2 min read
Lynn Yount, UGM Volunteer: October 26, 2017
“You work at the Union Gospel Mission? Do you know Dave Wall?” I can’t count how many times I’ve heard this. Everybody knows Dave, and Dave knows everybody. As community engagement director, Dave is that warm, genuine, smiling person who introduces...
Read More
4 min read
Lynn Yount, UGM Volunteer: October 19, 2017
As a kid, I sat on a stool countless times and watched my mom prepare dinner. She didn’t love cooking and wasn’t thrilled to have an idle audience,...
2 min read
Union Gospel Mission: October 13, 2017
Perhaps you saw one of our volunteers holding a sign that said #EndHomelessness or Homeless Human on World Homeless Day. And you’re wondering just...
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,...
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...
