A huge THANK YOU to all who donated towards the church’s annual Christmas Basket project. Due to the pandemic we were unable to donate food and household supplies as we have in past years. This year we asked for monetary donations to purchase grocery gift cards. Your response was overwhelming! You donated  $5,675! With this sizable amount we were able to increase the number of households receiving gift cards. The number of households from each of the five Port Angeles grade schools was increased from five households to nine households per school, an increase from 25 to 45 households in 2020. An additional 12 households suggested by members were also given gift cards for a total of 57 households that benefitted from your generosity! Thank you again!

The Mission and Outreach committee has served by seeking the will of God in helping to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ both locally and globally. We are thankful for the faithful giving of our members. The session approved our request that they provide 13.5% (thirteen and a half percent) of the total church budget for missions.
    We support Presbyterian Missions, both in our Northwest Coast Presbytery and through the Presbyterian Church (USA) missions worldwide at the general assembly level.
    We also support these missionaries: the Pearsons under JAARS-Wycliffe Translators, the Hongos under Christian Vision. We support the following Presbyterian Church (USA) mission co-workers—Dr. Martha Sommers, Jeff and Christi Boyd and Rev. Renee and Justin Sundberg. If you would like to know how to contact these people and to know what they do, the mission and outreach committee will be happy to connect them to you.

The Missions Committee was not able to organize our Port Angeles Food Bank food drive this year because of Covid protocols.  However, the food bank is transitioning to a new and larger building on Oakridge Street behind McCrorie Carpets and west of Walmart.  With the increased space they are able to quarantine food without risk of exposure.  During the transition, donations, should still be dropped off at the old Valley St. location from 9am-2pm, Tuesday-Friday.  Someone will be there to give you a receipt if you need one.  The number of people being served by the food bank has increased so your donations are more important than ever. Thank you for your continued support for our community!

New food benefit helps students, families impacted by school closures

Families impacted by COVID-19-related school closures, and who receive free- or reduced-price meals at school may be eligible for extra food benefits under the Pandemic EBT Emergency School Meals Program, or P-EBT.

The new and temporary benefit will help families buy groceries because schools were closed, according to Public Health - Seattle & King County.

Any family with a child in grades K-12 who is eligible for free or reduced-price school meals -- including children who go to a school where meals are free for all students -- may apply.

P-EBT is for all students regardless of citizenship or immigration status. The maximum, one-time benefit is $399 per child. The amount is based on when a family applied for free or reduced-priced meals, or for Basic Food. P-EBT benefits are based on the number of school days that schools were closed.

Parents have until 5 p.m. Friday, September 11 to apply for the benefits online at WashingtonConnection.org (choose “Pandemic EBT - Emergency School Meals Program” in the Food Assistance section), or by calling the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) at 877-501-2233.

Know the name of your child’s school or school district; your child’s first and last name as it appears on enrollment records; and your child’s date of birth.

P-EBT cannot be used for non-food items; alcohol; hot or prepared foods; vitamins or medicine.

shelter others. That is great, but I have been told from a few that have stayed there, it made them feel paranoid, because they were placed in an enclosed space with others they don't know and they felt like they couldn't distance themselves well enough from everyone. We, at TAFY, are always encouraging people to quit using drugs, and to get the treatment they need. As we are quickly approaching the Holidays, a time that can be especially discouraging when they realize they don't have the "Hallmark family and celebrations", I am asking for extra prayers to this vulnerable population. We appreciate
TAFY during these times
I have been asked to give an update on how TAFY is doing during these times of Covid isolation, etc. It is true that the homeless are affected by the isolation a lot. Depression has increased. When you are already isolated from the mainstream population, by the lifestyle you pursue, being told to isolate even further can have a devastating result. We have seen three suicides recently. Also, where can they safely isolate to? There is a shelter that is being set aside to isolate those that are positive for Covid. Since we haven't had that many Covid cases in Port Angeles (thankfully), it is being used to
greatly how the Saturday meals are continued to be brought every other month. They are always delicious, and one of the best meals they receive. They always know that when the Presbyterian Church brings the meal, it will be great. I know that they can feel the love and caring that meal represents. We want to thank the Presbyterian Church for its continued support in so many ways. TAFY continues as before, providing meals, clothes, minor medical attention, and often times, just an ear to listen. We ask you for continued prayer.
In His service,
Pam Carnahan