EVERETT — The mission of the Interfaith Association of Northwest Washington involves taking action, together.
The nonprofit operates the Family Shelter, a site in Everett that houses homeless parents and children. This year marks the 20th anniversary since the group became an interfaith organization, expanding its focus to bring together people of different faiths.
About 200 people attended the sold-out annual dinner fundraiser, Always a Time to Bloom, earlier this week. The event’s name is based on the idea that families can bloom if they have stable housing, Executive Director Mary Ellen Wood said.
There is always a need at the shelter for volunteers and donations, she said. During the last budget year, 40 families were housed. The majority have since moved into more permanent homes. The families served had 98 children altogether.
“Always, over half of our residents are kids,” Wood said.
The shelter is supported by public and private funding. Proceeds from the fundraiser are used to help cover utilities, maintenance and repairs, she said. Donation needs vary with the time of year and can include items such as laundry soap or food or just time from someone handy with tools.
The shelter also provides opportunities for faith groups who are looking for a way to serve. Every faith “has something to say about the need to take care of people and work with people and have happy, healthy lives,” she said.
Efforts are under way to build a new group of volunteers who can give time in the shelter, especially on weekends, she said.
The organization also coordinated an event earlier this year for people who had questions about a proposed mosque in Mukilteo. From that event came a new goal to start offering interfaith suppers for people to get together and talk, Wood said. That is another program that could use volunteers.
The shelter gets about 100 calls for help a month, she said.
“There are always families who are not housed,” she said. “When you talk to any organization working with people who are homeless, everyone will say there are not enough services to meet the needs.”
The families served may be homeless because of medical bills, job loss, insufficient income, addiction and mental illness, she said. They all are in crisis.
It is “heartening and joyful” that so many people attended the fundraiser and continue to be involved, she said.
Rikki King: 425-339-3449; rking@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @rikkiking.
Interfaith association
For more information about the Interfaith Association of Northwest Washington, call 425-252-6672 or go to www.interfaithwa.org.
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