What began three years ago as an idea to take on homelessness in Kitsap County, is now “home” to 103-formerly housing-insecure seniors, those with disabilities, college students, veterans, and mothers with kids. That was the report Kingston North Kitsap Rotarians heard from Rae Holt, Communications Director for Kitsap Homes of Compassion, at their Dec 2 meeting. Homes of Compassion, whose mission is to “eliminate homelessness in Kitsap County one shared home at a time,” currently operates twenty-one shared homes across the county. Speaking for the third time to the Club, Holt reminded members that KHOC rents homes with four or more bedrooms in communities, near transit and services, at market rates, then offers those in homelessness their own bedroom, at an affordable fee, about $700. Residents of the homes are able to feel a sense of community, dignity, and responsibility as a result. The home in Kingston, for men, has four residents, with capacity for five. Seventy-five percent of KHOC residents remain in the program, or move to long-term housing. More info at: kitsaphoc.org.
All Kingston North Kitsap Rotarians are reminded by Satellite Club President David Winn about the Satellite Club’s Holiday Card writing project. The goal is to prepare 120 holiday cards with greetings of good will and friendship for residents of Martha and Mary. The Club is also preparing small gifts for needy elderly to be distributed by ShareNet. More info is available in a Dec 1 email from Winn to all Club members.
It took a series of slides and about forty minutes for Rotary District 5020 Community Grants Coordinator Bob Zawilski to explain the process of applying for - and receiving - a grant for local Rotary Club community and international projects at the November 18 meeting of the Kingston North Kitsap Rotary Club. It is reasonably complex and tightly controlled, but funds are available. There are ninety-two Rotary Clubs in District 5020 competing for the almost $200k grant money allocated by the District each year. Each grant must be matched by the local Club, meaning, for example, a $7k project would be half-funded by the District Grant. Zawilski explained it is a two year process with preparation in year 1 and execution in year 2. Member training is involved. Memorandums-of-understanding are involved. Club Presidents for each of the years are required to be trained. After project completion, receipts and proof-of-completion (photographs) are required to get the money. Zawilski explained some Clubs in District 5020 are very skilled at this. Thanks to Mark Libby, Kingston’s Club is gearing up to compete.
You will not meet a more energetic, cause-passionate person than Anne Thomas. Anne was the featured speaker (for about the 5th time, according to Rotarian Fredrick Branchflower) at Kingston North Kitsap Rotary Club’s Nov 11 meeting. Anne is the driving force behind the Laos-Cambodia Project, a literacy effort supporting the Kavet, an ethnic group that lives in far north Cambodia along the Laos border. The presentation, “From Literacy to University in 20 years,” highlighted the great gains the organization has made in teaching kids to read. The kids learn to read in evening classes, called by Anne “the best show in town.” Currently there are 800 students, 55 teachers - all volunteers - working in 2 provinces. According to Thomas, “we create the future beginning in primary grades, through high school, and now university. When we teach somebody to read, everything takes off.” Kingston North Kitsap Rotary Club is supporting the Laos-Cambodia Project again this year, the eighth year it has done so, with a $2k grant.
Another grant of value, closer to home, was that of the Club to the Boys and Girls Club operating out of Village Green Community Center. The Boys and Girls Club was challenged keeping kids coronavirus-distanced in the gym. To remind them to keep their distance the Rotary Club purchased partitions that have been set up in the gym. Judging by the banner on the Village Green building, Boys and Girls Club Staff was appreciative.
