Seattle’s Union Gospel Mission is sending out its annual fundraising request for holiday meals for the hungry and homeless. According to their mailer, $28.80 feeds and cares for 15 people. Here’s what their literature says:

“Your gift provies more than a meal!

On average it costs us $1.92 to provide a free meal for a hungry or homeless person. Our meals are the primary reason many people come to Seattle’s Union Gospel Mission. Once they’re here, we introduce them to the full services of our Mission and to the power of God to change lives.

We can keep the actual cost of these meals low because much of our food is donated. that means that most of our income is available to help provide the shelter, counseling, education and training that they require. This is all part of a total rehabilitation process.

That’s how your support of Seattle’s Union Gospel Mission helps provide meals and other essential care, and leads to restored, productive lives.”

Please send donations to:

Seattle’s Union Gospel Mission
P. O. Box 202
Seattle, WA  98111
206-722-HOME

As a journalist, it is gut-wrenching for me to see my colleagues out of work. Even more painful, however, is the loss our region will feel now that the Seattle P-I has ceased publication. Sure, they’re giving their online counterpart, SeattlePI.com, a try and I sincerely hope it works…but when you cut the staff of 150+ down to 20, there will be gaps in coverage.

First, we lost the King County Journal and now the P-I. Who will be next, and at what cost? We are losing a collective voice, a bridge to open government, a slice of democracy, and a necessary member of the check-and-balance team.  So whether you love Kent, or Seattle, or both, we are losing something valuable.

Please take a moment to read P-I Managing Editor David McCumber’s farewell column. It left me speechless (which doesn’t happen often), with a pit in my stomach and tears on my cheeks. Thank you, David and your dedicated team, for giving us all that you had and them some. We will miss you dearly!

Just when they thought spring might be near, residents of Kent, Washington awoke to a dusting of snow on the ground and flurries in the air. In addition, the National Weather Service in Seattle issued a high wind advisory with winds of 20 to 30 mph and gusts of up to 50 mph. The high wind advisory will be in effect until 11 p.m. PDT.

For more weather info., including today’s forecast, visit KING 5′s online weather center.

Originally from Indiana, I moved to Washington State five years ago. I lived in Bellingham for two and a half years and moved to Kent nearly three years ago. Kent isn’t for everybody, but I love that it’s close to Seattle while retaining its small town charm and diversity. It is a unique place with great people, wonderful restaurants and unique shops. I created this blog to tell people more about Kent, so they can learn about all that this town of 85,000 has to offer.