Washington Food Coalition News

Rescue Mission in Tacoma

By Stephanie Kardos

After the Winter Food Summit we had a chance to tour the Rescue Mission of Tacoma’s Good Neighbor Café.  At the Café free and healthy meals are served to low income and homeless individuals.  When we visited they were getting ready to serve dinner. 











In the kitchen volunteers were cutting up fresh veggies, setting out ice tea and getting the hot food ready.   The food is mostly donated and they strive for highly nutritious meals.  Also the kitchen volunteers have an opportunity to get some great job training skills.

We learned that the program was going on its 102^nd year. In 1912, Led by Evangelist Gypsy Smith, a group of business leaders rented a hall in Tacoma.  Originally called The Tacoma Commons, homeless and struggling men could find food and shelter.

The Good Neighbor Café can be converted into a shelter for overflow guests, especially on cold nights. Due to the cold temperatures on the day of our tour, they expected over 150 men to be sleeping there in the evening. 

Besides the Mission’s main headquarters in Tacoma, there are 4 additional locations throughout Pierce County: Fife, Lakewood and Puyallup-Sumner. They serve men, women, families and children. The Rescue Mission serves more than 26, 000 healthy, nutritious meals monthly to people that would otherwise go hungry. 







They provide shelter to more than 450 people every night and many of the beds are occupied by children.  To learn more about the Rescue Mission in Tacoma visit their website www.rescue-mission.org