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Monday,  September 16 , 2024
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Photo of Patty Hastings

Stories by Patty Hastings

Columbian Social Services, Demographics, Faith

St. Paul Lutheran Church in downtown Vancouver is temporarily housing 30 men from nearby Share House after water damage from a fire shuttered the men’s shelter.

St. Paul Lutheran Church to get a makeover

St. Paul Lutheran Church in downtown Vancouver is temporarily housing 30 men from nearby Share House after water damage from a fire shuttered the men’s shelter.

August 18, 2019, 6:00am Churches & Religion

You could call the upcoming work at St. Paul Lutheran Church a sort of barn raising. The downtown church will get a makeover thanks to the collective efforts of the community. Read story

Giovanni Valtierra, 14, left, waits for Vanessa Contreras to finish pouring teriyaki sauce before eating dinner with the rest of his family at their Vancouver apartment on Tuesday evening.

FACE Value: Program, grant help minority homeless populations

Giovanni Valtierra, 14, left, waits for Vanessa Contreras to finish pouring teriyaki sauce before eating dinner with the rest of his family at their Vancouver apartment on Tuesday evening.

August 14, 2019, 6:00am Clark County News

Daniel Valtierra and Vanessa Contreras went through a rough patch. Read story

Shoppers and volunteers mingle under a pavilion during Fourth Plain Church of the Nazarene’s sixth annual Care 2 Share event where items are given away free to the community.

Care 2 Share ‘the best deal in town’

Shoppers and volunteers mingle under a pavilion during Fourth Plain Church of the Nazarene’s sixth annual Care 2 Share event where items are given away free to the community.

August 10, 2019, 8:06pm Churches & Religion

Not much is free these days. Or if something is there are often strings attached, like having to sign up for an email newsletter to get a birthday freebie. Read story

Woodland Action operations lead Tanya Rocha, left, and Mike O’Donnell of Woodland carry a table that O’Donnell is donating to Woodland Action. The thrift store and food bank is one of the few agencies in Woodland that provide services to the homeless, and volunteers at the center are worried that two proposed changes to city law on camping and panhandling could scare people away from using Woodland Action.

Woodland grapples with homelessness, two drafted camping ordinances

Woodland Action operations lead Tanya Rocha, left, and Mike O’Donnell of Woodland carry a table that O’Donnell is donating to Woodland Action. The thrift store and food bank is one of the few agencies in Woodland that provide services to the homeless, and volunteers at the center are worried that two proposed changes to city law on camping and panhandling could scare people away from using Woodland Action.

August 5, 2019, 6:00am Clark County News

A small community like Woodland isn’t a great place to be homeless, city officials acknowledge. But even though the city lacks services, those officials want to establish some rules. Read story

A high-efficiency particulate air filter is used to counter the water damage on the main floor of the Share House after a fire broke out in the building on July 30, 2019.

Fire at Share House displaces 58 homeless men

A high-efficiency particulate air filter is used to counter the water damage on the main floor of the Share House after a fire broke out in the building on July 30, 2019.

July 31, 2019, 4:45pm Clark County News

Fifty-eight homeless men were displaced by a small fire late Tuesday night at the men’s shelter in downtown Vancouver. Read story

Congregant Kristin Wade, left, and Pastor Susan Boegli, right, carry new welcome banners to the front of the Battle Ground Community United Methodist Church on Northeast 199th Street. Boegli said the church added a rainbow to its sign two years ago to show that all are welcome regardless of sexual orientation. It has been repeatedly vandalized and, as a result, reprinted.

Battle Ground Community United Methodist Church defies recent attacks

Congregant Kristin Wade, left, and Pastor Susan Boegli, right, carry new welcome banners to the front of the Battle Ground Community United Methodist Church on Northeast 199th Street. Boegli said the church added a rainbow to its sign two years ago to show that all are welcome regardless of sexual orientation. It has been repeatedly vandalized and, as a result, reprinted.

July 22, 2019, 9:40pm Churches & Religion

The vinyl banners in front of Battle Ground Community United Methodist Church are the greatest evangelism tool the Rev. Susan Boegli has ever seen at work. Read story

Marsha Barley, 69, embraces her son, Lance, 43, while shopping for furniture at NW Furniture Bank on Friday. The Barleys were living in their van until they recently got housing through the Vancouver Navigation Center. People can shop for all the furniture they need for $75 at NW Furniture Bank.

NW Furniture Bank cushions cost of furnishing a home

Marsha Barley, 69, embraces her son, Lance, 43, while shopping for furniture at NW Furniture Bank on Friday. The Barleys were living in their van until they recently got housing through the Vancouver Navigation Center. People can shop for all the furniture they need for $75 at NW Furniture Bank.

July 20, 2019, 6:00am Clark County News

Marsha Barley hugged a throw pillow as she looked over shelves of household goods — items she could take for free to furnish her new apartment. Read story

Volunteers Judy Walter, left, and Shirley Brandenburg with Babies in Need build layettes at All Saints Episcopal Church in Hazel Dell. Walter said she’s been volunteering with the group since the early 2000s.

Babies in Need celebrates 20 years of getting families off to a good start

Volunteers Judy Walter, left, and Shirley Brandenburg with Babies in Need build layettes at All Saints Episcopal Church in Hazel Dell. Walter said she’s been volunteering with the group since the early 2000s.

July 14, 2019, 6:05am Clark County Health

Volunteers met Monday at All Saints Episcopal Church to assemble layettes for Babies in Need, as they do every month. They wrapped tiny clothes in ribbon and placed them into handmade bags to drop off at local hospitals. Since 1999, Babies in Need has distributed about 4,900 layettes and 2,500… Read story

Robert Thompson folds laundry at the Vancouver Navigation Center on June 27. Laundry is one of the most used services. Thompson lives out of his car with his partner, and they come to the day center every day. “They’re doing really good here,” he said.

Vancouver Navigation Center sees higher than expected numbers

Robert Thompson folds laundry at the Vancouver Navigation Center on June 27. Laundry is one of the most used services. Thompson lives out of his car with his partner, and they come to the day center every day. “They’re doing really good here,” he said.

July 11, 2019, 5:59am Clark County News

On a recent Thursday morning, the Vancouver Navigation Center was bustling. People were hanging out at tables inside and outside, watching television, waiting to take showers, doing laundry and nursing cups of coffee. Read story

Katelyn Benhoff, lead outreach case manager with Share, left, speaks with a man who declined to give his name while performing the annual Point in Time Count on Jan. 24 in Vancouver’s Esther Short Park.

Clark, Spokane counties compare, contrast homeless numbers, resources

Katelyn Benhoff, lead outreach case manager with Share, left, speaks with a man who declined to give his name while performing the annual Point in Time Count on Jan. 24 in Vancouver’s Esther Short Park.

June 27, 2019, 6:00am Clark County News

Clark County was among 21 of 39 Washington counties that saw more people experiencing homelessness this winter. Read story