Our Place Seeing To Those In Need For 10 Years Now

Vickie McNeely was nearly hysterical the first time she walked into Our Place.

She had just moved, and her Social Security income check was late arriving. With two small grandchildren to care for, she was running low on food, low on laundry money, and the rent was due.

“I was pretty panicked when I talked to Sister Marcia, but she was so kind,” said McNeely.

“I’ve never had to ask for help before.”

Sister Marcia Schrapps runs Our Place, which offers a helping hand to anyone from the homeless to a family having trouble making ends meet.

Our Place, a modest two-story home on Elm Street in the West Central neighborhood, has been helping those in need for 10 years.

The program started out of desperation. Pastors at neighborhood churches were under siege seven days a week with people begging for clothes, food and help with eviction notices.

Others needed money for energy bills. Some couldn’t scrape together enough quarters to do laundry.

Church secretaries were packing food boxes while typing Sunday bulletins.

Together, seven churches pooled resources to rent the house at 1018 N. Elm. One church donated a coffee pot, another gave a copy machine, and soon the house was up and running.

Sister Meg Saas, who started the program, watched over daily activities for years. She was replaced less than two years ago by Schrapps.

Our Place serves one of the poorest neighborhoods in the city - West Central. Each year, 14,000 struggling neighbors come through the front door, looking for help.

Living in the neighborhood is often the only requirement.

Some days are busier than others.

The Saturday before Labor Day, more than 100 people came in looking for help. It was the last day of the month, paychecks and benefit checks wouldn’t be coming until Tuesday, and school was about to start.

“You cannot believe all the people who came in here,” said Schrapps. “A lot of food went out of here that day.”

Others needed bus tokens, laundry vouchers, baby supplies.

Schrapps started as a volunteer with the program.

“I got interested. It’s a very hands-on ministry,” she said. “I really love the work.”

The success of Our Place led to similar projects in other neighborhoods, including Omega House on Chelan Avenue and Caritas Center on Indian Trail, both on the North Side.

Schrapps said the more than 80 volunteers are the secret to the program’s success. Some work every week, others just one or two days a month. There’s a multitude of jobs, for every age and ability.

Peggy Sammons, an assistant at Our Place, was especially excited recently when one of the women they’d been helping finally found a job.

“She came in so excited, and we were so excited for her,” said Sammons. “She had been looking and looking for a job.”

“The had tears in their eyes when I told them my news,” said Deborah Link, who landed a job at Safeway.

“They inspired me with their friendliness and kindness. I want to repay them. Hopefully I’ll be able to volunteer or help out in some other way.”

Volunteers say their time at Our Place is well-spent.

“So many people, even when they are down and out, still manage to be upbeat and positive,” Sammons said.

McNeely is one of those.

“The last three years have been pretty overwhelming for me,” she said. “But hopefully next month I’ll be on my feet and running again.”

Our Place welcomes donations of all kinds: volunteers, cash and supplies. Food and clothes, especially larger-size children’s and teenage clothes, are always needed.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: Churches involved include: Westminster Presbyterian Holy Trinity Episcopal Grace Baptist St. Joseph’s Catholic Salem Lutheran St. Paul’s Methodist St. Nicholas Orthodox