I have had the opportunity to see My Friends Place from many perspectives. A small group of friends and I started taking donations to them about 8 years ago. The staff was always welcoming and the clients engaging. My family started to serve meals there (once a month) about the same time. We did this for only about 6 months, but we really enjoyed the relationships with staff, kids, and dog (China, if I remember correctly).I had a close friends daughter promise him she was going to run away. He compromised with her to stay at My Friends Place. It was a perfect 3 week cooling off period. She returned home and has grown into an amazing young woman now.When I worked at Kennewick High School, I had a handful of students who confided in me that they were homeless and living at My Friends Place. It gave them critical support to graduate.I have seen many, many lives touched by the people and place that makes up this safe haven!

I have volunteered there, I helped bring funding, food, toiletries and at risk youth when the board found out the group of us that were there had pasts, they forbid us to be on property, we had an amazing mentoring program that brought in funds and the community when they had us leave due to our pasts.Our program more or less went out the door, its unfortunate because someones past shouldnt define who they are and the fact that none of us had any child crimes or the likes makes it hard for folks like us to be apart of the community when we are ostracized, based on our past poor choices..The impact that we had on these teens was crazy awesome, so cool that not one of them that was in our program went back to gangs, drugs, the streets, or vandalizing any government property, they all turned their precious lives around based on our experiences that we shared openly with them all.3 felons a hair stylist , 2 local artist and a ray of sunshine that wanted to make the world a better place. It sucks because those of us who have made poor choices were what this group of kids needed to turn their lives around, yet no one in authority even cares that we have and continue to make a difference.

Out of the kindness of their hearts, the organization opened thier doors on one of their closed days. They are usually opened on Thursdays from 9-6. They helped my family with food, a clothing voucher, and hygiene products. They provide excellent resources for families with children. They are friendly and hospitable. It is truely a Safe Harbor. They are hidden in a cove by Benton County Animal Control.

When I went there, I told the place that my ex has just gotten me on a contempt of court for taking my kid to the dr. THE LADY TOLD ME I MUST HAVE FORGOT AND SCREWED UP! I WAS TOLD THAT SHE NEEDED A FOLLOW UP FROM HER ASTHSMA ATTACK BY HER DR. This man has been violent, this man has raped me, threatened my life AND CONTINUES TO ABUSE MY CHILD! The woman told me to watch my back and if they got me on another contempt than my rapist ex would get sole custody. If you are dealing with domestic violence, DO NOT COME HERE!!!!! I WOULD HAVE GIVEN THEM A NEGATIVE 1000. THESE PEOPLE ARE IN SUPPORT OF RAPISTS HAVING CHILDREN NOT HELPING THE VICTIM!!!!!!

Just like a home

Cathy