, 2023 (see article). 

The family was and is devastated and a large part of their concern was how they could support their employees.

Shoreline Caring immediately stepped up and set up a GoFundMe site to collect money.

"Thank you so much to the community on behalf of Shoreline Caring for helping raise funds for Suni's Pizza employees. 

"We are overwhelmed by the outpouring of support and I know the Suni's family feels the love. 

'"We raised just about 12k, which will be distributed amongst employees."
--Tyler Stroud, Shoreline Caring

Correction: Family name is Kyrkos



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Op-Ed: When there's nowhere to go and no way to get there

Photo by Matt Collamer on Unsplash.com
By Lisa Surowiec, 
Volunteer Coordinator
Shoreline Severe Weather Shelter

"Severe Weather Shelter" or "Emergency Shelter" kicks in when we have stretches of winter like we did this year. 

Multiple hours below 34 degrees, snow on the ground, those things that make us all want to hibernate.

I'm pretty good with snow - I grew up where there was snow, and I have a vehicle that easily gets me most places. But there was that one day that had the whole city throw in the towel. 

The night before, I didn't really expect the ice prediction to become reality and figured I'd have no issues, but there it was in the early hours. Thick ice on everything. 

I needed to get to the shelter to help close up the church, but I could not drive down off my hill. So I walked. And got intimately familiar with how very treacherous that much ice covering every single surface is, living where we live.

It took me an hour and a half to walk the two miles to the church, and by that time the place was mostly packed up. The shelter volunteers from the night before had done a good job of getting people roused and full of coffee, mats wiped and stacked, and they had found some salt and were salting the walkway and parking lot when I walked up.

The thing was, it was really difficult to ask people to leave. 

There simply were no good options that morning. That ice simply cut off... everything. Metro wasn't running. Libraries were closed. Walking was dangerous, and there wasn't any place open to walk TO.

Emergency shelter seems like such a gift, until it almost feels mean. We do our best to keep people warm, dry, and safe overnight, but then we have to close up and turn them out. And that's never easy, but really tough on mornings like that.

It's easy to make assumptions and judgements about unsheltered people - about their bad choices, addictions, lack of motivation, or supposed preference for living on the streets and getting free stuff. But here’s the thing – people’s stories are complicated, and each unhoused individual is someone’s son, daughter, sister or brother.

And drugs are not always indicative of addicts. One man I spoke with described how he views drugs as a tool. He matter-of-factly explained that if he needs to be vigilant on the street and stay awake for security, they let him. If he is hungry and cold, he can find solace. If he needs to eat, he can barter. He is a big guy with a great smile and stories about a former career in the trades, trying to find a way back to housing and work, surviving as he can in the meantime.

And it's not always drugs. We helped a woman who was experiencing some clear mental health issues, who just needed assistance. She wanted a shower. She wanted to wash her clothes. She wanted to lay down someplace for a while longer because she hadn’t gotten good sleep the night before. 

She didn’t have a phone, so she couldn’t call around to find shelter options or other resources. It was very hard for her to comprehend that the church building didn’t have any of those amenities, and the shelter doesn't operate every night. She needed so much more than we were able to offer.

Consider that icy morning from their perspective. The space that you slept in last night is closing its doors and telling you to leave. It is 8, maybe 8:30am. 

You have some bus tickets, but the buses are not running, potentially for another hour and a half. You have no money for a car service, and they're probably not driving anyway. The libraries are not going to open. 

The closest potential shelter does not have a published phone number, and as soon as the volunteers leave, you lose access to a phone anyway because you don't have one. The other shelters are downtown - which requires transportation. You can only watch as the volunteers walk away, and yell to the sky, "I can't TAKE this anymore!"

The woman we had to turn out into the cold was found huddled up on the cold concrete at the church doors the following morning, Christmas Eve, after finding no other solution that icy day. The church made her some hot mac and cheese, and we locked up a couple of bags of her things since she wasn't going to be able to carry all of her possessions while she searched for shelter.

