Keeping up with Rain City Rotary - Tent City 3, Pathways for Women, and Beer at Jazz Walk

Rain City Rotary serving dinner to Tent City 3 residents

Article by Donna Eggen

Photos by Donna Eggen and Kim Lancaster

For their June service project Rain City Rotary served a dinner to Tent City 3 which is camped here in Shoreline.  The folks in Tent City 3 enjoyed a summer meal of hamburgers and Hot Dogs, potato and macaroni salads, and watermelon, topped off with ice cream and fresh strawberries. They pronounced it “delicious”!.

Rain City Rotary member Sharon Knight said, “It was very rewarding to be serving dinner to Tent City 3 again. They are always very appreciative. I would definitely encourage people to serve them a dinner or stop by to donate food or goods.”

Between July 2012 and June 2013, Rain City Rotary and its individual members have contributed $2100 in food, supplies, and moving truck rental. This includes $500 for dentures and $250 for tents and tarps.

Cynthia Roat, Treasurer of Greater Seattle Cares, a non-profit organization whose mission it is to provide hot meals and other support to the residents of Tent City 3, wrote “Thank you for all you do for the residents of Tent City 3 and for so many other members of the wider community. Each of you is a bright light and together you glow quite brilliantly!”

Club members cleaned the grounds at the
Pathways for Women facility

For their July Service Project, Rain City Rotary had a work day at the YWCA Pathways for Women Shelter in Lynnwood. This is the second time they have done a project there. In October of 2012 they took down two dead trees and cleaned up the grounds. This time they painted the exterior doors of the apartments, repaired the roof of a storage shed, sealed along the bottom of the building with asphalt, pruned trees, and cleaned up the grounds.

As they worked they were able to talk with some of the residents to determine their needs and how Rain City Rotary might help them in the future. So far, Rain City Rotary and its individual members have donated over $1500 in materials and equipment rental for these projects.

Rain City Rotary member James McGregor said, “I had a great time working with my friends. I enjoyed seeing all we accomplished and I look forward to helping here again.”

Maria Bighaus, director of Housing Services at Pathways, said “The YWCA has limited funds for maintenance and beautification for Pathways. Rain City has stepped in to help fill the gap. Our residents feel safe and cared for as a result.”

Rain City runs the beer garden at the North City Jazz Walk

Now Rain City Rotary members are looking forward to the North City Jazz Walk. Stop and enjoy a wine or beer while listening to the band HOOK ME UP. This will be the fourth year in a row that Rain City Rotary has hosted the beer and wine garden at the Jazz Walk. All proceeds will go to Rotary’s “End Polio Now” Program. Rotary is very close to ending polio world-wide but still need your help.

Rain City Rotary member Kim Lancaster said “Each year I have enjoyed this event. We have fun working for a good cause and listening to great music. Our club motto is ‘Making Friends by Serving’. Last year one of our customers suggested we revise it to ‘Making Friends by Serving Beer’.

Rain City Rotary meets most Thursday evenings at 6:30pm either at the Shoreline City Hall or a local restaurant. One Saturday a month members join in doing a local service project. You are welcome to join us!  To learn more, visit Rain City Rotary.