Over the Christmas/New Year holiday the Seattle PVs were active in the community, letting those struggling know that someone cares. Right before Christmas, a group of 10 volunteers spent the day with Operation Sack Lunch (OSL), preparing and serving lunch, helping to organize a storage room and storage area, and sorting, organizing and packaging donated tea to hand out to the homeless. Everyone who took part, from age 7 to 70+, enjoyed their day and were impressed by all that OSL does to help the community. Each day OSL serves 2,000 meals throughout the city and at the outdoor meal site where we served, offers three warm meals, 7 days a week, no questions asked.

Between Christmas an New Years, 5 PVs spent the night serving with Union Gospel Mission with their Search and Rescue program, going out in the UGM Van (2 went out for the night) and offering food, hot chocolate, blankets, hats, gloves, hand warmers, toiletries and other necessities to those living on the streets. Besides being able to give out these supplies, we were able to talk with the people who came to the van. The stories of survival we heard were quite amazing. We met people who have been living on the streets for years and also met a women who was newly homeless living in her car with her dog. Our van made 5 stops and ran out of some supplies early on. Beyond our last stop, it was discovered that there was a new large encampment of homeless. UGM will be adding this as a new stop.

Plans are being made with the Seattle volunteers to work at both sites in the next month or two, and we will definitely be returning during the PV Week in April. We hope you can join us!