Plateau Outreach Ministries Opens House

The numbers are clear for Kimberly Fish, director of (POM): for the first three months of 2011, POM has already worked with 81 clients seeking emergency assistance, which encompasses a variety of needs including rent and utilities assistance, emergency shelter, medication, transportation and heating.

At the end of March 2010, she said, there were only about 40 to 45 clients who came seeking help.

The need is growing, and that was the message many people who attended the POM open house Thursday evening came away with, including Bart Jensen, a member of the Enumclaw Rotary Club, which last year donated $10,000 to the organization, he said.

Jensen recalled that Rotary members helped to paint the interior of the facility as he reflected on what he learned during the open house. "It just gets higher and higher, the number of people coming through here."

Trends in 2010 identified by POM that may be contributing to the growing need include:

• Very slow recovery of jobs lost
• Unemployment benefits are not stretching far enough to make ends meet
• Clients 55 and older are not being called back to work after lay off
• More working families are unable to make ends meet
• Adults are unable to afford health insurance as well as deep cuts in insurance benefits
• Continued need for subsidized and low-income housing
• Increased number of clients facing foreclosure
• But, better access to shelter availabiilty than last year

That POM has been able to meet the growing needs of the community is a testament to the kindness and generosity of the Plateau community and its many volunteers, Fish told the standing-room-only crowd on Thursday.

The gathering of community members from all over the Plateau on Thursday gave POM staff a chance to give an update on its latest news and numbers as well as a look back at the work POM did in 2010, including:

• $79,893 in cash assistance (vouchers) given out through the Samaritan Project emergency assistance program
• 105,000 pounds of food distributed through the food and clothing bank
• About $25,000 in voucher assistance for rent helped keep people in their homes
• Nearly 9,000 of volunteer hours logged
• About $2,400 in clothing vouchers given for use in More Pennies from Heaven Thrift Store to 73 people in need
• Provided $52,616 in utility assistance (via vouchers) that kept power on in 341 homes

In 2010, POM received continued support from the city of Enumclaw and also offered budget counseling services; it also continued to partner with The Salvation Army.

The organization moved to its new location at 1806 Cole St. last year, in part to meet the growing demand for services as well as need for additional space. It continues to undergo renovations and the POM board of directors estimates it needs to raise $880,000 to complete all work on the building as well as to finalize the purchase of the property. 

At present, about $140,000 has been raised, Fish said.

POM represents a concerted effort on the part of churches in the greater Enumclaw area, which are collectively known as the Plateau Ministerial Association, to provide a variety of social services for those in need. These include:

• The Samaritan Project: Provides counseling and help with vouchers for rent, emergency shelter, bills, medications and other basic needs. (Office Hours: Mon, Wed-Thur, 9:30am - 11:30am.)
• Food and Clothing Bank: Provides nonperishable fresh and frozen foods. Clothing is donated by affiliate More Pennies from Heaven thrift store and other community organizations. (Wed, 9am - noon; Emergency food pantry available as needed)
• Senior Care Corps: Offers assorted services and help for seniors and other family members including transportation, government benefits, and more. (Office Hours: Mon, Wed-Thur, 9:30am - 11:30am.)
• More Pennies from Heaven Thrift Store: Sells an assortment of gently used items including clothing, household supplies, books, and various collectibles; volunteer-supported; donations welcome during store business hours. (Tue - Sat, 10am -  4pm.)