Queen Anne Helpline Programs
1) We provide a clothing bank, which is free to all Seattle area (98100) residents, homless, shelter residents, and all who need this program. The Queen Anne Community has been generous in helping us with this program, as well as clothing corporations located within the city of Seattle.
2) We provide rental assistance in the 98109 and 98119 zip codes, so that our individuals and families can continue to be save in their homes, apartments. This is by far the largest expense we have. We serve all ethnic populations without prejudice.
3) For the Holidays, Thanksgiving:Store gift certificates are given to those in our area. We are fortunate to have donations for these. We also provide bags of non-perisable food. Christmas: One of the programs is a Giving Tree for Children whereby neighbors take a tag from a tree in a local store/bank or church and find a gift for that child. Then one week before Christmas we have a party for all of these families, with Santa, a tree, stockings and goodies. It is always rewarding to see the families together and put faces on the children we serve and may not always see in our office. These two holiday programs are managed by volunteers. Our Tree Lot is also a Volunteer program that brings neighbors working together.to make sure that we can assist those who might live next door to us, when they need it.
Recent Successes and Current Challenges
I will call her Amy: She came to us for help with rent in 2008, a very intelligent lady, who had been let go from her job. We knew of a tutoring need at our local middle school and sent her there to apply. Helpliine had paid for tutoring in grade schools but never in middle schools. She tutored in a 7th grade room working with one teacher. This past summer those students she worked with all passed their Wasal tests with outstanding scores. She is back in the same classroom this year, again working with special students, we and the parents are very proud of the students, but the parents all admit that their children could not have done this without Amy being there for them.
We always need support in keeping our clients in their homes, and their lights on. Our clothing bank is well stocked, except for new/used blankets, sleeping bags, etc. for the homeless that we serve.