Homeless

Week 52. The SoupMobile Celebrate Jesus Event

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December 24, 2018

Beginning in 2005, the SoupMobile’s annual Celebrate Jesus event makes “room at the inn” for 500 homeless men, women, and children at the downtown Dallas Omni Hotel.
The goal is to give the 500 homeless guests a truly magical Christmas. They all receive new clothes, gifts, and a lot of love, and attend a huge banquet held in their honor. Most importantly, when they wake up on Christmas morning, it’s in a warm, safe bed at the Omni – not in a cardboard box under a bridge.

Each year, more than 2,500 volunteers help the SoupMobile put on this one-of-a-kind event at Christmas. My family and I have worked the Banquet Red Carpet for more than a decade, encouraging friends to join us when they can. Volunteers line up on both sides of the 1,000-foot red carpet (just like at the Academy Awards). At 12:15 p.m., the 500 homeless men, women, and children descend from their rooms at the Omni and begin to walk the red carpet on their way to the banquet in the ballroom. Volunteers clap, cheer, high-five, hug, and share Christmas wishes. Once the last homeless guest has walked the red carpet, volunteers follow them into the ballroom. The homeless guests are treated to an amazing feast, served by more volunteers. This year’s program included words from Mayor Mike Rawlings, entertainment featuring Grammy Award winning gospel singer Tamela Mann, and an inspiring message from David Timothy, the Soup Man himself.

Just prior to the event this year, my son and I had a heartfelt conversation. He voiced his frustration at not being able to do more, and expressed his discomfort at “just standing and clapping.” We talked about the hardships of homelessness and how experiencing it can rob a person of their dignity. We agreed that maybe on Christmas Eve, the greatest thing we could do for the homeless was to help give them a sense of dignity. Simple things, like a handshake, a high-five, a hug, or truly looking them in the eye, can go a long way in restoring dignity and igniting hope.

As I stood on the red carpet, cheering and hugging the homeless guests, my own tears flowed freely as I saw the tears in their eyes and the smiles on their faces. I hoped that maybe – at least for that one day – they felt elevated, and loved, and hopeful.

Find out more about the SoupMobile and the work they are doing in Dallas.

 

 

Week 51. Dallas Life

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December 22, 2018

I can’t believe I am nearing the end of my 52 weeks of service. It really has been an amazing adventure!

For Week 51, I spent time at Dallas LIFE, one of my favorite places to volunteer. We scheduled our lunch-service shift for the Saturday immediately after school was released for the holiday break. I was joined by 20 members of Lakehill Preparatory School‘s Warrior Outreach Organization.

From its humble beginnings in 1954 as the Dallas Rescue Mission, housing 25 men a night, Dallas LIFE has grown into the largest homeless shelter in North Texas. Its current facility on Cadiz Street in downtown Dallas houses up to 700 men, women, and children, and offers a multitude of programs to serve those experiencing homelessness.

Under the direction of Reverend Bob Sweeney since 2005, Dallas LIFE has continued to grow, adding a computer school and GED program, and establishing long-term programs for senior citizens and those with slight mental health issues. The 10-month New LIFE Program graduates approximately 50 residents each year who are recovered from addition, reconnected with family, and have housing and employment.

All Dallas LIFE guests are served three balanced meals per day. According to their website, the shelter serves an average of 1,000 to 1,200 meals daily. The newly remodeled kitchen and dining area are staffed primarily by residents, and most of the food prepared at Dallas LIFE comes through their in-kind product donation program.

The 100,000 square-foot facility offers dormitory style housing for men and women on separate floors. There are also 50 individual family unit rooms, allowing children to remain with their parents. Additional temporary space can be created during extreme weather.

Clothing donations are sorted, inventoried, and placed in the clothing room, where residents can select outfits for themselves and their children.

The in-house computer center helps residents develop computer skills and use email. The New LIFE Program incorporates basic office software training and resume preparation classes. Residents can also complete GED requirements. A state-of-the-art clinic provides free medical, dental, and vision treatment. Free individual and group counseling is available, as well as play therapy for children. A full-time chaplain is on staff to oversee the spiritual program, including daily chapel services, Sunday worship, prayer meetings, and Bible study. Children and teens are welcome at Dallas LIFE, and parents can take advantage of a wealth of resources, including supplies, parenting classes, and childcare referrals.

It is extremely easy to volunteer at Dallas LIFE. You must first fill out a Volunteer Application for an individual or a group (one person may complete the application for all members in the group). Once you pass a background check and are approved, you can log in under the schedule tab to see the daily needs. You can schedule yourself or your group online, according to your availability. A variety of opportunities are available, from serving meals to sorting donations in the clothing closet.

Over the years, I have taken several groups to volunteer for the lunch service at Dallas LIFE, and always find it a wonderful experience. It is a great way to interact directly with the residents.