These folks deserve better. They need to not be kicked out in the morning to try to figure it out. They shouldn't have to find out if the emergency shelter will be opening or not. 

North King County needs a true winter shelter, and we've got about 10 months to lobby for them to find the space and funding to make it so. Stable space from November through March - 24-hour shelter that doesn't kick people out into rain, snow, ice and with no destination. If we could also include lockable storage, laundry, and showers, that would be amazing.

The walk to the church that icy morning was physically difficult. Walking away from it and leaving folks with no options was emotionally so much worse.

~~
Staffed by generous volunteers, the Shoreline Severe Weather Shelter, located at St. Dunstan’s Episcopal Church, has been activated 16 times since November 1st. The number of guests has ranged from 1 to 12. The shelter will close March 31st. More volunteers are needed, particularly those presenting themselves as male. Contact staff@nuhsa.org or call 206-550-5626 if you can help!

Stay up to date on regional shelter information HERE and activation information for the Shoreline Severe Weather Shelter HERE

Email the King County Regional Homelessness Authority to support a robust and systemic response to shelter and homelessness in North King County (marc@kcrha.org or alexis.rinck@kcrha.org).



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Campbell brothers and Suni Tolton to be honored at Tribute to Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in Edmonds January 16

Wednesday, January 11, 2023


For their longstanding commitment to helping others — particularly those in underserved communities — Edmonds car dealership owners Kurt and Craig Campbell and Shoreline resident Suni Tolton have been selected as the 2023 Beloved Community Award recipients by the Lift Every Voice Legacy (LEVL) Board of Directors.

The awards will be presented during LEVL’s 5th annual Tribute to Rev, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., — Inspiring a Beloved Community in Song, Spoken Word and Dance — at the Edmonds Waterfront Center at 6pm Monday January 16. 2023. 

General admission tickets for the Evening Program are $15 and can be purchased through Eventbrite at levlmlk2023.eventbrite.com or at beloved4all.org

Suni Tolton
Tolton, the diversity and inclusion coordinator for the City of Shoreline, has worked across boundaries of race, gender, gender identity, national origin, and social and economic status to unite neighborhoods and communities by strengthening social well-being and enhancing cultural pluralism. 

Her initiatives have included community leadership luncheons; diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) public trainings and newsletters as well as individual coaching and mentoring, said Donnie Griffin, LEVL’s founder and president.

“Suni’s reach of involvement extends beyond Shoreline from Seattle and throughout Snohomish County,” Griffin said. 
“She is passionate about her work, a continuous learner and a friend to many who lead in the DEI world, whether they work in government institutions, businesses or community-based organizations.”

Kurt and Craig Campbell
For well over a decade, Kurt and Craig Campbell’s commitment and personal compassion to reach out to the “least of us” can best be demonstrated by their inspiring leadership of hundreds of volunteers, which has led to the development of Shoreline’s Jacob’s Well. 

Jacob’s Well, under the nonprofit Vision House umbrella of services, provides transitional housing, child care and support services for homeless mothers, as well as for men recovering from drug and alcohol addiction in a separate location.

Additionally, utilizing the resources of their family business Campbell Auto Group, the two brothers have continuously empowered and partnered with dozens of faith-based nonprofit and charitable organizations to improve the quality of life of marginalized communities throughout Snohomish and King Counties.

“Kurt and Craig are excellent models of our Beloved Community values — creating communities free of hatred, injustice and poverty,” Griffin said. “LEVL is excited to shine a light on their good works.”

Featured speaker for the “When Love Changes Things”-themed program is Leilani Miller, executive director of Millennia Ministries, an Everett-based Snohomish County social services organization dedicated to breaking the chains of poverty, injustice and oppression.

A Beloved Community – Morning Program for children and families will take place from 9:30 to 11:30am also on January 16 at the Edmonds Waterfront Center. 

