In August, local service provider Mary’s Place, became a part of the Greenwood neighborhood when they moved their warehouse from downtown Seattle into the former Safeway building on Greenwood Avenue. The building is owned by Washington Holdings and will be developed in 1-2 years.
Mary’s Place has been providing shelter and services for women and families experiencing homelessness in King County for more than 20 years – bringing moms, dads, and children inside to safety and hope, assisting with housing, employment, and wellness needs, and helping them move back into stable housing. Mary’s Place currently operates nine emergency family shelters from Burien to Kenmore that provide 600 beds each night, and a drop-in women’s day center in downtown Seattle that serves two meals a day and provides hygiene and other resources for more than 150 women each day.
The organization has grown tremendously over the last several years. In 2018 they provided nearly 180,000 overnight stays, served almost 360,000 meals, welcomed in 1,308 children, and helped 650 families find stable housing.
Our new neighbor would love to welcome you as a part of their community, and there are several opportunities to get involved. If you are interested in volunteering at any of the shelters, you can learn more and sign up at www.marysplaceseattle.org. Volunteer needs include kitchen help, donation sorting, cleaning and maintenance, translation services, youth activities like homework help, movie night, hosting birthday parties, and more. As Mary’s Place Executive Director Marty Hartman says, “whatever you like to do with your friends and family, our kids and families would like to do!”