All volunteers serving in food service must be 10 years of age or older. Those 10-12 years of age can serve cold foods, desserts, and drinks in the dining room. Volunteers 13 years of age or older can join the adults in the kitchen to help serve hot foods and keep the food line stocked. Volunteers will be provided with aprons, gloves, and hair nets. A typical shift is about two hours.

Volunteers are given instructions from the Food Service Staff upon arrival, and are assigned a position. Working on the food service line, serving water, cleaning tables, carrying trays, and washing dishes are all possibilities. On this visit, we also enjoyed preparing some of the food prior to the meal service.

Dallas LIFE follows a conservative dress code, so be sure to dress accordingly. Jeans or slacks should be worn by volunteers serving in the kitchen. Dallas LIFE asks that volunteers avoid running shorts, leggings, or tights as pants. Shirts must have sleeves, an appropriate neckline, and cover the midriff. Closed-toe shoes are required.

Find out more and get involved here.

 

Week 39: Bye Bye Bags for Vogel Alcove

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September 28, 2018

During my 39th week of service, I worked with my Community Connections members at Lakehill Preparatory School on a project for our friends at Vogel Alcove.

We prepared Bye-Bye Bags, which are snack bags that are distributed to the children served by Vogel Alcove at the end of the day, giving them additional nutrition when they are away from the facility.

Each volunteer decorated several paper lunch sacks with uplifting messages. We set out a variety of healthy snack items on tables, such as applesauce, cereal, fruit snacks, tuna, and crackers. After decorating a bag, volunteers moved through the line, selecting one item from each category to place in their bag. We boxed up all the bags – about 200 in total – and delivered to Vogel Alcove to distribute as needed.

Vogel Alcove serves as many as 200 homeless children each day, allowing them to learn and thrive in a place free from hunger or trauma. Parents – most of whom are single mothers – have the opportunity to work, look for work, or go to school, knowing that their children are in good hands. Since 1987, Vogel Alcove has served more than 15,000 children and their families.

I am always surprised to read that Dallas has the highest child poverty rate in the country among cities with more than a million people. Thirty percent of Dallas children grow up in poverty. While there are many reasons for family homelessness, poverty is an overriding factor.

By providing education and a broad array of therapeutic services, Vogel Alcove is dedicated to helping children who are experiencing homelessness cope with the physical, emotional, and mental trauma so that they might succeed in life despite their circumstances.

Preparing Bye Bye Bags is just one of the many ways to help children at Vogel Alcove.

Find out more ways to get involved here.

 

Week 37: Painting Bowls for The Stewpot

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September 10, 2018

On January 17, 2019, The Stewpot Alliance will host its 11th annual Soup’s On! Luncheon at The Hilton Anatole Hotel benefiting The Stewpot.

Some of the best chefs in Dallas – under the direction of celebrity chef Brian Luscher, owner of The Grape – will prepare a variety of specialty soups for the first course of the luncheon. Each guest receives a soup bowl to take home, and others are sold as part of the fundraiser. Guests will also be able to view and purchase one-of-a-kind works from artists who are members of the Stewpot Art Program.

While decorating the bowls was once a project for the students in The Stewpot’s children and youth program, the project has grown and now requires the support of the community. The Stewpot’s goal this year was to complete 700 bowls by the end of October.

Lakehill’s Middle School Community Connections group originally signed on to complete 50 bowls, although, in the end, only 20 were needed. The Stewpot provided the glaze, bowls, and brushes, and coordinated the drop-off and pick-up of supplies. To keep the bowls cohesive, we were asked to paint a fruit or vegetable on the inside of the bowl and to paint the outside a solid color with a special sprinkle paint. Beyond that, we were given creative freedom.

This was a great project for both the students and adults. We worked together in teams and had a great time painting our bowls.

The Stewpot offers a safe haven for homeless and at-risk individuals of Dallas, providing resources for basic survival needs, as well as opportunities to start a new life.

At its main location on the corner of Park Avenue and Young Street in downtown Dallas, The Stewpot provides casework assistance and enrichment programs to individuals and families experiencing homelessness, as well as Children and Youth and Family Stabilization programs to at-risk children and their families.

Since May 2008, The Stewpot has been the sole meal provider at The Bridge Homeless Recovery Center, serving 1,000 meals per day, seven days per week.

Find out more about The Stewpot, volunteer opportunities, and the Soup’s On! Luncheon.

 

Week 21: Austin Street Center

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May 27, 2018

I can’t believe I am already on Week 21 of my 52 weeks of service! I have worked with 21 different organizations so far (actually more, as Week 5 had multiple projects), and have thoroughly enjoyed every experience. While I have not missed a week of volunteering, I have struggled to post to my blog each week. I am doing my best to catch up, and to have my writing keep pace with my volunteering!

For Week 21, I volunteered with one of my favorite organizations, Austin Street Center. Founded in 1983, Austin Street Center is an emergency shelter that serves men ages 45 and older and women ages 18 and older. Each guest at the shelter is provided a safe place to sleep, showers, clothing, and meals. Austin Street Center believes that once their basic needs are met, guests can begin working on other aspects of their lives that will help them transition out of homelessness.

