Homeless Home
I urge the many women in our community to consider volunteering for the overnight shift at the Homeless Shelter at St. Peter’s, where the presence of women volunteers is needed. The Friends Program is spearheading this effort with funding from the City of Concord. I took a turn myself this last Sunday, and want to share with you my experiences so you will know what to expect.
First, they snore. The cadence varies from one guest to the next but you do acclimate to the snorting and throat wallows. “Lights Out” came at 10:00 p.m. sharp, but the snuffling was well underway before then. After listening to this for several hours, it becomes night music. On the dreary side of 2:00 a.m. this could almost pass for bullfrogs on a summer night. Oddly, …show more content…
I am here to watch over the women and children. It is heart-wrenching to see them come in, a mom and her babes in tow. They are so well-behaved, carrying books to read before bedtime. Picture a Norman Rockwell painting with Mom tucking in the children and setting aside their books on the night stand. If only the backdrop wasn’t in the basement of an old church. Does The Sandman bring sweet dreams to the children sleeping in the catacombs of a Homeless Shelter? Don’t get me wrong. The space is pleasant and it certainly beats the snow falling outside, which was the only other option for this …show more content…
He is kind and respectful to the guests, diplomatic when volunteers ask questions and protective of everyone. He runs down the rules for us, is right there if we need him, attentive, awake and alert for the full 12-hours.
The morning crew will be arriving and I am anxious to leave. I don’t want to see the kids waking up and going out into the cold with their mothers. I don’t want to see Robert smoking or the young man drifting away. I don’t want to see any of them having to face the cold day ahead. I am overwhelmed with empathy. Am I just tired, or have I really been this sheltered from the realities of homelessness in Concord? I can’t be sure. I do know the doors will be opening again tonight. I do know we need more women to stay overnight to watch over sleeping babes and I know you will be enlightened.
They arrive cold and tired and they are our poor. Foregoing your own unencumbered rest for one night is such a small sacrifice to make for these people that have so little. I implore you to at least consider and reach out to Volunteer Coordinator Greg Lessard at (603) 848
First, they snore. The cadence varies from one guest to the next but you do acclimate to the snorting and throat wallows. “Lights Out” came at 10:00 p.m. sharp, but the snuffling was well underway before then. After listening to this for several hours, it becomes night music. On the dreary side of 2:00 a.m. this could almost pass for bullfrogs on a summer night. Oddly, …show more content…
I am here to watch over the women and children. It is heart-wrenching to see them come in, a mom and her babes in tow. They are so well-behaved, carrying books to read before bedtime. Picture a Norman Rockwell painting with Mom tucking in the children and setting aside their books on the night stand. If only the backdrop wasn’t in the basement of an old church. Does The Sandman bring sweet dreams to the children sleeping in the catacombs of a Homeless Shelter? Don’t get me wrong. The space is pleasant and it certainly beats the snow falling outside, which was the only other option for this …show more content…
He is kind and respectful to the guests, diplomatic when volunteers ask questions and protective of everyone. He runs down the rules for us, is right there if we need him, attentive, awake and alert for the full 12-hours.
The morning crew will be arriving and I am anxious to leave. I don’t want to see the kids waking up and going out into the cold with their mothers. I don’t want to see Robert smoking or the young man drifting away. I don’t want to see any of them having to face the cold day ahead. I am overwhelmed with empathy. Am I just tired, or have I really been this sheltered from the realities of homelessness in Concord? I can’t be sure. I do know the doors will be opening again tonight. I do know we need more women to stay overnight to watch over sleeping babes and I know you will be enlightened.
They arrive cold and tired and they are our poor. Foregoing your own unencumbered rest for one night is such a small sacrifice to make for these people that have so little. I implore you to at least consider and reach out to Volunteer Coordinator Greg Lessard at (603) 848