Wilder Elementary students collecting blankets for Tent City 4 residents

Published 10:08 am Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Girl Scout Brownie Troop 52527 at Wilder Elementary School in Woodinville is collecting blankets for residents of Tent City 4, an Eastside homeless encampment, according to troop leader Melissa Rogers.

Wilder Elementary is a Lake Washington School District school and enrolls many Redmond kids.

In honor of the Girls Scouts’ 99th birthday this year, the troop is hoping to collect 99 blankets for the homeless people living at Tent City 4. So far, the troop has collected 47 blankets, Rogers said.

On Monday, three residents of Tent City 4 spoke to the girls about “homelessness and the many misconceptions that people have about the homeless,” Rogers said.

In addition, the girls presented the residents with a $100 check, money they earned from cookie sales, along with the 47 blankets.

Blanket donations can be dropped off in the lobby at Wilder Elementary or contact Rogers at melbalicious@live.com to make arrangements for a pick up.

Tent City 4 is currently located at Kirkland Congregational Church with plans to move to Redmond’s St. Jude Catholic Church in April, pending city approval.

Temporary-use permits, covering land uses for less than six months, are issued by the city’s planning director, Rob Odle, following a review of the applicable criteria and public comments.

There will be a community meeting about Tent City 4 moving to Redmond at 7 p.m. April 4 at Redmond Junior High School, 10055 166th Ave. N.E. After the meeting, the city will address the community’s concerns before making its decision to allow the Tent City 4 to be housed on the grassy grounds of the church, at 10526 166th Ave. N.E., for approximately 90 days, according to Steven Fischer, the city’s lead planner for the permit.

More than likely the permit will be approved, based on past trends. If approved, it will be the third time in five years Tent City 4 has been housed at St. Jude’s in Redmond.