Rise and shine
Even though most organizations are cutting back on services, at least one -- the Cascade People's Center -- is bucking that trend, with its announcement of early morning hours.
Beginning Thurs., Oct. 1, the center will be open from 5-7 a.m. every morning, as part of its Urban Morning Outreach program. Among the morning's basic services: coffee/tea/juice beverage service; breakfast snacks; materials for making sack lunches; an area for freshening up and changing clothes; and restroom use. Referrals to day-labor offices, free medical clinics, laundry and shower facilities and domestic violence shelters or resources will also be provided.
To maintain the resources to keep the early morning hours running, the center asks that donations of food, beverages and personal hygiene items be dropped of Mon.-Fri., 3-5 p.m. The center is located at 309 Pontius Ave. N.
--Rosette Royale
Lazarus revived
A Real Change reader has donated $85,000 to Catholic Community Services -- which will keep the Lazarus Day Center's doors open seven days a week.
In last week's issue, an article ("Lazarus day shelter closing two days a week," Sept. 23-29) reported on the Pioneer Square day shelter's decision to partially close after not receiving public funds that left it with an $85,000 deficit. Bill Hallerman, director of Catholic
Community Services of King County, says a woman who bought Real Change on Thursday had her attorneys call CCS that day to arrange delivering a single check of $85,000. The donor, who asked to remain anonymous, gave it to "the Laz" during a personal visit to the center on Friday.
The money, Hallerman says, will keep Lazarus open all week through at least June 10, 2010, the end of its fiscal year. "Thank you for the article," Hallerman said. "It was amazing."
Thank you, whoever you are, for reading Real Change.
--Cydney Gillis