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.
Meet the new Eastside Interfaith Board Members: Destiny Bachman (Treasurer), Sam Basta, Mike Mathias, and Nicky Sheriff
Thank you to the people and organizations that presented to Eastside Interfaith in the past year.
ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM OCTOBER
- Erin Funk (efunk@hopelink.org) briefly shared the services Hopelink Mobility provides, both for seniors and for the general public, including a community van program and a trip planner to help find alternative transportation services.
- Kevin Folkman invited participants to join the Turtle Shelter Project, which sews highly functional vests for people experiencing homelessness. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is gathering to assemble vests on Saturday, November 14, 9 -11:30 am and 12:30-3 pm, at 10115 172nd Ave NE, Redmond. All are invited. Volunteer here.
- Tammy Waddell drew attention to the opportunity to crochet warm, colorful hats, which Essentials First will distribute. Katie Folkman designed the pattern and makes dozens herself.
- On October 18th from 4-5:30pm, Faith United Methodist Church (3924 Issaquah-Pine Lake Rd, Sammamish) will be hosting a Faith Housing Coalition Summit. Come to learn more about the housing crisis in Sammamish and Issaquah and to consider joining the coalition.
- The Issaquah-Sammamish Interfaith Coalition needs help with technical aspects of the work. Contact Elizabeth Maupin (eli410maupin@gmail.com) to volunteer.
- The Mormon Central Bishop Food Project is delivering 40,000 pounds of food to the area on October 15. The food is going to food pantries, other non-profits, and Little Food Pantries. Request for food from future deliveries can be directed to Kevin Folkman (kfolkman@gmail.com).
- Gul Siddiqi drew attention to the formal opening of the MAPS Active Living and Wellness senior center on the MAPS Vibe campus, Thursday, October 15, at 1:30. All are welcome.
- Essentials First invites us to its first Community Fundraiser, Saturday, October 24, 5 pm at the Together Center in Redmond. This event will support their efforts to expand access to essential hygiene supplies while building lasting solutions through advocacy and collaboration.
- Fabiola Bogarin from Hopelink provided links to Hopelink overview flyers, which list all their services. The flyers are available in multiple languages.
- Hopelink is taking special care to ensure that everyone who comes to their center leaves for home with food. Here is the enrollment link.
- Hopelink’s 31st annual Reaching Out celebration is coming up on October 15.
- Aldersgate United Methodist is having their annual Trunk or Treat on October 24, 2-5 pm, with games as well as cider, donuts, and other treats.
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DISCLAIMER: Any statements or recommendations made by presenters or in announcements at EISCC meetings are those of the individual or the organization they represent and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Eastside Interfaith Social Concerns Council.
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Earlier Announcements of current opportunities (please mention that you heard about this opportunity through EISCC)
The EISCC Severe Weather Shelter Project is looking for faith communities to join in a proposal for funding that will be submitted in the fall. Contact Elizabeth Maupin (eli410maupin@gmail.org) or Susan Cozzens (scozzens@live.com) if you are interested in more information.
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.
- A packet of support materials is available here.
- The hotline for reporting ICE activities is 425-361-0808.
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. See the slides with more detail here.
Little Free Pantries are an excellent path for addressing current food needs.
- 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 First Congregational Church in Bellevue. 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 Steering Committee of the East King County Human Services Collaborative.
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.