Admission to the Morning Program is free and will feature local performers in addition to a variety of fun activities specially designed for children and families. These include a cooking demonstration for children, art workshops, tap and ballet dance lessons, internet safety classes and children’s storytelling.

The Edmonds Waterfront Center is located at 220 Railroad Ave in Edmonds


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Friendship Adventures awarded grant from BECU

Sunday, December 18, 2022

Friendship Academy
Photo by Marla Tullio
On December 15, 2022, BECU honored community members at its 10th annual People Helping People Awards.

More than 30 nonprofit organizations and BECU members fostering meaningful change in BECU’s communities were highlighted and received grants to further their work.

“BECU exists and operates by the credit union ‘people helping people’ philosophy, acting intentionally to help our communities thrive,” said Tom Berquist, EVP and chief marketing officer at BECU. 
“This year’s People Helping People Award recipients represent the best of our community, working diligently and tirelessly to address issues that our members care about, including education, equity, child welfare and the environment.”

Previous program recipients are encouraged to apply for People Helping People Collaboration Grants, which recognize a joint opportunity for two or more organizations to collaborate on a project.

A Shoreline organization was one of three collaborations who each received $20,000 in Collaboration Grants this year:

Inside Health Institute will partner with Friendship Adventures to provide health and wellness programs for adults with disabilities to improve quality of life, independence and health outcomes for this underserved community.

See our previous article about Friendship Academy, a program of Friendship Adventures, which provides activities for adults with disabilities.

About BECU

With more than 1.3 million members and $30.2 billion in assets, BECU is the largest not-for-profit credit union in Washington and one of the top four financial cooperatives in the country. As a member-owned credit union, BECU is focused on helping increase the financial well-being of its members and communities through better rates, fewer fees, community partnerships and financial education. The credit union currently operates more than 50 locations in Washington and two financial centers in South Carolina. 


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2022 NUHSA Human Services Awards

Friday, December 16, 2022


The North Urban Human Services Alliance (NUHSA) is proud to announce its 2022 Human Services Award recipients and nominees! All have demonstrated a significant contribution to the health and welfare of our North King County community and have supported or advocated for a strong and accessible health and human services system, strengthening our community through their initiative and leadership.

New this year is the Building Bridges Award recognizing the extraordinary efforts of city council and staff leadership in Shoreline, Lake Forest Park, Kenmore, Bothell and Kirkland as they collaborated to form a new Regional Crisis Response Agency that will provide community mobile crisis response services across all of North King County.

Recipients and nominees will be honored at NUHSA's 2022 Human Services Awards celebration on Thursday, January 19, 2023 at Ronald United Methodist Church in Shoreline. The program (5:30-7:00pm) will be preceded by an optional tour of Ronald Commons (Compass Housing) and Shoreline Hopelink (4:00-4:30pm) and social time with appetizers (4:30-5:30pm).

To join this community celebration, please RSVP here or email staff@nuhsa.org.

Outstanding Human Services Program

Grounded

Grounded serves primarily black youth in Shoreline and throughout North King County, offering school tutoring, mental health therapy, workforce training, career planning, and opportunities to exercise the body and mind through dance, radio and art. Housed at Black Coffee NW in Shoreline, Grounded is the nonprofit arm of this successful coffee shop that has since its inception two years ago seamlessly blended business with activism and community outreach.

Nominees:

BoPop (Bothellites for People-oriented Places)

This all-volunteer group elevates affordable housing issues in Bothell and advocates for middle housing and other housing options. Most recently, BoPop hosted a walking tour and provided a community forum on the state of housing in Bothell with community members, city staff, city council members and partner organizations.

Bothell Kenmore Chamber

The Bothell Kenmore Chamber prioritizes inclusion and support of nonprofit organizations as part of its focus on strengthening community and civic connections. Nonprofit organizations/agencies receive a 50% discounted membership rate, and through the Cultural Development Committee, the Chamber strives to bring diversity to its membership and leadership and offer more equitable and diverse programming.

