Encompass Ministries

Dear friends,
 
I hope this email finds you well. 
 
As you may know, I have been unable, per Doctor's advice, to continue, personally, passing out Personal Hygiene products. Pr Bob McKee has graciously offered to take over this duty this last month or so. Bob meets me at Hope, loads up, heads out for a few hours and then drops off what remains. He returns with quite a bit less then he left with as the need remains. 
 
I am at Hope Lutheran every Thursday between 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM and starting on 12 May, every Tuesday I will be at Hope between 4:00 and 6:00 PM to receive donations.
 
Lastly, I went by Martha's Kitchen to speak with the operations manager as well as the shower staff. During the conversations I learned that the number of people using the mobile showers has doubled. While part of the reason for this is, most assuredly, due to the increase in those living on the street, the bulk of the additional clients is due to the closing of all the various athletic facilities that people used to shower. It seems obvious now and yet, this additional burden on those that are unhoused never occurred to me.... This impact further illustrates how hard life is for the unhoused as well as how many of the burdens are almost invisible, until they are not. 
 
In closing, the need during this time of quarantine has not diminished and we are working on ways to get the support to those that need it.
 
Blessings,
 
Jim