75th Anniversary Celebration
Else Johnson and Esther Sawyer began the Lighthouse Mission on Heron and F Street in Aberdeen, in the early 1930’s. It was not long before the needs grew, and local area churches stepped in to help. The work was then named the Union Gospel Mission.
Union Gospel Mission then officially opened on January 24, 1938 at 500 East Heron, Aberdeen WA (now Zelasko Park). On opening day, 2 meals were served, and 1 man stayed overnight. Each day, local churches led Gospel services, coffee and stationary were given away, and ironing could be done. The first donation was $5.00.
UGM then moved to 405 East Heron, Aberdeen in April, 1942, where the Union Gospel Mission remains today.
Services in this facility include a feeding program to any men, women and children and a separate meal program to teens, a 40-bed men’s shelter and clothing bank, a free household and furniture store, a holiday outreach center, and a Christian discipleship program. The administrative offices are also located in this building.
Inside Heron Street
- Daily meal program to men, women, children
- Weekday meal program to youth under age 21
- 40-bed men’s shelter
- Men’s Clothing Bank
- Free Furniture and Household store
- Holiday Outreach Center
- Food and supplies for daily operation of Friendship House, our separate 38 bed women and children’s shelter.
- Administrative Offices for entire organization
- New Foundations-1-year Christian discipleship program
