The Glory Hole is the only emergency shelter and soup kitchen in Juneau and is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Daily, the Glory Hole Kitchen serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner to about 150 people and distributes food boxes to families in need, as well as paper bag lunches to individuals who can not come in for a meal due to work or other reasons.
Among the soup kitchen patrons are the working poor, unemployed, chronically homeless, families with insufficient means to purchase food, and other individuals lacking the means to acquire appropriate food independently.
The Glory Hole Kitchen adheres to FDA standards and has been certified by Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation. In addition to providing nourishment, our kitchen staff members often hold cooking classes as one part of our job training program and in our constant efforts to promote self-sufficiency. The kitchen is cleaned, maintained, and operated largely through the efforts of our patrons and other community volunteers.
In 2011, the Glory Hole served over 52,000 meals, distributed over 5,200 food boxes, and provided a countless number of “paper bag” lunches.
More FY 2011 Statistics here....
Shelter Services
- General Men’s Emergency Dorm
- Working Men’s Emergency Dorm
- Women’s Emergency Dorm
- Handicapped Emergency Dorm
- Insufficient Emergency Housing for Families
The Glory Hole shelter is an emergency housing facility. Our capacity is 43 beds for men, women, and children in need of shelter in Juneau and we are the only such facility in the area. The shelter patrons consist of the working poor, chronically homeless, temporarily homeless, families living below the poverty line, University students, and other individuals without funds.
In 2011, the Glory Hole provided over 9,900 beds to people in need. Our beds are warm and we strive to achieve a safe, alcohol free environment, conducive to mental, physical, and material well being.
Our Patrons
We provide showers and laundry facilities, bus tokens to employment seekers, those going to work, or to medical appointments. The Glory Hole holds public forums, lectures, and exhibits art on its premises. We have classes that are open to both the patrons and the public. We provide job training and job placements; assist with housing searches, and social service referrals.
Partnerships
In order to make do on our small budget, the Glory Hole recently, entered into several partnerships to improve the lot of our patrons and provide them with opportunities to get out of poverty. The Glory Hole is actively corroborating with agencies such as:
- Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium (SEARHC). A mental health professional funded through SEARHC spends a day at the Glory Hole, providing counseling, assessment, and other help to our patrons.
- the Glory Hole enrolled into a “MASST” and “X” programs with Southeast Alaska Educational Resource (SEARCC) in order to reduce labor costs and to establish a connection between our organization and we community.
- SAGA on maintenance and physically intensive projects on our property.
- the Juneau Community Youth Services (JYS) programs by accepting volunteer services from young adults.
- University of Alaska Southeast (UAS), through the cold weather building program is working on weatherizing our building, in an attempt to cut down energy related costs.
Individuals going through community service as a condition of their probation can fulfill their requirements at the Glory Hole.
Additionally, the Glory Hole provides limited assistance with legal issue for our patrons and advocates for the homeless and the working poor throughout the state, offers classes on subsistence, healthy eating, basic home maintenance, craft creation, mechanics, power tools, and other activities that promote self worth and self-sufficiency.
Location
The Glory Hole is located in the center of Juneau with easy access to public transportation, the public library, the Alaska Capitol Building, the Juneau Court House, the Public Defender, City and Borough of Juneau offices, Department of Health and Social Services as well as SEARCC which provides computer and job training services. Our address is: 247 South Franklin Street, Juneau, Alaska 99801
Surrounded by tourist shops, boutiques, bars, and art galleries, the Glory Hole is one of the most distinct landmarks of the downtown landscape.
History
For the past 28 years, The Glory Hole provided food, shelter, and other necessities, as well as opportunities, and enrichment to the homeless population of Juneau as well as to others in need. It is a place to find a hot meal, a warm bed, an ear, and a community of help.
In 1981, a small group of people responded to the growing concern about the number of people living on the streets in the harsh Juneau climate. The previous winter several people died of exposure in other parts of Alaska. A similar tragedy could not occur in Juneau and the Glory Hole was created. In its inception, the Glory Hole was simply a kitchen and a small dining area in a renovated store front. Opening September 22, 1981, the Glory Hole served soup once a day to anyone who needed it. After a short period of time an apartment house was offered.
The Glory Hole building of today was built in 1991. It was staffed and run by former residents and community volunteers.
Finding out a more detailed history of the Glory Hole is an ongoing project and we will be able to provide more information soon.
Statistics
In 2008, the Glory Hole served over 60,000 meals, not counting the paper bag lunches for people who cannot attend our dinner service for work or other reasons, and also not counting the food boxes, given out to those who have stable places of residence but cannot afford food for every day needs or Holiday meals.
We provided over 9,000 beds to men, women, and children in need of emergency shelter in the Juneau area. Everyone who stays with us has access to showers, laundry services, bus tokens for medical appointments, and work related activities.
Our Volunteers
The Glory Hole could not function without the amazing generosity of the Juneau community. Volunteers prepare dinner at the Glory Hole almost every night per week. Volunteers make projects possible for us through providing labor, materials, and expertise.