Helping others: Those without shelter need clothes, blankets

Published 8:55 pm Tuesday, January 26, 2010

The youth group of St. Dunstan’s Episcopal Parish in Shoreline is collecting hats, gloves, scarves and socks along with blankets for those in need. The youth will do a final count of these items during the nationwide “Souper Bowl of Caring” on Feb. 7.

In addition, both the youth group and the Sunday School will be collecting canned food, taking up a special collection, and making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for the Seattle Union Gospel Mission.

Last year the Seattle/King County Coalition on Homelessness counted 2,826 people living on the streets of King County. This number is slightly higher than the total number of people counted in the same areas last year and probably fewer than will be found this year.

The homeless are of every age, race and gender. Some huddled in doorways; some slept in cars, camped in parking lots, or sheltered in makeshift lean-tos or under a bush in a city park. What they have in common is that they are all struggling to survive in the dead of winter.

These people not only lack shelter, they lack even warm clothing and blankets. Particularly hard to find are socks, hats and gloves. Think about it. When you bundle up those used items of clothing, how often are there hats or gloves much less socks in that bag? For more information, or to help, contact office@sdchp.org.

Joan Baker

Edmonds