We will begin taking applications for bell ringers on Monday, October 4.  We will be seeking bell ringers from all over Kitsap County and Belfair.  Bell ringer interviews will take place at the end of October and the first part of November.  Bell ringing will begin on Friday, October 19.

We will begin taking applications for Thanksgiving and Christmas food and toys on Monday, October 25.   Monday, November 15 is the last day to apply for Thanksgiving baskets.  We will resume taking Christmas applications on Monday, November 29 and end on Monday, December 13.  We have to stop in time to order the food we need and have it delivered on time.

We will serve Thanksgiving Dinner on Thanksgiving Day, Novebmer 25, from 12:00 to 2:00.  We get filled up with volunteers by early November and always have to turn volunteers away on Thanksgiving Day. 

We will serve Christmas dinner on Christmas eve from 12:00 until 2:00. 

Because we are required to give our employees a day off for the holiday, we will be closed on Monday,  December 27 and again on Monday, January 3.

• TSA established work in Pakistan more than 125 years ago, in 1883.
• 20,000,000 people are affected by the flooding.
• TSA is distributing kits made up of a mattress, a pillow,  a blanket, and kitchen and household utensils.
• A $50 donation would pay for one kit.
• Donations may be made online at the IHQ website — http://www.salvationarmy.org, or via check to The Salvation Army World Service Office, International Relief Fund, PO Box 630728, Baltimore, MD 21263-072800.
• Regular updates are available on the national blog — http://blog.salvationarmyusa.org/  and / or the IHQ website.

They were on their way to visit Major Marcia’s family in Great Falls, Montana, but after the accident they decided it would be best to return home and use the rest of their two weeks of vacation to heal.

canned vegetables, fruits and meats

pasta and rice

soups

dry and hot cereal

spaghetti sauce

juices

diapers (especially larger sizes)

toilet paper

shampoo

We hope to have all remodeling and construction completed by early in 2011.

You can pick up your copy at The Salvation Army, most social services agencies and any food bank in the county.  Or you can go to  http://pugetsoundblogs.com/side-street-news/

“Breakfast at Sally’s” continues to be a hot seller.   Richard is  in great demand as a speaker on the topic of homelessness. You can reach him at home at (360) 698-5743.

The book is for sale in our office for $15.  We are located at 832 6th St. in downtown Bremerton, near the corner of 6th and Warren.  We are open every weekday from 8am to 4pm.

Richard’s friend Tina Bennett has created a beautiful pendant in the shape of a traditional Japanese house, accompanied by the motto “Everyone Deserves a Home.”  It is for sale for $38 and $65.   Tina is the chair of the Willow Charitable Foundation, which raises money for homeless causes.

She has also written a song based on a chapter in Richard’s book.  Several others have been inspired to do the same.  If enough songs about the homeless are written by local artists, we will try to make an “Album For the Homeless.”

If you want to see Richard on “Oprah,” please go to her website and tell her!  A local enthusiast of “Breakfast At Sally’s” has put together the following instructions for bombarding Oprah with requests to have Richard LeMeiux on her show:

1. Go to www.oprah.com
2. Go down to the very bottom where it says “Contact Us” click on that
3. Then you’ll see several options on the left. Click on “The Oprah Show” for sending in show ideas
4. Fill in the blanks with your information and then copy and paste the following letter (insert your name) of course. If we do this weekly it just may work!

Here is a sample letter:

My name is (your name); I live in Bremerton, WA. I want to share some information with you, and ask that you PLEASE have Richard LeMieux come speak on your show. This man has an incredible story about living on the streets homeless with his Bichon Frise for nearly 2.5 years in Bremerton, WA. “Breakfast at Sally’s” is his book. He started out as “journaling” his counselor told him it would be good for him.  His constant companion was that of Willow the Wonder Dog (a precious little dog) In the beginning of the book, Richard attempts to take his life by jumping off of the Narrows Bridge in Tacoma, WA. What stopped him was hearing Willow bark from the van that he left parked near the bridge. He left a note in the truck with Willow “To Whom it may concern, if you find Willow PLEASE take care of her, she’s very special….” hence the book tells the story of how Willow saved his life all the way through the book. The book is mainly about homeless people, but also the plight of homeless dogs. It’s an entirely true story, and will open your eyes. Richard has pleaded with us to get the word out about homelessness, and his amazing little dog, Willow. He said, “Write the Oprah show this story needs to go national and she is as NATIONAL as one can get!” and I agree.

I’ve written you about this a couple of weeks ago, and have decided maybe I need to write weekly! I trust and respect you and I know you love dogs, and I know you’re compassionate. You won’t regret having this man on your show.   Thank you in advance. I hope your team that reads these emails, will see the value in this one. Thank you!

The idea of playing softball came in May, 2003 from Richard LeMieux and C.  They suggested it to Major Baker, who then went out and got all the equipment and secured the use of Carpenter Field at 11th and Warren.  Then he started announcing that there would be softball after lunch on Thursdays and several Salvation Army lunch diners began coming out.

Two years later Richard mentioned the softball games to his counselor at Kitsap Mental Health, and that led KMH to ask if their clients could come and play, too.  Now a vanload comes, and we regularly have 25 to 30 people come for the games.  It’s a great morale booster!

Four years ago we decided we had the players to join the city softball league.  After three years of last-place finishes, this year we ended in 4th place by winning six of our last seven games.  Now we are playing in the fall league where we are holding our own.