3 min read
Barbara Comito, former marketing director: June 27, 2018
Stephanie sums up her childhood in just a few phrases: “A lot of broken promises, fighting, a lot of neglect, never being told I love you. No...
3 min read
Union Gospel Mission: November 21, 2017
By Kirste Richards, UGM Counselor - Gratitude plays an important role in my ministry as a counselor at the UGM Center for Women and Children in Coeur...
2 min read
Lynn Yount, UGM Volunteer: December 16, 2016
Jessie’s 23-year drug and alcohol addiction had already cost her a son and a daughter, taken from her as babies. But she had managed to hang on to...
1 min read
James Bishop: October 19, 2016
Roberta, Kathi, and Ginger - lovingly referred to by the Center staff as the "faithful team" - earned their nickname because of their dedication to...
3 min read
Union Gospel Mission: September 28, 2016
By JoAnn Zajicek, Director at the Center for Women and Children During monthly staff meetings at UGM's Center for Women and Children, team members...
4 min read
Lynn Yount, UGM Volunteer: April 29, 2016
The second part of an interview with Susan Pray, Administrative Assistant at the Center for Women and Children. You can read the first part of her...
3 min read
Lynn Yount, UGM Volunteer: April 27, 2016
When you hear that Susan Pray is the “administrative assistant” at Coeur d’Alene’s Center for Women and Children, you may get the wrong idea. Sure,...
3 min read
Union Gospel Mission: March 15, 2016
Throughout her life, LeAnna Vargas was repeatedly treated as though she had no value, and eventually, she began to believe she didn’t. Feeling...
2 min read
Union Gospel Mission: February 26, 2016
Prior to entering into recovery at UGM, men and women undergo “pre-phase,” an evaluation time and trial period to discover whether LIFE Recovery is a...
1 min read
Merrily Roe, former staff writer: January 7, 2016
Jack Kendrick has a huge heart for helping those in need. Following his wife’s death and a cancer diagnosis, he experienced hopelessness in life. A...
2 min read
Union Gospel Mission: June 5, 2015
The UGM Center for Women and Children in Coeur d’Alene was recently the beneficiary of 1,400 books, the culmination of the Eagle Scout project of a...
2 min read
Union Gospel Mission: May 22, 2015
In this second part of an interview with Debi Pauletto, Debi describes her history at UGM and looks forward to the future. But first, Executive...
2 min read
Union Gospel Mission: May 20, 2015
This week, we are celebrating Debi Pauletto, the community relations coordinator at the Center for Women and Children. Debi has worked at UGM for 16...
3 min read
Barbara Comito, former marketing director: April 1, 2015
Poor work history. Felony record. Long periods of unemployment. Addiction issues. Lack of education. No transportation. No appropriate work attire....
2 min read
Merrily Roe, former staff writer: February 20, 2015
By Merrily Brast, Staff Writer “My whole life, I was super angry, and I used to always think everybody would be better off without me.”
1 min read
James Bishop: February 1, 2015
Aaron Staeuble, Pastor Kurt’s son, has Down syndrome. He volunteers Monday through Friday at the Center for Women and Children in Coeur d’Alene.
3 min read
Barbara Comito, former marketing director: October 1, 2014
A little over a year ago, Helen, 57, was living on the streets of Coeur d’Alene.
3 min read
Union Gospel Mission: July 1, 2014
I was ashamed, and you lifted my head. Christian James was once interviewed for an article in Salon Magazine entitled, “Nazi Family Values: Chewing...
2 min read
Union Gospel Mission: February 10, 2014
“The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.” – Frederick Buechner Bob Peterson loves bikes....
2 min read
Union Gospel Mission: January 1, 2014
Below are two letters of gratitude from individuals experiencing radical life change through UGM’s LIFE Recovery programs. We were encouraged to read...
1 min read
Union Gospel Mission: December 1, 2013
Lois used to be a kindergarten teacher. That probably says it all. Lois loves kids. Her husband, Everett, loved children, too. The couple lived life...
1 min read
Barbara Comito, former marketing director: October 14, 2013
Lenore puts together the welcome baskets for new guests at the Center. From my perspective, Lenore McDonald is a volunteer extraordinaire. She says...
1 min read
Barbara Comito, former marketing director: September 26, 2013
“I was in the bottom of a tin can, and I couldn’t claw my way up. It was dark. It was dirty, and I didn’t feel any value. I felt unreachable.” -...
1 min read
Barbara Comito, former marketing director: September 14, 2013
On September 6, 2012, the UGM Center for Women & Children welcomed its first guests. One year later, the Center is home to 52 women and children and...
1 min read
Barbara Comito, former marketing director: September 13, 2013
My teenage daughters told me the other day that they grew up thinking “hypocrite” was a bad word, akin to calling someone a curse word. Funny how our...
