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Feeding
the Youth of Grays Harbor On April 19, the Union Gospel Mission
started serving a new segment of the Harbor’s population. We now serve meals
to any hungry youth from 3:30 to 4:30 PM every Monday through Friday. The
feeding program is located within the Harbor Youth and Harbor High downtown
facility at 223 East Wiskah in Aberdeen. The teens do not have to be part of
either of these programs to have a meal. The only requirement is that the
youth must be 21 or under. The meals are prepared at the Mission
facility on Heron Street, and then transported each day to the Harbor Youth
facility. We are serving full dinner style meals during that afternoon hour,
and have served anywhere from 12 to 32 teens (and even younger) a day. We
have also made breakfast items available for any time of the day. We have seen teen parents and teens that are
expectation. We have young people with part time jobs that race to the
feeding program to get a hot meal. Some are trying to get their high school
diploma in order to enter college or obtain a better job. Among the teen parents we had one young
mother come in on the very first day. She had her young son with her, and was
overheard telling him “they didn’t
have anything in the fridge to eat at home”. That day they enjoyed a hot meal
of chicken, potatoes and gravy, and corn. On the Friday before Mother’s Day, we were
able to fix up a small gift for the young mothers eating with us. One young
mother told us later that our gift was the only gift she had received for
Mother’s Day. Another thanked us and said, “I never got a Mother’s Day gift
before.” Every month we give out hygiene packs filled
with toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo, soap, and other hygiene products. One
young man came in to eat and was surprised to receive a hygiene bag. He took
his bag to the table and poured the contents out, then lined everything up in
front of him just to look at it. One of the girls playfully hid his
toothpaste. He told her, “That’s OK, I am always using yours anyway.” We got
him another one. We would like to thank those who have
volunteered to help us in this new outreach, and a special thanks to Jim
Coates of Grays Harbor Pacific County Food Distribution Center for supplying
some of the food, juice and pop to get us off the ground and moving. If you would like to help us, we have some
very important needs. Some being toothpaste, fresh fruit, and hamburger. We
are also planning to give these kids some kind of Christmas and birthday
gifts. We could use some help with gifts for all ages. If you are interested
in helping, call Laurel at 360-533-1064 and ask how you can help. |
Director/History/Men/Women & Children/Services/Rehab/Outreach/Youth/Volunteers/Newsletter
