September 2024 Newsletter

Article by Founding Executive Director, Anton Preisinger:

Last Monday, I walked past three or four of our neighbors as they sheltered in the bushes of one of the city parks I visited with my family. They were not just sheltering there but also hiding from Bremerton’s extremely hateful, inhumane, unjust, damaging, and ineffective laws, which, after some recent changes, have made it a crime to be homeless.

I am speculating about their goals a little bit because I didn’t introduce myself to the people I saw last Monday, but it is an educated guess. After fifteen or more years of outreach and eight years directing Northwest Hospitality, I have grown comfortable introducing myself and being a friendly neighbor to people who are often skeptical of strangers for countless valid reasons. I have developed this comfort level because of all of the people this approach to my community has helped me meet. Good friends and stories from the amazing to the terrible have come from seeing the human first when looking at people who struggle in my community. It’s also been helpful that I can usually convince myself that I may have something useful to share with people: supplies, resources, referrals, or simply company and a listening, caring ear. Read More

Northwest Hospitality’s vehicle repair program was recently highlighted in the Kitsap Sun:

“Vinsent David and his wife, Patricia Sorenson, were sleeping in the Kitsap Rescue Mission’s temporary homeless shelter at the Kitsap Sun Pavilion in 2020, with their truck parked in the shelter parking lot for extra storage space.

When the truck started to fall into disrepair, shelter staff gave them a number for Anton Preisinger, the founding director of Northwest Hospitality. He might be able to help.

Their radiator was rusting and needed a replacement, along with a new water pump and a fixup on their heater. All together, the repairs would cost them $700 or more – a sum they didn’t have, but needed in order to maintain their vehicle should their shelter situation become unstable.

It wasn’t long before Preisinger sent a mobile mechanic out to the couple at the shelter who fixed up their truck, paid for by Northwest Hospitality.

That was the start of a vehicle repair effort by Northwest Hospitality, whose main work connects homeless people with resources, food and clothing. The idea originated after outreach workers began to see the need for vehicle repair come up repeatedly, and started by connecting clients with mechanics and covering the costs of repairs.”

For the full story by reporter Kai Uyehara visit www.kitsapsun.com.
(📷: Meegan M. Reid / Kitsap Sun)

Ways to get involved

  1. Volunteer - nwhospitality.org/volunteer

  2. Donate Funds - nwhospitality.org/donate

    • please consider becoming a monthly supporter! 💙

  3. Donate Items - Some of our current needs include:

    • Toiletries - deodorant, soap, shampoo, etc.

    • Bras/Underwear/boxers

    • Winter coats

    • or check out our Amazon Wishlist

Maggie BrassilComment