Events planned, money raised to save Kitsap County's only year-round overnight shelter

BREMERTON, Wash. — The clock is ticking for Kitsap County’s only year-round overnight shelter.

The Kitsap Rescue Mission is temporarily operating its low-barrier, overnight shelter at the nearby Salvation Army because its Bremerton building is not up to code. The shelter had been operating with a temporary permit that the city pulled in October after a lengthy grace period because required upgrades had not been completed.

"It's meant the world to me,” said Vernon Parrow, who uses the overnight shelter. “It's kept me off the streets."

Kitsap Rescue Mission has now turned to the community for help in raising $500,000 that it says will not only cover costs of bringing the space up to code with fire sprinklers, but will also pay for needed roof repairs and help expand the current space to help more homeless people. There's currently room for 26 people at its overnight shelter.

As of Tuesday, more than $90,000 had been raised.

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"(It) has been a good catalyst to mobilize the community and show the need,” said Kitsap Rescue Mission Operations Director Nate Sylling. “The crowdrise.com campaign, Bring Them In; we built that so people, anybody can start an event, whether that be a rock show, whether it be an auction.”

KIRO 7 learned the community has stepped up to organize two events that will benefit Kitsap Rescue Mission, as the nonprofit can only operate its overnight shelter out of the Salvation Army building until March.

Several Bremerton businesses are sponsoring a benefit show with performers and a silent auction that will be held December 15 at 6 p.m. at the Charleston Theater in Bremerton. Organizers say all money from ticket sales will be given to the Kitsap Rescue Mission.

"I do care about our homeless community and we need to care,” said Pacific Cannabis Company owner Kristen Waters, who is co-sponsoring the benefit show.

"They're in dire need, especially with the current situation,” said John Johanson with Destination HWY 420, another co-sponsor.

The Kitsap Rescue Mission said Tuesday that a benefit auction will also be held February 1 at the Silverdale Beach Hotel, which offered the space at no cost to the nonprofit. Additional event details have not yet been released.

"I couldn't imagine what it would be like to sleep out in the cold,” said musician Lori Lowenstein, who will be performing at the December benefit show. “We really want to help these people."

Cox Media Group