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Our History REACH Renton (Renton Ecumenical Association of Churches) began in 1970. 17 pastors from the wider Seattle area came together with the common mission of addressing homelessness and hunger. When the recession hit Seattle in 1970, the was a rise in homelessness and food insecurity. |
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Timeline |
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1982Volunteers gathered every Thursday evening at Honeydew Elementary School in the Renton Highlands to cook and serve a meal for anyone who came. The meal continued for over 30 years until 2012. 2004REACH's task force designed and implemented a shelter called ARISE (Area of Renton Interfaith Shelter Endeavor), that rotates on a monthly basis between various churches to provide overnight shelter for up to 25 homeless men. In 2007 this program was put under the auspices of Catholic Community Services. 2013REACH Renton opened Center of Hope with a day shelter located in Renton City Hall. Overnight shelter was initially provided at various churches on a monthly rotating basis. The Center of Hope shelter now operates 24/7 365 days a year. 2015REACH took over preparing and serving the weekend meals (Friday, Saturday, Sunday) and serving breakfast to those in need 5 mornings a week. Serving locations have varied and permanent housing is being sought. |
1983Since 1983, REACH has hosted and sponsored the annual Renton CROP hunger walk. Twenty-five percent of the total raised stays in Renton to support feeding programs. 2007REACH held monthly meetings were at Renton First United Methodist Church until 2007. Then meeting rotated between partner churches. 2012REACH Renton became an incorporated 501(c)3. The first act of response to the community need was lobbying at the Renton City Government to get a bus line from apartments in the talbot hill area to markets in Downtown Renton. 2013REACH convened a group to explore consolidation of how meals are provided to the homeless population in Renton. |