Bothell Urban Project

Led by a team of congregants from Bothell United Methodist Church, the Bothell Urban Project aims to create more affordable housing alongside resources and support that build a strong and supportive community. With proceeds from a portion of the Church’s property, the group is working to purchase land in downtown Bothell for multi-use housing that may include on the first floor a workforce training café, community court, and human services resource center.

Utsav

Led by and serving South Asians in Washington, Utsav organizes to promote equitable access to culturally competent and linguistically accessible services, focusing on mutual aid, education and advocacy. Founded in Bothell in 2015, Utsav strengthens its cross-cultural community through events, youth leadership opportunities and community-specific assistance. During the pandemic, Utsav also provided critical food aid, distributed thousands of masks and supported area businesses.

Human Services Champion of the Year:

Bill Leon and Rev. Alan Christiansen, Camp United We Stand Board Directors

Through Bill and Alan’s compassionate and steady leadership, Camp United We Stand (the only authorized encampment in North King County) has remained active throughout the pandemic, serving up to 35 campers each year. Bill and Alan spend an inordinate amount of time managing the camp, attending weekly meetings, adjudicating situations that arise, counseling campers, fundraising and seeking new locations. Bill has facilitated a new site beginning early 2023, and Alan provides bookkeeping services and has even provided shelter in his own home to a former camper in need.

Nominees:

Saba Berhe, Family Support Lead

Canopy Scholars provides tutoring and STEM programs to students who have emigrated from Central America, Eritrea and Ethiopia. When students experience community – a sense of belonging and connection – they are empowered to thrive, and the same is true for their parents. While students receive tutoring, Saba gathers mothers in an adjacent room for coffee and conversation, building a sense of safety and confidence and empowering them to navigate a multitude of obstacles where each day can be a challenge academically, financially, mentally and socially.

Carrie Czarnecki, Outreach Specialist

With immense compassion and skill, Carrie of Lake City Partners Ending Homelessness provides outreach to our unhoused neighbors in Shoreline, many with complex needs, and connects them to critical resources and services. She ensures case management, facilitates admittance to The Oaks (North King County’s only enhanced shelter), provides essential support to the Shoreline Severe Weather Shelter, and is a constant presence at Shoreline District Community Court.

Donna Hawkey, Community Advocate

A longtime resident of Lake Forest Park, Donna is an exceptional community advocate who was one of the first to be trained as a Navigator for the Shoreline District Community Court in 2020, providing weekly resource referral and support to participants. As stable housing is a constant challenge, she became inspired to explore long term solutions and actively participates in affordable housing and land trust committees. She is also a contributor to the Shoreline Area News, often focusing on human services organizations and efforts.

Rob Karlinsey, Kenmore City Manager

Rob has gone above and beyond in providing visionary leadership around a set of values that place people and systems change at the center of a city’s operation by boldly addressing the impacts of systemic racism and counteracting the impacts of the pandemic on its residents. This is seen in steps to protect residents from eviction, address housing affordability, allocate Cares Act funding to support families, and imbed Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA) in city policies and procedures. He has fostered a climate in which this work can flourish - and produce results.

Nicolie Simonson, Community Advocate

When the pandemic closed schools in 2020, Nicolie created the Shoreline Caring Facebook page to help provide meaningful help for residents. Through this informal but extremely effective forum, those experiencing hardship could ask for and receive help with rent, utilities, car/medical/pet needs, diapers and much more. The site grew to over 1,500 members, along with several admins, and became the go-to mutual aid group for Shoreline and the surrounding communities until it merged with Shoreline Stands by Me in 2021. Nicolie continues to raise funds for holiday meals and local needs while parenting four young children.

