A Year of the FIRST Food Truck
“We’ve had community members tell us, ‘It’s amazing that you’re still able to provide food while your building is being redeveloped,” shared Cristien Donhuysen, Program Manager. It’s been over a year since we’ve launched our FIRST Food Truck, which provides free meals to Downtown Eastside community members every weekday at lunchtime. Through the food truck, […]
Calls for Justice This Advent Season
This Christmas season, we invite you to participate in Advent through the theme of justice—specifically to begin the work of Call for Justice 18.17 from the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. Call 18.17 states: “We call upon all governments, service providers, and educators to fund and support the re-education of […]
Fall Newsletter, Advent and Christmas Calendar, and One Year of Our FIRST Food Truck
Sharing exciting updates from FIRST! Check out our latest newsletter with stories from Spiritual Care, Meals, and some photos of our building demolition. First United Fall 2023 Newsletter
Fall Newsletter, Eviction Mapping Project, and Spiritual Care Ministry Updates
Sharing exciting updates from FIRST! Check out our latest newsletter with stories from Legal Advocacy, Spiritual Care, and a Frontline Monthly Donor. First United Fall 2022 Newsletter
The 100-Year Dream for Advocacy
Next year, the FIRST UNITED Legal Advocacy program will turn 50 years old. Only our Meal program andcommunity drop-in pre-date the Advocacy program. It goes to show: people need to be fed, need a safe place to be, and need their rights upheld. Today, the Advocacy program is in high demand, especially for tenancy issues. […]
Care During COVID-19
“COVID-19 has been scary, but I’ve felt taken care of here,” says Alex, a resident of First United’s women’s shelter since January. As word spread about the threat of COVID-19 in early March, things in the Downtown Eastside started to change quickly. “I remember the day they had to start the distancing. It’s usually so […]
COVID-19 FAQs: First United Programs, Services and Support
As we continue to serve the community we love so much, First United is monitoring the COVID-19 pandemic closely and taking steps to respond to keep everyone safe. We are sharing here some responses to frequently asked questions about our programs and services. Stay safe, everyone! PROGRAMS AND SERVICES – FAQs Is the shelter at […]
What can we do in the face of COVID-19? A letter from The Right Rev. Gary Paterson and The Rev. Tim Stevenson
What can we do in the face of a challenge as daunting as COVID-19? Some have said we are living through an apocalyptic time. As a man of faith, I’ve reflected on that these past weeks. And I think they’re right. But an apocalypse isn’t about “end times.” Rather, it means a revelation: pulling back the curtain to see what’s really there . This […]
News: Happy Retirement, Reverend Jim!
Please join us in wishing Reverend Jim Hatherly a happy retirement! As of the end of June 2020, Jim will step back from his role as Director of Community Ministry at First United. Since May 2017, Jim has been a key part of the First United community, building relationships with people in and around First, […]
First United Pandemic Response: COVID19 Update March 19, 2020
These are challenging times. As we continue to serve the community we love so much, First United is monitoring the COVID-19 pandemic closely and taking steps to respond to keep everyone safe. I wanted to reach out to share with you what we’re doing. We know that this pandemic will hurt people already marginalized the most: people living […]