Verbal Communications (2)1-1/ 2 a3�3 — �•
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Good evening — I am Marna Taylor, and as a member of the Los Gatos United Methodist Church for
the past 25 years, I am pleased to share information about our Shower Ministry, which I have
coordinated since its inception in 2015.
Located on Church St downtown, this ministry is served by a team of 8-10 volunteers, including many
of us who have volunteered since the ministry's start.
Consequently, we have gotten to know many of the regular clients quite well, and are deeply concerned
about their personal health and safety as they endure living outside in the elements
The shower center and bathrooms are open every Thursday from 2-4 pm with 8-12 residents attending
each week
Many of the residents have been attending since 2015, and are familiar with the processes and rules that
have been set.
New clients are given rules and expectations at their initial visit.
The shower center includes 2 separate showers, and 2 separate bathrooms with several stalls each,
which clients have access to
Each Thursday, 2 volunteers are on hand to greet clients, and provide everyone with a dean towel,
shower supplies, and a new pair of underwear and socks .
Clients also receive a freshly packed bag lunch and drink, provided by volunteers.
SvDP is on hand every other week to dispense much needed laundry vouchers also.
Towels are washed each week by volunteers, and showers and bathrooms are deaned professionally
Financial support from the Town for a generous amount of the leaning of the showers began due to
the pandemic Without your help, we would not have been able to safely keep the showers and
bathrooms open.
Shower cleaning costs $150/week. We raise another $3K-$5K a year from the church members for
purchasing supplies, socks and underwear, and volunteers personally spend between $50-$125/week
for lunches for clients.
We work closely with Jo Greiner from St Lukes, SvDP members, Kathy Mlinarich at the Nutrition
Center on the church campus, and the Los Gatos Police Dept to share concerns and questions regarding
our unhoused residents
I am in full support of the proposal by Councilmember Moore that will provide essential services for
the unhoused including public restrooms, vouchers for shelter, and continued funding for deaning of
the showers,.