The King County Regional Homelessness Authority is activating Tier 2 Severe Cold Weather Protocols from Saturday, February 14 through the morning of Tuesday, February 24. See the KCHRA site for more information.
Severe Weather Shelter Navigation Hotline: (206) 245-1026 – Available 7:00 am – 10:30 pm daily during severe weather activations. Families with children can call to be connected with a shelter and a ride to that location. All King County Library System (KLCS) libraries are free and open to all members of the public during their open hours and can be used as day shelter.
If you are ready to offer your space for severe weather sheltering, you can list it with this form. To learn more about what might be involved in offering shelter space, contact the EISCC Severe Weather Shelter Project at eastsideinterfaith@gmail.com.
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East King Rise is a coalition of community organizations helping our immigrant neighbors.
The immigrant support organizations that are part of the coalition all need financial donations to be able to help families plan for emergencies and address family needs: Eastside for All, The Circle (Issaquah), Africans on the Eastside, and 4Tomorrow (Redmond).
The coalition needs non-immigrant volunteers for its four programs: WAISN Rapid Response, NDLON Adopt a Day Labor Corner, WA Whistles, and WA Neighborhood Defense. There is room for everyone to help, depending on ability, interest, and risk tolerance. Contact eastkingrapidresponse@gmail.com for more information or to volunteer. Please mention that you heard about the opportunity through EISCC.
A packet of support materials is available here. The hotline for reporting ICE activities is 425-361-0808.
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The Old Friends Club, which offers dementia day care and respite for caregivers, is looking for affiliate partners to offer the OFC program in their own space. Old Friends Club provides a startup grant, a toolkit, ongoing training, access to resources, and networking and sharing. Download an OFC Affiliate Informational Packet here. Please mention that you heard about the program through EISCC.
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Announcements (please mention that you heard about this opportunity through EISCC)
- Events
- Nourishing Networks is having its spring Networkshop on March 21 at the Together Center, 9 am to 1 pm. Register here.
- Advocacy
- Volunteer opportunities
- Little Free Pantries are an excellent path for addressing current food needs. The Little Free Pantry at Unity of Bellevue needs donations.
- Skill Sharing
- Essentials First has started an Essential Skills program. Sewing instructors and supplies are welcome. Volunteer at essentialsfirst.org.
- Mama’s Hands is looking for volunteers for after-school tutoring. Contact Star Lalario at star@mammashands.org or 206-719-0335.
- The Jewish Coalition for Immigrant Justice needs volunteers for immigrant accompaniment. The Jewish Coalition can be reached through the WAISN Hotline (1-844-724-3737) or through Andrea Soroko Naar (andrea@jewishcoalition.org).
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MISSION STATEMENT
Members of Eastside Interfaith Social Concerns Council (“EISCC”) believe we are guided by the moving of God’s spirit in our community to work together in a spirit of caring and celebration. We honor and respect each other’s religious heritages, welcome and pray for each other, and share information about pressing community needs.
EISCC members represent many Eastside faith communities and meet monthly on the second Tuesdays, lunch available from 11:45, meeting starts at noon, at St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church, 4228 Factoria Blvd SE, Bellevue WA 98006 (directions). We are currently meeting in person and via Zoom (see the link in the area to the left).
We provide a forum to educate, advocate, initiate, coordinate, and support through task forces and other means, to work for the common good, and to address human needs and improve the quality of life of the citizens living in the eastside communities of Bellevue, Kirkland, Issaquah, Renton, and Redmond.
Linda Hillesheim, EISCC board member, represents the Eastside faith community on the board of Eastside Human Services Forum.
EISCC sponsors one sub-agency, Congregations for Kids, which provides school supplies for children in Bellevue schools. Three prior EISCC sub-agencies now operate independently: Porchlight (formerly Congregations for the Homeless), and The Sophia Way support homeless men and women on the Eastside. Former sub-agency Backpack Meals for Kids, now absorbed into Backpack Brigade, provided supplemental nutrition for Bellevue school children.
EISCC is an IRS 501(c)(3) tax exempt entity, EIN 94-3036001.