5 min read
Barbara Comito, former marketing director: October 4, 2017
You might be asking: Why is UGM making such a big deal of World Homeless Day? How does a day devoted to homelessness really help anything? Actually, I hope you are asking those questions because they show you’re already paying attention, and that’s...
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3 min read
Lynn Yount, UGM Volunteer: September 28, 2017
Dr. Ward Merkeley has a soft spot for people in need. Working as an emergency room physician for more than two decades at Providence Holy Family...
2 min read
Barbara Comito, former marketing director: September 19, 2017
Recently I was asked what I love best about my job. I could have said writing. I have wanted to be a writer since my second grade teacher, Mrs....
2 min read
Phil Altmeyer, Executive Director: September 14, 2017
“Not here, not here – not tiny, bucolic, safe Freeman, where the schools and the store are just about the whole town. Not here.” Those words from...
4 min read
Union Gospel Mission: September 6, 2017
Karen Herford brings high energy and broad experience to her new role as volunteer coordinator at the Crisis Shelter for Women and Children. We asked...
2 min read
Union Gospel Mission: September 2, 2017
In our last blog post from UGM Camp 2017, we’re reminded of one of the key ingredients for many of the life transformations we see at UGM: time....
3 min read
Lynn Yount, UGM Volunteer: August 29, 2017
Each person who comes into UGM recovery comes in broken. The program extends the love of Christ and brings his truth to bear on their brokenness. As...
1 min read
Union Gospel Mission: August 23, 2017
By Shatara Flowers, Student Impact Center resident intern - A year ago I would have never imagined I’d be in such a place, experiencing life in such...
2 min read
Union Gospel Mission: August 17, 2017
By Danielle DePace, Youth Outreach Administrative Assistant - 10-year-old Leo could be seen wandering by himself away from the rest of the campers,...
4 min read
Lynn Yount, UGM Volunteer: August 11, 2017
Of course, thrift stores are cool. Napoleon Dynamite and Macklemore told (and rapped) us that. Thrift is also a smart and environmentally friendly...
4 min read
Union Gospel Mission: August 2, 2017
By Annie Crain, Youth Outreach volunteer - “I must be the luckiest boy in the whole world!” These were some of the sweetest words I’ve ever heard....
6 min read
Lynn Yount, UGM Volunteer: July 26, 2017
“I didn’t know how to leave.” Rachael met Josh in a support group meeting. They were both on the right path – it must be destiny, right? “I had 30...
4 min read
Union Gospel Mission: July 20, 2017
By James "Rocky" Curtiss - Strangely enough, Gary Leonard’s commitment to volunteering at UGM started with a pillow. UGM had put out a newsletter...
2 min read
Union Gospel Mission: July 15, 2017
By Danielle DePace, former Youth Outreach administrative assistant - Looking at Hailey, you would think that she’s like any other 13-year-old,...
4 min read
Lynn Yount, UGM Volunteer: July 13, 2017
We talked about trauma recovery and why it’s important for people like Jocelyne in July’s Mission News. On one hand, it’s complicated: family...
2 min read
Union Gospel Mission: July 6, 2017
Writing is one of the key subjects we work on in our Vocational Education classes. We want to prepare our residents to communicate well in their...
5 min read
Phil Altmeyer, Executive Director: June 29, 2017
Every industry develops its own lingo. Shelters and recovery programs are no exception. We talk about “old wounds” and “relapse” and “triggers.” Our...
2 min read
Lynn Yount, UGM Volunteer: June 22, 2017
“I ended up on the streets, homeless and literally sleeping outside, and UGM offered a place to stay. It’s better than not having a roof over your...
4 min read
Barbara Comito, former marketing director: June 14, 2017
In the Business of Giving Back - Jason McSteen gives where he does business. Looking at him today – married, prosperous, the owner of a successful...
6 min read
Union Gospel Mission: June 7, 2017
You may notice we’ve changed the name of the annual event we used to call "graduation," and here’s why: The former name gave the impression that...
2 min read
Barbara Comito, former marketing director: June 1, 2017
I recently bought a 2003 Honda Element with 127,000 miles at UGM Motors for $6,700. I looked around a bit on Craigslist first, but I didn’t go to any...
3 min read
Phil Altmeyer, Executive Director: May 26, 2017
The recent tension between the City of Spokane and Blessings Under the Bridge actually points to a positive bottom line: Spokane is an extremely...
5 min read
Lynn Yount, UGM Volunteer: May 16, 2017
Heidi Hash had the chance to give a priceless gift. It wouldn’t cost her money, but it would require a huge investment of time, energy – and faith....
4 min read
Lynn Yount, UGM Volunteer: May 9, 2017
The numbers are hard to nail down, but they’re sobering any way you look at them. These are the best estimates we could formulate from the numbers we...
3 min read
Lynn Yount, UGM Volunteer: May 3, 2017
Yesterday, the Engage! Work Seminar kicked off for the folks in the UGM recovery programs: People in the latter phases of the program preparing to...
