This week was the first time that Jen and I were not able to do service together. I worked about 60 hours this week and could not join her, but she went back to our friends at the Lakeview Pantry twice this week. We have not been there in a little while, and she was anxious to get back. She tells me that both nights were very busy with both a full load of volunteers and capacity crowds of people needing food. At this point, she is experienced enough to help the new volunteers figure out what to do and where to be, which was helpful this time around because Carrie, the woman who runs this pantry location, was away on a family vacation. That meant that everything ran a little looser than usual, and Jen had to be more self-guided than usual. In spite of that, Carrie's part time assistant did a great job on two busy nights and everyone got the help they needed.
Since I could not help out on those nights, we decided that we had not really met our weekly commitment. We also decided to give a little money to the Franciscan Outreach Association, a group that, among other things, runs a shelter that we have worked with a few times (see past posts for more information). Our donation was given as part of their Spring funding drive, which also includes a gala dinner on May 10th at the Chicago Yacht Club. The funds they raise will be used to continue to provide temporary shelter and meals as well as vocational training and case management services to the homeless of Chicago. To quote the gala invitation: "We serve each and every guest with the dignity and respect they deserve, from providing basic food and shelter to walking with them when they are ready to take steps to change their lives and transition out of homelessness."
Sadly, there is not much more to say about this week. It was a regular old week for us, but it included our new normal of making volunteering a part of of our lives. It has taken such a short while, and now it is habit to find somewhere to help each week. Of course, Jen, as the major force behind scheduling our work, makes sure there is always a plan for the week. She is always looking down the road for the next thing we can do, as well as looking for new opportunities and places to work. I am the recording secretary and she is the scheduling secretary. Together we are having a great time trying to give back to our community and put as much positive force out in the world we can. We have found that the rewards we are reaping in the form of friendships, experiences and heart-felt thanks we are collecting far outstrip the effort required. I try not to make any of this too heavy a sales pitch, but I encourage you to give it a try, whether in Chicago at some of the places listed here, or in your own community. Almost all of us can afford to give some help in some form to someone else, and there are certainly people who need help everywhere. Very few things I have done in my life have fed my soul as much as the work we have done this year. If you want to feed your soul, look into the eyes of someone who really needs the help you are giving them.
Next week we will have more stories from the Franciscan House of Mary and Joseph. Come back then to hear all about it!
If you are interested in information or in donating to the places we worked this week, follow the links below:
Lakeview Pantry
Franciscan Outreach Association
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