Preparing to Host Tent City 3: Parking/Transportation and Volunteering
As the Tent City 3 move-in date (March 18) approaches, two items are on the top of the list for the TC3 Team: helping the congregation adjust to the reduced number of parking spaces in the UUC parking lot, and recruiting volunteers to help UUC offer a comfortable, welcoming experience to the Tent City 3 residents.
Parking Adjustments
One way you can help us adapt to the reduced number of parking spots in the UUC lot is to find an alternative mode of transportation during the three months that we will be hosting TC3: carpool, take public transportation, bike or walk. Another is to park on-street or in some nearby parking lots, leaving the UUC lot for congregants with limited mobility or small children. (Maps showing several parking options within a block or two of UUC will be coming.)
Public Transportation
You can reach the church via King County Metro bus route #62 running east-west, or the #65 running north-south. Coming from the south, the closest stop is at the northeast corner of 35th Ave NE and NE 65th St. The church will be just to the north of this scheduled stop. Coming from the north on route #65, the bus stops just across from the front of the church. On the route from Sand Point on the #62, get off near the northwest corner of NE 65th St and 35th Ave NE.
If you plan to take Sound Transit, the closest station is Roosevelt Station. Heading to the church from the Roosevelt station or other points west of the church, catch a “#62 to Sand Point” Metro bus in Bay 1. Exit at the SE corner of 35th Ave NE and NE 65th St stop and walk one block north to the church.
Carpool or Bike
If you are interested in carpooling or biking to church, please stop by our Tent City 3 information/learning station in Nathan Johnson Hall after services when available in the next few weeks, or email UUCHomelessness@gmail.com.
The Tent City 3 Team is currently exploring interest in carpooling. We have identified potential ride givers in several neighborhoods around the city. A volunteer has stepped forward to facilitate matching. If you are interested in carpooling, either giving or receiving a ride, please contact the TC3 team.
The church’s bike rack is located at the rear of the church next to the parking lot. Need advice and encouragement? A TC3 Team volunteer will be happy to answer questions.
Volunteer Opportunities
If you are moved to volunteer, please stop by our TC3 information/learning station in Nathan Johnson Hall when available after services in the next weeks to fill out a volunteer card. Or you can email UUCHomelessness@gmail.com with your availability and interests.
Volunteer opportunities include:
- Help with move-in on Saturday, March 18. Opportunities include helping to provide a hot breakfast or helping with packing and loading in the morning at the UW site that TC3 is leaving and/or helping provide lunch or helping unload and set up in the afternoon in the UUC parking lot.
- Be a “Parking Ambassador” on Sunday mornings and assist congregants and visitors locate nearby lot or on-street parking, if they are not mobility limited or arriving with small children.
- Prepare food for regular Wednesday evening dinners while we host Tent City 3. (We will share hosting duties with our neighbors to the north at Congregation Beth Shalom and other neighboring congregations.) Food will be prepared by volunteers at their homes, due to licensing limitations for UUC’s kitchen.
- Help us envision and develop other activities—movie night anyone? Ice cream social in the parking lot when the weather warms up? Or . . .?
If you can’t visit an information station/learning session after church services, but would like to volunteer, need help with carpooling, or have input or questions, please contact us at UUCHomelessness@gmail.com.
~UUC Tent City 3 Team