What an Inspiring Year
We cannot move on from this season and anticipate God’s plans for the new year without first offering our deepest appreciation to all who serve City Gates Ministries:
- Our hands-on volunteers who labor in love to touch people in need
- Our sponsors and our financial supporters
Over 7,200 people will have visited the ministry by years’ end and received a message of hope through the Gospel and prayer and fellowship from all of you who are dedicated to loving people in Christ’s name.
City Gates has expanded from a local street outreach to the homeless to become a resource in helping people in need in all areas of life. We receive an average of 15 – 30 calls a day from people who are referred to us from the 211 emergency hot line, the crisis clinic, DSHS, BHR, Union Gospel Mission, Salvation Army, Side walk, and a handful of other organizations who use City Gates to assess the requests they receive from people needing assistance.
Because of you City Gates has grown as an outreach and helps churches around the country do missions work right here in Olympia. Because of City Gates Ministries, ministers have come from as far away as Boston, California, Idaho, and Nevada to join our own community in reaching people in need in Thurston County.
Our volunteer base has grown to over 400 most of whom come from more than 45 churches who partner in one way or another with us to help people in need year round. We thank you for welcoming new converts/members into your churches who are referred through CGM. We believe it’s important for everyone to belong to a supportive community.
We now receive support from businesses and organizations like World Vision that believe in the humanitarian efforts we offer to people in Thurston County. Continuant in Fife has been a huge part of our yearly Adopt-A-Family Christmas program for the past nine years. This year they poured out their hearts (as they do every year) in giving to families dealing with children suffering with Hemophilia. Service Steel Aerospace (SSA) of Tacoma began its partnership with City Gates earlier this year. Our local businesses help like Albertsons, who for the past 4 years has contributed all of their November/December fund raising contributions to City Gates to feed families in need. Let me also mention Parachute Technologies, Grocery Outlet, Panera Bread, El Serape, Lakeside Industries, Wilcox Family Farms, Olympia Memes, City of Olympia, and so many more.
Other ministries like Bright Hope which ministers in the nursing homes and gave so generously this year, Faith Harvest Helpers, Stepping Up, Thurston County Furniture Bank, and Street of Reconciliation. All work together with us to alleviate the needs of others. You are all City Gates Ministries and we look forward to partnering with you again in the New Year to make life easier for the less fortunate. To one and all, thank you for your valued partnerships.
Basics like food, clothing, furniture, shelter, vehicles, financial assistance, and all the tangible items that help sustain a person in need are tools God gives us through you. You also help support one major objective of City Gates: bringing Prayer and The Gospel message of Jesus Christ to all those we meet, whether in word or deed. We trust that to lead them into healthier and happier lives. It is a worthy goal.
God’s blessings to all and may He prosper you in all you set your mind to do,
Phil Prietto • President/CEO
City Gates Ministries