Austin Street Center offers a variety of services, including specific programs focused on women, veterans, and work readiness, onsite partnerships with local hospitals and clinics; substance abuse support, spiritual guidance, and Pathway House, a special program to help prepare guests for the transition to permanent housing.

There are numerous ways to get involved at Austin Street Center, both for individuals and groups. Individuals might assist at the front desk or in the computer lab, distribute items in the clothing room, sort donations, or help staff check in guests during the intake process.

Groups might help with a morning of cleaning at the shelter or by preparing and serving lunch. All lunches are prepared off-site and served at the shelter by volunteers. Austin Street Center will even provide you with recipes, if needed. Other great projects can be done at home or at school, such as holding a donation drive for clothing or toiletries, or making sandwiches to deliver to the shelter.

I have taken several Lakehill groups to volunteer over the years and have worked on a variety of projects. My Community Connections campers love visiting Austin Street to play Bingo with the guests, passing out the bags they made full of prizes to the winners. We have also cleaned, painted a room (definitely not our strongest skill), held donation drives, and made sandwiches to deliver. Now that I know how to cook for a crowd, I would love to lead a group in preparing and serving a meal.

This week, I volunteered with my dear friend Cathleen. She and I taught together for many years at Thomas Jefferson High School in Dallas, and share a love for volunteering and helping others develop a passion for service. We signed up to help with the intake process, but because of the high temperatures that day, guests were let in early, before we arrived. The staff had no trouble keeping us busy, and we jumped in to help serve the afternoon meal: delicious smelling brisket, Bar-B-Q sauce, green beans, rolls, and watermelon. Cathleen commented on what I have noticed every time I visit Austin Street: the sincere appreciation from the guests who we served.

Week 17: Vogel Alcove

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April 23, 2018

Dallas, with the sixth largest GDP of any American city, also has the highest child poverty rate in the country among cities with more than one million people. Thirty percent of Dallas children grow up in poverty, with more than 3,000 kids in our city currently experiencing homelessness.

Vogel Alcove helps young children overcome the lasting and traumatic effects of homelessness. Their vision is that every child in our community has a home, a self-sufficient family, and a foundation for success. Their new facility, housed in the former City Park School, opened in Spring 2014. They now have the capacity to serve up to 200 children each day, and continue to be specifically dedicated to serving the needs of homeless children.

For Week 17, I collected new books and toys for Vogel Alcove. By providing education and a broad array of therapeutic services, Vogel Alcove is dedicated to helping children who are experiencing homelessness cope with the physical, emotional, and mental trauma so that they might succeed in life despite their circumstances.

I have volunteered at Vogel Alcove many times over the past 10 years. I have enjoyed sorting donations, packing diapers for distribution to families, and playing outdoors with the children. Vogel Alcove is a recipient each year of our Lakehill Preparatory School Toy Drive during the holidays. My Community Connections summer campers love volunteering there. In lieu of birthday gifts for themselves, some of my altruistic campers have requested diapers that they then donated to the organization.

In-kind donations allow Vogel Alcove to provide essential items like clothing, diapers, and shoes, as well as books and toys, at no cost to families experiencing homelessness.

The most urgent needs include:

  • Children’s Clothing (boys and girls sizes 2t-6t)
  • Children’s belts
  • New children’s socks and underwear (2t-6t)
  • New/Gently used coats, rain jackets, ponchos (Size 2T-6T, boys and girls)
  • New Children’s toys
  • Umbrellas

 

Working with homeless children requires highly-skilled staff with specialized training in trauma-informed care. But there are a variety of opportunities for both individuals and groups, such as serving as Backyard Buddies, sorting and organizing donations, conducting donation drives, and preparing Bye-Bye Bags (snack bags distributed to the children at the end of the day).

Find out how to get involved or donate in-kind goods.

 

Week 4: Bags of Warmth for the Homeless

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January 24, 2018

Winter, even in Texas, is a difficult time to be homeless. It might be more accurate to say especially in Texas, where we can have temperatures in the 70s one day, followed by a hard freeze the next. Cold weather can be brutal-even life threatening-for the homeless.

With the colder temperatures this January, it seemed the right moment  to focus my efforts on the homeless. Last week at Lakehill, we collected outerwear to distribute to those in need. We received so many wonderful donations of coats, scarves, hats, and mittens. As part of my fourth week of service, I worked with my Lower School Community Connections Club to prepare “Bags of Warmth,” with each containing a scarf, mittens, and a hat, plus a note from a student.

These bags, with a tag that says, “If you need this, please take it. Stay warm.” will then be given to those who are experiencing homelessness—on the street or in parks or other places where they may gather. My students and I took the bags to personally deliver while the coats we collected were donated to Dallas Life Homeless Shelter. This is a great project for children of all ages. They can also add snacks or water to the bags before they are delivered.