Among the highlights of last week were a collaboration of members of the Negrin/Wojcik family and Vonalaine Crowe and her daughters to provide a special Valentine’s Day meal for the Camp, and a wonderful pot-luck and concert at St. Joseph Catholic Church that the RCIA group and the Spirit’N'Soul band organized. Did anyone take photos?
Camp census seems to be staying steady with around 80 campers most nights. We still have a lot of skilled workers in camp. Do drop off job applications and notices of work opportunities at the EC tent!
Offers to volunteer have been rolling in and an event is being held at the Community Church of Issaquah for potential volunteers at 9 AM and 6:30 PM on Tuesday, February 23 to exchange ideas and plan some volunteer activities. Anyone interested in volunteering is invited!
Aside from money for bus tickets, the camp has no special needs this week. Checks can be made out to SHARE with “TC4 bus tickets” in the memo line and dropped at the camp. The usual pantry provisions, cold meds, and warm underclothing are always welcome.
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By JAKE LYNCH
Issaquah Reporter Editor
The organizers and residents of Tent City 4, the homeless persons encampment currently located at the Community Church of Issaquah on Mountain Park Blvd SW, reported this week they were overwhelmed and overjoyed by the remarkable support received from the people of Issaquah and Sammamish.
Since the residents set up in Issaquah three weeks ago, the donations of food, clothing and assistance have been pouring in. The schedule for cooking dinner for the residents over the next two and half months is full, such 
is the eagerness of families and community groups in the area to give what they can to men and women having a hard time of things at the moment.
“We hear everyday from so many people who are just wanting to be a part of this, loving being a part of this,” said Tent City 4 Meals Coordinator Steve Burk.
As part of the encampment’s organizing committee, The Reporter met with the remarkable volunteers at the core of Tent City 4 at the church on Saturday morning, to talk about what was needed to ensure its continued operation.
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By Chantelle Lusebrink and Warren Kagarise of the Issaquah Press
The tents went up 10 days ago, draped in blue tarps and lined up in neat rows on vacant land adjacent to Community Church of Issaquah. Since, Tent City 4 residents have adjusted to the move, learned local bus routes and introduced themselves to a new community.
The camp includes residents old and new — some who recently lost homes or jobs, and others staying there as they plot life’s next step. Spend a night at Tent City 4, and listen to the residents talk about how their paths converged at the homeless encampment.
Father
Mark Elliott
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By Chantelle Lusebrink of the Issaquah Press
5 p.m.
The gear on your back has gotten heavy on the walk up the hill to the Tent City 4 encampment. The American flag marks its entrance, as does a man working security at the front who directs you to the intake area where they check identifications and criminal backgrounds before allowing admittance. It’s reassuring, but also bothering, even though you have nothing to hide.
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News of the week:
Donations have been rolling in. On Sunday I ran into supporters from Woodinville delivering a trunk load of food, including lots of nice fresh vegetables. Some donors have paired up to provide one sliced roast per week for sandwich fixing. A couple stepped forward to help Peter with his insulin expenses till the VA paperwork is processed and he gets his medical/pharmaceutical care through them. (Thanks Jake for the great article in the Issaquah Reporter!)
Residents are still settling in and getting oriented. Local maps are helpful. Anyone want to work on a map project that will show streets, landmarks, and important institutions?
The computer tent is now up and running.
People are looking for jobs. Please bring news of any odd jobs as well as long term employment possibilities to the EC tent at the camp entrance!
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Tent City arrived today at the Community Church of Issaquah (205 Mt. Park Blvd SW). The advance team was already at work when I came by at 7:30 AM. At 8 AM volunteers started streaming in, and by 9 AM I’m fairly sure that we outnumbered the advance team! Gradually, as campers came over from Bellevue the balance shifted. It was often difficult to be sure who was who. Sure, I recognized some of the town folk who were volunteers, but I don’t know everyone, and some “old friends” from tent city 4 that I knew from the first hosting were no longer there as campers, but as volunteers. Among the volunteers we had a plumbing and electrical expert from First United Methodist in Bellevue, a former Issaquah city council member, a news reporter, and at least half a dozen student from Eastside Catholic middle school. There were members of St. Joseph and Mary Queen of Peace Catholic churches, of St Michael and All Angels’ Episcopal, Community Church of Issaquah, Pine Lake Covenant Church, Spirit of Peace United Church of Christ, and some from other congregations. With all this help, unloading went very fast!
Marilyn Ottinger shared this recollection of the day: “ A host of folks descended on the parking lot of the Community Church of Issaquah to help move in our new neighbors. We had a great time with lots of good humor circulating. One of my favorite memories is moving the ‘disabled’ folks honey bucket to a new location (there were 4 or 5 of us pushing.) When we reached our destination, a gentleman jumped out not expecting to go for a ride. It was priceless!! When we asked why he didn’t say something, he remarked that he wanted to make an entrance like Kramer from Seinfeld.?” Later I heard from another camper that the unfortunate honey bucket occupant first thought that we were having an earthquake! The Issaquah Press was there taking photos at the time – maybe this will show up in the paper.
I was impressed by the gratitude of the camp residents, and their eagerness to “give back.” One man was offering to share his “hottie” hand warmers with the volunteers. Another person transformed paper napkins into white roses for the lady volunteers. I heard some hopes that we might organize opportunities for the camp residents to work at beautifying the neighborhood as they did at their previous site in Bellevue.
At 5 PM most of the tents were up, but a lot of bags were still waiting to be claimed. Our new neighbors will probably still be settling in and arranging their personal and communal space on Sunday.
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