Sequim talent to perform for Warming Center

Organizers look to open when temp goes below 36 degrees

By Matthew Nash • October 23, 2019 1:30 am
Jean Pratschner stands outside Trinity United Methodist Church where her and OlyCAP’s fundraiser Cool Talent for Warm Nights runs Oct. 25 to raise support for the Sequim Warming Center. The center will open November-March in St. Luke’s Episcopal Church whenever temperatures go below 36 degrees so long as there is enough funding and volunteers in place. Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash
Jean Pratschner stands outside Trinity United Methodist Church where her and OlyCAP’s fundraiser Cool Talent for Warm Nights runs Oct. 25 to raise support for the Sequim Warming Center. The center will open November-March in St. Luke’s Episcopal Church whenever temperatures go below 36 degrees so long as there is enough funding and volunteers in place. Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash

Cool Talents for Warm Nights

Sequim Warming Center fundraiser

When: 6-9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 25

Where: Trinity United Methodist Church, 100 N. Blake Ave.

Tickets: Suggested donation of $10 per person or $25 for family; dessert included with admission

Note: Show features 18 acts of music, dance, comedy and more.

To volunteer/donate/more info: Contact Sam McCulloch, redcoon1@gmail.com or 360-775-8983

Some of Sequim’s top talent comes together this week to turn up the heat for the Sequim Warming Center with good tunes, jokes and stories.

The new fundraiser, Cool Talent for Warm Nights, features 18 acts with about 40 players helping to raise funds for the center from 6- 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 25 at Trinity United Methodist Church, 100 S. Blake Ave., Sequim. Doors open at 5:30 p.m.

Admission is a suggested donation of $10 per person or $25 for a family with free dessert.

Performances range from country and folk music to instrumentals to Hawaiian dancing to spoken word to comedy to dog performance. Some of the performers include Buck Ellard, Heidi Fivash, Farmstrong, Joel Yelland and Stacey Fradkin, Grace Yelland, Dave Otis, Kate Lily, Colleen Squires, Storytellers Club, Phil Morgan-Ellis, Walter Grant, Emma Mitchell, Sandi Lazzarro and more.

Jean Pratschner, Warming Center volunteer organizer, said the Center’s organizers at Olympic Community Action Programs (OlyCAP) look to expand its program at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 525 N. Fifth Ave., from being open after three consecutive nights below 36 degrees to every night below 36 degrees.

“We anticipate use increasing by 30 percent based on history and predictions,” Pratschner said.

Last year, the facility helped 86 people for 1,002 chair nights with a meal, blankets, games and access to resources.

Operations

The center will open this November and operate through March so long as funding and volunteers continue, organizers said.

Each night, they said, costs OlyCAP about $200 to operate the center and two volunteers are needed to split two, five hour shifts.

Sequim Warming Center opens from 9 p.m.-7 a.m. with volunteers operating in two shifts — 9 p.m.-2 a.m. and 2-7 a.m. — and providing food and supplies.

Pratschner said they remain short on volunteers, particularly for the 2 a.m. shift.

A trained staff member will always be there, she said, so volunteers are never alone.

To let volunteers know if they’ll open, Pratschner said they’ll notify them two-three days in advance by using forecasts. To let locals know when the center is open for use, organizers place signs up around town and on St. Luke’s sign.

Pratschner said center guests typically know to look for the signs each day to know if they can come or not.

How to help

Along with attending the show, the center needs help in many capacities.

Locals can volunteer at the show or at one of the many cold nights by contacting Sam McCulloch at redcoon1@gmail.com or 360-775-8983.

Multiple donation opportunities are available too, including a matching donation challenge up to $2,500, and a Buy-a-Nite donation plan of $200 a night. All fiscal donations can be made by calling McCulloch at 360-775-8983. The event also hosts a donation bin for coats, blankets and food.

Reach Matthew Nash at mnash@sequimgazette.com.

Cool Talent for Warm Nights features 18 acts with about 40 players helping to raise funds for the center from 6-9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 25 at Trinity United Methodist Church, 100 S. Blake Ave., Sequim. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Admission is a suggested donation of $10 per person or $25 for a family with free dessert. Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash

Cool Talent for Warm Nights features 18 acts with about 40 players helping to raise funds for the center from 6-9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 25 at Trinity United Methodist Church, 100 S. Blake Ave., Sequim. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Admission is a suggested donation of $10 per person or $25 for a family with free dessert. Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash

Last year, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church hosted locals living on the street whenever temperatures went below 36 degrees three consecutive days. Now, organizers of the Sequim Warming Center plan to open whenever temperatures go below 36 degrees. Photo courtesy of Jean Pratschner

Last year, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church hosted locals living on the street whenever temperatures went below 36 degrees three consecutive days. Now, organizers of the Sequim Warming Center plan to open whenever temperatures go below 36 degrees. Photo courtesy of Jean Pratschner