KentHOPE:
Women & Children’s Drop-In Day Center
9009 Canyon Drive - Kent, WA 98030
Open To Guests Monday through Friday
10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Day Center Phone—253-480-2325
Website www.kenthope.org
Hot Meals and To-Go Meals
Clothing Items
Hygiene and Weather Kits
Mailing Address Service
Computer Access
Phone Access
Bus Tickets
Case Management
Support With Overnight Shelter Referrals
Volunteer Ran Classes and Learning Sessions
Partnered agencies available onsite
Registered Nurse Visits on Tuesdays
Link Program:
The Link Program is for women who are relatively stable, with a job and no behavioral or abuse issues, but who need a place to live free to get on their feet and save money while looking for housing. The program includes case management, goal setting, and budgeting. At the beginning of April, eight women and 14 children are living in the Son Rise apartments located behind the Day Center. We are exploring ways our Outreach team and church can connect with these women and their children.
New KentHOPE Facility:
We are excited to share that a location has been found, and plans are moving ahead for a new KentHOPE facility, which will be located in Covington. Seattle’s Union Gospel Mission (SUGM) is working with the City of Covington as all the details are worked out. The 2-story facility will offer services on the first floor and guest rooms upstairs. SUGM will announce more details at their May 9th annual fundraising event, Catalyst. Donations from that evening will be directed toward the new KentHOPE facility and SUGM’s other programs for women and children. Prayers for a successful fundraising event are appreciated. We will share more details in the months ahead.
For more information, contact info@kenthope.org
KentHOPE 10th Anniversary:
On January 21, our church celebrated the 10th anniversary of KentHOPE’s opening and Kent UMC’s partnership with them.
A Little History Regarding KentHOPE:
In 2010, members of our church were concerned about the problem of homelessness in South King County, especially in Kent. Meeting with those from other churches and organizations, they were founding members of the South King County Homeless Advocacy Group. After attempting to purchase a building and being turned down for lack of funding, the group partnered with Seattle United Gospel Mission (SUGM) and became known as KentHOPE. After several more attempts to lease or purchase a building, SUGM decided to utilize the little blue house they owned on Canyon Drive to open a Day Center for Women and Children. The KentHOPE Day Center for Women and Children opened on December 16, 2013. That was the real beginning of a unique partnership that has changed the lives of many women and children. It has also changed the lives of many of those in our congregation who have volunteered over the years. Knowing the KentHOPE guests has given us a new perspective on others and ourselves.
Thanks to everyone who has been a part of this ministry.
July’s KentHOPE BBQ Dinner
The Outreach Committee’s KentHOPE Dinner Team provided a delicious BBQ picnic dinner cooked and served in the backyard of KentHOPE with brats, potato salad, baked beans, and watermelon, topped off with ice cream cones for dessert. It was a 95-degree day, so we brought iced sweet tea for the adults and bubbles and water balloons for the children. A good time was had by all, followed by a request from KentHOPE for us to come again next summer. Thank you to all who donated, cooked, and served the food.
Outreach prepares one breakfast and one dinner every month for KentHOPE. For the BBQ, we cook and serve at KentHOPE. The rest of the year, we drop off our ready-to-eat meals in the KentHOPE kitchen. Volunteers drop off their food items at the KUMC kitchen on or before 4 p.m. on the day of the dinner, and then Outreach delivers the dinner to KentHOPE.
If you would like to be a part of the KentHOPE Dinner Team and donate one food item once a year or once a month, please get in touch with contact the church office at (253) 852-3900 or general@kentmethodist.com.