Encompass Blog
Inundated. Literally.
With already over 4000 unhoused in San José,
now due to the flooding we have witnessed and experienced
in San José this week,
sadly there is a whole new group of individuals
and families requiring temporary shelter
and some who will need new permanent shelter.
And even more people to add to the label “house-less”.
We are pleased that those who need the emergency shelter
are receiving it at overnight shelters operated by
the Red Cross and
the San José Neighborhood Parks and Recreation Department.
It is poignant to note, however,
that a dozen flood victims have been staying at
Grace Baptist Church
Shelter for the past 3 nights.
Grace is happy to take them in.
However they have already been at capacity for the past 6 weeks
due to the storms and
the county shelters regularly sending individuals to Grace
(since they have been full).
Now that Grace is accommodating the displaced
from this week's natural disaster,
it is taking an additional burden on this already over-taxed church.
For those of you who don't know,
Grace Baptist is an economically challenged church in downtown San José.
They have sheltered by far the most guests in the
Winter Faith Collaborative.
They have been open every night since December 17th and
they alone have served nearly 200 men and women just this winter.
As with all Collaborative communities
they are being called to this work and
it is their joy to serve in this capacity.
However GRACE NEEDS OUR HELP!
Costs have exceeded the budgeted amount,
as is the case for most small communities.
The heating bill alone
just for one section of the church
for the month of January was $1000
over what is normal for that time of year,
in order to keep their many guests warm.
Other costs include paying overnight monitors,
food and supplies for 50+ people (guests and volunteers),
and basic necessities like toilet paper, paper plates, cups, etc.
They had planned to stay open for another month
but without help Grace will have to close soon.
Other communities are also in jeopardy
to close sooner than expected
since they too are also running out of funds.
Therefore, GRACE AND THE OTHER COLLABORATIVE COMMUNITIES
DESPERATELY NEED DONATIONS
for concrete things like the above mentioned.
The Winter Faith Collaborative has a core committee
that funding requests goes through in order to get approved.
ALL funds donated go directly towards helping the guests
to have a warm, dry, dignified, and family-like setting to live in.
Please donate
here.
Your tax receipt will be mailed to you.
The Winter Faith Collaborative
is also pleased to announce that the documentary they made in the Fall,
“The Gift of Hospitality” is now up on Youtube!
Either go to Youtube and type in "Winter Faith Collaborative" or
click this
link.
You will find the full-length documentary (26 min.)
as well as three individual “partial videos”
featuring overnight shelter, daytime shelter, and safe car parks,
each including an introduction and ending from the full documentary.
By request, we offer these shorter clips
for those who want to be able to show during a worship service.
Our documentary, “The Gift of Hospitality”
explains who the Winter Faith Collaborative is
and who they are helping - hundreds of house-less each Winter -
in a unique way through radical hospitality, love, and respect.
This grassroots organization is completely volunteer run and funded.
But in order to help more people for longer,
THEY NEED DONATIONS, VOLUNTEERS, AND MORE FAITH COMMUNITIES TO STEP FORWARD!
In light of the floods and due to our newly displaced neighbors,
they hope you will SPREAD THESE VIDEOS WIDELY TO YOUR CONTACTS.
Please share the video and this URGENT FUNDING PLEA.
When doing so, please also consider sharing
this flyer which explains on one page who they are,
how to get involved, and their impressive totals from last year.
Also share their website,
Facebook page, and
signup.com group page.
Thank you for doing YOUR PART in helping ALL our neighbors,
regardless of housing status,
whether newly house-less because of the recent floods
or those who have been without shelter for many years.
As this week has reminded us,
any of us in just a snap of a finger can become house-less.
Thank you for your generosity.
We could not be doing this miraculous without you!
