This week we tried something new - serving dinner at the House of Mary and Joseph, an emergency shelter on the west side of Chicago. So far, we have prepared food boxes and handed out packaged food, but this was the first time we served warm food to people who needed it. As with our other volunteer work, this was incredibly rewarding.
The House of Mary and Joseph is run by the Franciscan Outreach Association and is a shelter for people who do not have anywhere else to sleep. It is classified as an emergency shelter both because patrons can only sign up to stay one night at a time and because they keep a small number of beds available for people to be referred from the police department or from other government agencies. The House has beds for 209 men and 37 women, and they are full almost every night. Last year, they provided over 85,000 shelter nights for patrons, which represents operating at about 98% capacity.
Each night, men and women line up to wait for a bed. If they are lucky, they get one, but some are turned away nearly every night. If possible, those who are turned away are given some food. For those who get a spot inside, they receive a dinner that usually consists of a sandwich, a cup of soup and a dessert if one has been donated for that night. They get a chance to shower and a chance to talk with medical and mental health professionals, as well as case workers. Then they get a bed with a pillow, sheets and blankets. In the morning, they get a warm breakfast with coffee and then are sent on their way. They can sign up to return at that night, if they choose. In addition, the House has an Interim Housing Program for 14 people (included in the total number of beds). Participants in this program receive classes in life skills, motivational meetings and opportunities for job training. They are also given intensive case management and are expected to help out by volunteering at the shelter, to which they have 24 hour access. The goal of the program is to help the participants move into their own housing in 120 days.
Jen and I volunteered to work in the kitchen serving the evening meal. We arrived and were greeted warmly by the other volunteers and staff, as well as some of the Interim Housing participants. There was not a lot of work to do at the start, and everyone made a specific effort to make us feel welcome and comfortable. I think that a lot of people are a little edgy when they come to volunteer, unsure of what to expect or how to act. We did not feel particularly uncomfortable, but we were laughing along with everyone else inside of a few minutes, and it was because we were made to feel part of the group. All of the people we ran into were really great at establishing a connection with others, a skill that is really useful in this environment. The volunteers were from all over the city, and from many different walks of life. We helped a little bit with getting ready to serve - setting out cups of soup and the bread pudding a church had donated for dessert. All of the food is cooked and prepared in the small kitchen, and for the most part, it is all purchased from the Greater Chicago Food Depository.
At about 7:30, the women were let in to get their food. At the shelter, men and women are strictly separated to avoid any potential problems. There were not very many women, fewer than the shelter could hold. There was not a lot of work to do at this point, because of the low volume. Since I was not needed, I talked with Issac, the kitchen supervisor. He asked me what my story was and I told him about the theater and my work, and about our pledge to volunteer. He told me candidly about how he was a product of the shelter system. He had been a wild young man, into drugs, but when his son was born, and he was moved to clean up. He said that he visited his son in the hospital and then went directly to check into a rehab clinic. He has been clean for 13 years, has a healthy 13 year old son, and works full time at another shelter and part time at the House. What he does, what he has to do the way I have to do theater, is pull people up one at a time. He told me that none of the people who use the shelter have done anything, seen anything, on the streets that he has not seen. As a result, they know that he understands them and it gives him a opportunity to talk to them and find out what they need. My admiration and respect for this man was instantaneous. On top of all of that, he was cheerful, calm, and a great cook! They do a quick prayer before serving begins, which Issac led. He prayed that we all be given a servant's heart, and that we give the patrons a smooth transition into a restful night. It was poetic and moving, and it put us all in exactly the right place to be helping people.
Once the women were done, there was a short break and then the men came in. Where the women were quiet and careful, the men were noisy and boisterous, and there was a lot more of them. This is when the works really kicks in, as we were warned by some of the veterans. We served as fast as we could and dished out more portions just ahead of the demand. There was one near fight, but it ended in a hug. There were a few who had to be reminded of the fairly strict rules about leaving bags by the door and other things, but most were cheerful and grateful. Jen got quite a few sly smiles and at least one marriage proposal. I told that guy she was mine and he backed off with a grin. Issac had told us that a lot of these people were not in a place to remember to say, "Thank you", but lots of people said so anyway. It was clear that there was a community here. Lots of the patrons knew the other volunteers, which is not surprising since the staff tries to learn and remember the names of their patrons.
As 9:00 rolled around, the kitchen officially closed. Towards the end, some food was taken outside for those that were not getting a bed. We also had to chase a few of the slow eaters out into the dormitory. Once everyone was out, we quickly cleaned up the kitchen and the serving areas and we were done. This whole night was just outside my comfort zone, and it was really good for me. It was really great to be able to look at the people we were serving as real people, not just the homeless that we try not to notice. These people need human connection. Almost everyone they see all day long tries to avoid making eye contact. At the House, we did just the opposite. We looked them in the eye, welcomed them, and gave them a little dignity along with a warm meal. It was uplifting, and yet another lesson about connectedness that we learned by volunteering. It was a great night.
To learn more about the House of Mary and Joseph, follow this link:
Franciscan House of Mary and Joseph
To learn more about the Franciscan Outreach Association, follow this link:
Franciscan Outreach Association
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