Building Bridges Award

City Managers/Assistant City Managers of Bothell, Shoreline, Lake Forest Park, Kenmore and Kirkland

In late 2021, city leadership began collaborating to pursue a dual-tracked mission of expanding the North Sound RADAR program and creating a mental health triage center that would serve North King County. In November, the City Councils of these 5 cities adopted a partner agreement to form this new Regional Crisis Response Agency (RCR), which will begin formal operations in early 2023 and be jointly governed and funded by the partner cities with additional funding from King County and the State of Washington. The RCR Agency will have ten Mental Health Professional Community Responders, which will enhance public health, safety and emergency response services, including crisis response awareness, support and resource referral for community members experiencing behavioral health issues across the five-city region.

NUHSA’s Annual Human Services Awards have been celebrating the accomplishments of local individuals and organizations since 2008. NUHSA is an alliance of non-profit agencies, faith communities, city and county leadership, school districts and members of the community who advocate for a strong and accessible health and human services system in North King County, encompassing Shoreline, Lake Forest Park, Kenmore, Bothell and Woodinville. Through partnership and collaboration, NUHSA supports providers, funders and the community to enhance existing resources and build our capacity to effectively respond to community needs.

For more information, email staff@nuhsa.org or call 206-550-5626.


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Diaper Drive to Benefit Babies of Homelessness

Saturday, December 3, 2022


From Monday, December 5, through Wednesday, December 21, 2022 the City of LFP is hosting a diaper drive to benefit the local nonprofit organization, Babies of Homelessness

A collection box will be set up in the front lobby of LFP City Hall for donations of diapers and pull-ups (all sizes), wipes, and non-expired formula.

City Hall is open Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and is located at 17425 Ballinger Way NE.



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Sign up with United Way of King County to see if you qualify for Rental Assistance

Thursday, November 3, 2022


(SEATTLE)— United Way of King County is distributing rental assistance payments on behalf of King County, and residents now have another opportunity to register to receive rental payments. United Way is currently processing applications from its waiting list to disburse 12 months’ rent to households that qualify.

In May, King County officials placed United Way in charge of the county’s emergency rental assistance program. Since then, United Way has churned out about $1 million a week in rental assistance — the equivalent of about 85 households each receiving nine months of back rent and three months of future rent. 

Previously applications were processed from the County’s rental assistance tenant portal that closed in February in order to accommodate only those who could be served with remaining funds.

But thanks to recent additional funding, the County was able to process the names of everyone on its rental assistance portal. United Way’s waiting list—launched in March after the County’s portal closed on February 28.

That means if you’re not already on the waiting list, you need to log on to United Way’s Get Help With Rent page to sign up. Though being placed on the waiting list in no way guarantees rental assistance payments, it is the first step for consideration.

“We are working across nine other agencies to get the funds out in the community,” said Jake Janesch, United Way program manager for rental assistance and homeless prevention. 
“Each of the agencies is focused on providing case management to families. And United Way is doing both case management and also focusing on communication, payments and grievances."

That distribution will continue at least through May of 2023, thanks to additional County funding. Funds to households range from $8,000-$11,000, depending on family size, and rental assistance payments go directly to property owners.



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Op-Ed: NUHSA strongly encourages a YES vote on Shoreline's Prop 1

Monday, October 31, 2022

OP-ED
From Heidi Shepherd, Board President NUHSA

Ballots have been mailed, and Shoreline voters now must vote on Prop. 1, the maintenance and operations levy for public safety and community services. The North Urban Human Services Alliance (NUHSA) strongly encourages a YES vote!

The pandemic has had severe consequences for many in our community, and families are still struggling. From mental and physical health challenges to food scarcity and a lack of stable housing, residents have relied on the critical support Shoreline has provided during the pandemic and the infrastructure that the City has carefully built in partnership with area providers and agencies.

State law limits an increase in tax revenue unless authorized by a vote of the people, and because funding for basic City services (including that of human services) has not kept pace with rising costs, approval of Prop. 1 is essential to simply maintain current services. 

