Volunteers gathered at the Good Shepherd Episcopal Church in Federal Way on Wednesday to view the women’s shelter, which will open on Oct. 1 and be available for six months. The church is a host to Reach Out, a program of Catholic Community Services of Western Washington.

Reach Out is expanding shelter operations for both the men and women’s shelters from five months to six months this year, said Kathy Varney, Reach Out’s new community development director. Varney will replace longtime community development Director Nancy Jaenickie at the end of the month.

“The need continues to grow in our community,” Varney wrote in an email. “We are blessed to have formed such strong partnerships with business, the faith community, civic leaders and individual volunteers who recognize and assist us in providing shelter for our community members without homes.”

Catholic Community Services also welcomed new program manager Toni Ball, who has worked for various private and public organizations in the past.

For more information, visit www.reachoutfederalway.org.