Thankful

Photo & Text Copyright 2008 Seattle Daily Photo. All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing.

On this Thanksgiving Day I'm thinking of my generous parents who made a wonderful life for me and my brother and shared so much of what they had with friends, family, and perfect strangers over the years. I'm thankful for churches, organizations and individuals who share their time and resources with the poor and take risks, leaving personal comfort zones to show friendship and care through personal and collective action. As the weather turns cold and economic worries have everyone wondering "will we have enough?", it's good to take stock of what is important in life and keep sharing with each other. Seattlites are such generous folks. Thanks to everyone who is making food donations, serving community meals, distributing warm clothing and sleeping bags, providing shelter and showers, caring for kids and the elderly, giving gifts to community organizations, and making life a little easier for someone who could use a lift to their spirits.

Need Housing?

Photo & Text Copyright 2008 Seattle Daily Photo. All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing.

. . .that's what the banner on the apartment house reads. It predates the homeless encampment on the parking lot of University Christian Church. The church is being fined by the city for hosting the encampment, named "Nickelsville" (a la depression era "Hoovervilles") for mayor Greg Nickels, whose support for sweeps of homeless campers from parks, underpasses, and vacant lots last year and this prompted protest and an attempted but thwarted large encampment on city and county lands last month before relocating here. Several of the city's christian congregations have hosted a well organized rotating "tent city" in their parking lots over the past number of years and been similarly threatened with fines for doing so under former mayor Schell and current mayor Nickels. Many congregations have opened their indoor spaces to serve as evening shelters, but not all can. One wonders if the tents were those of a youth group, cancer walk or scouting event if the city would take notice or impose fines for camping on private property. According to reports, the city is suggesting that the church shelter all 80 campers inside their building rather than host an exposed encampment, but offers no financial assistance to do so.