This includes critical community services funding for seniors, youth, and families in need, along with homelessness response services and staffing for the successful RADAR program that provides mental health professionals with police to assist community members in behavioral health crises.

If the proposed levy replacement does not pass, the City will be forced to reduce or eliminate services to balance the City’s budget, as required by law - and first on the chopping block will be those programs the City is not legally required to provide. 

At risk is support for human services, such as the Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Senior Center, the Teen Center and programs for children and young families, in addition to neighborhood services, community events, homelessness outreach, communications, parks maintenance, recreation programs, and cultural programming.

Renewing the levy is absolutely critical for maintaining the health and human services residents expect and ensuring a strong and vibrant community for everyone. Vote YES on Prop. 1!



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Community fundraiser to support disabled adults

Sunday, October 16, 2022

Waterfront hotel stays. Wine-tasting with friends. A glass-blowing experience not to be outdone. Even a visit from the Seafair Pirates, who challenge you to ride along with them -- if you dare! (And bid enough!)

Join the Camelot Society at its 50th Anniversary Fundraiser and Auction on Saturday, November 5 at 5:30pm at Holy Rosary Parish in Edmonds. 

Enjoy a plated dinner, beverages, entertainment hosted by radio personality Gee Scott, and of course, some stunning auction items that make for not only great early holiday gifts, but also some memorable experiences and useful items for yourself -- all in support of empowering people with disabilities, and those who support them, to live extraordinary lives.

Tickets are available here: https://camelotsociety.ejoinme.org/auction2022 or by calling 425-771-2108.

Camelot Society is a non-profit organization providing residential services for adults with developmental disabilities. We currently serve 46 adults at 15 different locations throughout King and Snohomish Counties, including Group Training Home settings and Supported Living sites. 

While being the primary provider in Washington state for people with Prader-Willi Syndrome, we also serve clients with a wide range of developmental disabilities including cerebral palsy, autism, Down Syndrome, and other genetic disorders.



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25 Years of Aegis Living: Shoreline Team Celebrates with “Field of Dreams” Party

Sunday, October 2, 2022

Aegis staff members at the Field of Dreams party
at the Shoreline facility

For 25 years, Aegis Living has cared for area seniors, offering senior assisted living and memory care across the Puget Sound and beyond.

Fun at the staff party on a fortunately warm day
The local company, founded by Dwayne J. Clark, was created to redefine the senior living industry and set a new standard, fostering an employee-centric business model and ensuring residents live every day to the fullest. 

Clark was a long-time industry executive before founding Aegis and felt even more inspired to drive lasting change when his own mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.

Aegis Living opened its first community in 1997, and its first office in Redmond, WA, with a small but mighty team of just two employees. 

Aegis Living Shoreline opened in 2005, just 8 years later.

Playing baseball at the Field of Dreams staff party

The Shoreline team celebrated the company milestone and 25th anniversary with a baseball-themed party inspired by the movie “Field of Dreams.” The staff turned the community’s parking lot into a baseball field and served hot dogs and Cracker Jacks for a fun-filled afternoon with the team.

“From starting as a care manager to serving as a director of operations and now as an acting general manager at Aegis Living Shoreline, I could not feel more privileged to work for a company that gives me purpose every single day,” said Ashley Besmehn. “I am honored to work here, and I look forward to the next big milestone."

Aegis Living Shoreline staff celebrated with home runs, laughter, joy, full stomachs, and a true sense of community.

"When I first came to Aegis 14 years ago, I had just lost both my parents. Coming to Aegis was a blessing in that I gained a much bigger family,” said Char Linvog, lead concierge at Aegis Living Shoreline. “Over the past 14 years, I have felt a sense of purpose and belonging."

Celebrating 25 years
More than 200 team members have been with Aegis Living for more than 10 years, including seven employees at the Shoreline community: 

Norberta Bada (16 years), Charlene Linvog (14 years), Janaira Stokes (12 years), Clarissa-Ann Fitting (11 years), Mila Garcia Silang (10 years), Facundo Aranda (10 years), and Lourdes Bazan (10 years). 

