Serving Locally - You can be the hands and feet of Jesus in our local community
Ministries in our Local Prisons WCCW Mother/Child Playday- Monthly playdays for Washington Correctional Center for Women inmates and their children. This is the only time the inmates can really play with their children while in the institution. For more information call Anne DeLaney at 253.884.6469. Fostering Hope - A grassroots ministry started at Chapel Hill to support the families who care for foster children. Fostering Hope supports and encourages foster families by providing a social context for parents to connect and share, personal items to offset the expense of raising foster children, and spiritual support. If you would like more information including ways to give please call Jennifer Taylor at 253.857.5929. REACH- REACH extends compassionate care to those affected by HIV/AIDS and other life threatening illnesses and situations. Every Labor Day Weekend, REACH facilitates a camp for families of HIV/AIDS infected children. If you would like to volunteer with REACH or want more information please call Merry Moyer at 253.383.7616 or visit their website. Habitat for Humanity- Habitat for Humanity brings families in need together with community volunteers and resources to build decent, affordable housing. The Gig Harbor/Key Peninsula Chapter has completed several houses on the Key Peninsula and will start building on a new Gig Harbor site this fall. For more information call Rich Phillips at 253.265.3361. Tacoma Street Ministries- Tacoma Street Ministries serves the homeless and low-income families of Tacoma by bringing together volunteers on Friday and Saturday nights to hand out food, blankets, socks, hygiene items, and clothes in the Tacoma Rescue Mission parking lot. 100-300 people may be served any night. All "new comers" are welcomed to join a bigger group serving the homeless every third Friday night. Just meet in front of entrance H (lower parking area) at Chapel Hill at 6pm and leave for Tacoma from there. If you would like to volunteer with Tacoma Street Ministries or would like more information please call Linda Brewer at 253.857.7566. Cambodian Presbyterian Church- Led by Pastor Sahara Chea, this church ministers to the Cambodian community in Tacoma. They have church services in English and Cambodian. For more information please contact Sheila Mischke at 253.853.0290
Prison Chapel- Weekly chapel services are held Sunday evenings for approximately 60 inmates per service at Washington Correctional Center for Women. For more information call Anne DeLaney at 253.884.6469.
Prison Dress For Success Clothing Closet- Provide pants, tops, a coat, shoes, a purse, underwear, a toiletry kit, and a duffle bag for every released inmate at Washington Correctional Center for Women. This increases their self esteem, gives them an interview outfit and assures them that there are people outside of the institution who care about them. For more information call Anne DeLaney at 253.884.6469.
Celebrate Recovery at WCCW- 95% of inmates at WCCW are incarcerated for drug and alcohol abuse. Twice a month around 16 inmates attend this national 12-step recovery program. For more information call Lori White at 253.853.0291.
Rebuilding Families Inc.- Assist Washington State female offenders with their transition back into the community and reunification with their families. RFI works with the Dress for Success Clothing Closet and provides the women with safe and secure transition housing. These are just a few examples of the transitional services RFI provides. For more information contact Audrey Shaw at 253.514.8123.
Kairos at WCCW and McNeil- Kairos Prison Ministry is an ecumenical volunteer organization ministering to incarcerated individuals, their families, and those who work with them through monthly ministry programs as well as bi-annual retreat weekends, described as short courses in Christianity. During retreat weekends hundreds of dozens of home-made cookies are given to inmates to demonstrate the love of Christ through Christian strangers. For more information about Kairos at WCCW contact Peg Seaton at 360.876.2765. For more information about Kairos at McNeil contact Gary Maples at 253.212.0593.
Tutoring/Mentoring Ministries
Back up Buddies- One on one mentoring program for 3rd-5th grade Discovery Elementary boys that meets twice a month, once at Chapel Hill and once for lunch at school. The 18-20 boys also go on field trips to local police and fire departments as well as weekend and summer trips to Bremerton or the Museum of Flight. If you would like to volunteer or like more information please contact Glenn Young at 253.265.6337.
Las Amigas- Back up Buddies female counterpart, Las Amigas is a one on one mentoring program for 3rd-5th grade girls. The mentoring provides the girls with acceptance, love, and guidance. If you would like to volunteer or like more information please contact Dottie Young at 253.265.6337.
Kid Reach- Provides one-on-one tutoring for academically at-risk kids.
Recommendations are required by each child’s classroom teacher.
Volunteer tutors needed. 3-5pm. (October–May)
Training available. For more information call Pam at 853-0272.
Military Support Ministry- MSM supports all military service members and their famlies in the Gig Harbor area. This includes providing assistance to families and spouses of deployed military, moral support to returning veterans, and volunteers for USO deployment and homecoming events. Chapel Hill veterans and active duty members are encouraged to become involved. Come to HeBrews the 2nd Monday of each month from 6pm-7pm or call Denny Sapp for more information at 253.265.6676.