Shared Bread
Shared Bread is a ministry of our church that supports individuals living within the Kent School District boundaries.
Our primary focus is on offering financial assistance to prevent evictions and to prevent utilities (including heat and electricity) from being shut off. People are eligible for assistance once every 12 months. We typically assist around 600 individuals per year. We have volunteers on Mondays who schedule interviews for clients to take place the following Wednesday by phone.
Shared Bread Corner
I have been following a Federal Program, H.R. 1. It will cause massive federal cuts to healthcare and food assistance. I want to see if our state may come up with anything to try to reduce the devastation. If nothing is put in place to help, many residents in South King County are going to face devastating cuts.
Effective October 1, 2026, non-citizen adults (including certain refugees, asylees, and parolees) lost standard Apple Health coverage, affecting over 11,000 residents.
October 1, 2026, the upper age limit for SNAP work requirements rose from 54 to 64, parents with children over 14 must return to work, and veteran/homeless exemptions were removed. It is estimated that up to 126,000 Washingtonians could lose food assistance.
Starting January 1, 2027, adults (ages 19–64) on Apple Health must verify 80 hours per month of work, training, or community engagement, and eligibility renewals increase from every 12 months to every 6 months.
We cannot be overcome by these numbers. I continually turn to my church family for the Faith I see in action here within these walls and outside these walls because we show up.
A young teacher in our area struggling to finalize her certificated credentials had a job that was not paid in the summer. She had made it until September 2026, but she was short on rent, and payday was a month away. She cried when I told her we could cover the needed amount for rent. She can now focus her talents on our young children’s everyday educational needs. We make a difference.
Shalom,
Leslie, Pat, & Rhonda
Shared Bread in 2025
We gave out $95,093.12.
We received 3 grants.
We had 2 major gifts given by members.
We helped Auburn Methodist Church with an assistance request.
We met with both Coeur d'Alene Methodist and Fairwood Methodist, who wanted to model their programs after ours.
In January 2025, we reached our million-dollar mark after 20 years of giving.
We helped 5 members of our congregation.
We did a presentation to the Covington Kiwanis.
Kent UMC reaches $1 million milestone for assistance program
Kent United Methodist Church is celebrating a remarkable milestone! Over the past 25 years, the church's Shared Bread Program has surpassed $1 million in donations, providing vital rent and utility assistance to local families in need. Discover how this community-driven initiative continues to make a difference.