Aegis has been voted a great workplace more than a dozen times – from the Top 50 Best Places to Work by Glassdoor to Great Place to Work® certification.

Equally important to its dedication to team and residents is Aegis Living Shoreline’s commitment to the community. 

From delivering meals to local seniors, offering continuing education classes to community and healthcare workers, holding support groups for families, sponsoring the farmer’s market, concerts in the park, and other community events, and so much more, Aegis Living always strives to make a lasting impact and keep the Shoreline community at the heart or all it does.

Shoreline Aegis is located at 14900 1st Ave NE, Shoreline, WA 98155.

All photos courtesy Shoreline Aegis.



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We Heart Seattle and Camp United We Stand clean up 1500 pounds of garbage

Friday, September 30, 2022

Volunteers cleaning up trash in Shoreline 

When residents from the tent city United We Stand discovered a huge trash site in the trees by the I-5 exit ramp at N 175th, they decided to do something about it.

They partnered with We Heart Seattle - an action-based, boots-on-the-ground movement that organizes trash cleanups in public spaces and offers resources to those in need.

BEFORE - this is what the site looked like when they started
With We Heart Seattle's truck, U Haul, volunteers and equipment, campers from Camp United We Stand, along with volunteers from Seattle and Shoreline, cleared over 1500 lbs of garbage on Saturday, September 24, 2022.

AFTER - this is what it looked like after they cleared 1500 pounds of trash

Beverly Hawkins, Board Member of Camp United We Stand, we elated. 

"Volunteers from Seattle and Shoreline, from Camp United We Stand, and We Heart Seattle came together for a great job of beautifying a piece of Shoreline."

Camp United We Stand is hosted in turn by several Shoreline churches. They are presently located at Shoreline Free Methodist Church at 510 NE 175th St.



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Shoreline Baby Corner needs donations of school aged kids clothing

Thursday, September 29, 2022

Shoreline Baby Corner gives easy access for volunteers, agency partners and providers from Shoreline, Lake Forest Park, Kenmore, Kirkland, Edmonds, Bothell, and more.

More than 200 children are helped from the Shoreline Hub each month in partnership with school districts, early learning centers, housing, early intervention services, maternal and infant health, emergency services, and food banks.

Right now the Shoreline Hub needs school-aged kids clothing, either new or gently used.

The Hub, located in the North City Business District, will be open from 11am to 1pm this Saturday, October 1, 2022 collecting donations! 

Here’s the link to their location page with more donation hours and directions on how to find our Hub: Shoreline - Baby Corner 

Shoreline Baby Corner is a 5,000 sqft. facility located at 17230 12th Ave NE Shoreline WA 98155

If you do not have these items, this week is National Diaper Need Awareness Week.

On an ordinary day, one in three US families cannot afford diapers for their young children.

Learn more about diaper need how you can help www.babycorner.org

See our previous article about Shoreline Baby Corner 


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NUHSA seeking nominations for 2022 Human Services Awards

Tuesday, September 27, 2022

The North Urban Human Services Alliance (NUHSA) is seeking nominations for its 2022 Human Services Awards in three categories: 
  • Human Services Champion of the Year
  • Outstanding Human Services Program
  • Youth Human Services Leadership Award
Fill out the Nomination Form here!

During these extraordinary times, it is more important than ever to recognize those who have gone above and beyond to serve others.

Do you know of an individual, organization or business in North King County (Shoreline, Lake Forest Park, Bothell, Kenmore and Woodinville) that has made a significant contribution to the health and welfare of our community?

Have they in some way supported or advocated for strong and accessible health and human services and strengthened our community through their initiative and leadership? Have they helped build the capacity of our community to address our most pressing challenges?

If so, please give the recognition these individuals and organizations deserve!

Nominations are due November 1, 2022. For more information, see here.

