In the 1980s working at Great American Opportunities, I heard about the temporary shelter by our CFO’s church. He was heavily involved in this charity, and I promptly volunteered to stay several nights to help with a temporary volunteer shortage.
For about 5 days, I’d get off work and head over to the shelter. I wouldn’t leave until I woke up the next morning completing my 12-hour “shift’.
There was a lot of work to do for every volunteer. We had to prepare meals, clean up and do laundry and be available if guests needed anything.
One night around midnight, we were awakened and alerted that someone was heading over NOW. Earlier in the evening, a family of four had escaped a fire in their home and witnessed their house and everything in it burn completely to the ground.
They had nowhere to go, but an Emergency Services became involved and called the shelter to arrange for them to arrive within the hour.
I’ll never forget the look in the mother’s eyes while we volunteers buzzed around trying to make sure they had what they needed and were situated for the rest of the night. They were exhausted, scared, heartbroken but grateful.
There was a pantry where donated clothing had been kept, and we tried to find enough clothes for them to have for several days.
At least for that brief relief, there was one less worry on their plate.
There are other experiences, but that one the most prominent. And I consider it a blessing to me.
I have some of the most heartwarming and fond memories of .
Those nights are among is my most precious and heartwarming memories from having the opportunity and privilege of participating in such a worthy cause.
Not only was it one of those feel-good experiences, it opened my eyes in real time to moments of crisis when a family needs help the most.