Nominees and winners will be honored at NUHSA’s 2022 Human Services Awards celebration on Thursday, January 19, 2023 at 5:30pm. For more information or to RSVP for this community event, email staff@nuhsa.org



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Application for child care subsidy now open to families

Monday, September 19, 2022


The new Best Starts for Kids Child Care Subsidy represents an historic investment on the part of King County taxpayers – $20 million each year for the next six years to expand equitable access to child care for families in our community. 

Child care keeps the county running, and when we invest in child care providers and the industry as a whole, we are creating financial stability for working families and while also contributing to financial growth in the region.

The first step in the application process for the new subsidy program is now available! 

Families who are interested in the subsidy can fill out a five-minute eligibility form to see if they may qualify for help paying for child care. 

Because this is a new program and there may be more families interested than we have capacity to serve, please note that submitting an eligibility form will NOT guarantee child care funding for the family. 



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Puget Sound Kidney Centers prepares for leadership change

Monday, September 12, 2022

Harold S. Kelly is retiring as President / CEO
Puget Sound Kidney Centers
For over a quarter century, Mr. Harold S. Kelly has expertly led the Puget Sound Kidney Centers (PSKC), and this past summer he announced to the PSKC Board and staff his plan to retire.

Under Mr. Kelly’s leadership as President / CEO, PSKC grew from a small, community-based, nonprofit provider of dialysis to a high-quality regional health care organization operating 11 centers in six counties with five more kidney center projects pending throughout western Washington. 

PSKC has been steadfast in its mission to enhance the quality of life of those with kidney disease through life-sustaining dialysis care, education, and community support, and over the years, PSKC has been recognized as an outstanding employer as well.

A fierce advocate for patient-centered care, Kelly is recognized for his dedication to improving the health and wellness of those diagnosed with kidney disease. He is also well known for his strategic priority of building and operating high quality kidney centers in locations convenient for the patients. 

Additionally, he led the creation and introduction of PSKC’s Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) patient education program, recognized as one of the most comprehensive education programs on CKD in the nation. He also established the PSKC Foundation, an organization that assists in fund-raising for the PSKC patients in need.

Despite the many recent challenges facing the healthcare industry, Kelly’s steady leadership has positioned PSKC to remain a strong and successful business for many years to come. 

A long-serving PSKC board member, Don Senter, observes, 

“Our faith in a young Mr. Kelly was well founded as we watched him grow in experience, determination, and wisdom, guiding PSKC to the strong, well-respected organization it is today. Throughout his career as the leader of PSKC, his top priority has always been the welfare of the patients."

In 2021, due in large part to Kelly’s ongoing commitment to patients and staff, PSKC celebrated its 40th anniversary, and through his diligent efforts, PSKC will continue to ensure that quality nonprofit dialysis care is available for all patients in need.

Thomas DeBord, incoming President / CEO
Puget Sound Kidney Centers
To succeed Kelly in 2023, the board has hired Thomas DeBord as the incoming President and CEO.

DeBord brings a wealth of experience in healthcare that will serve PSKC well into the future. DeBord has served as Chief Operating Officer of Overlake Medical Center since 2015. 

In this capacity he has overseen the day-to-day operations of the hospital, including numerous patient care services, and regulatory compliance. 

Also, DeBord has had primary responsibility for the planning and implementation of Project FutureCare, Overlake's major campus renewal project that was announced in early 2016 which includes a new patient bed tower, cancer center, cardiovascular operating rooms, and a new behavioral health unit. 

In accepting the appointment, DeBord states, “I am grateful to succeed Mr. Kelly. PSKC is highly respected for its quality of care, and I am honored to be selected to lead the organization in the future. I look forward to joining the PSKC team.” 

Over the next several months Kelly and DeBord will work closely together to ensure a smooth leadership transition for PSKC.

PSKC Corporate offices are in Everett. One of their dialysis centers is now located on 44th in Mountlake Terrace, WA.




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