Comfort my people...

In our first reading at Mass last Sunday, God says “give comfort to my people”. In the homily, Father Scott talked about slowing down the busy pace of our lives, particularly during this most holy of seasons, when we await the birth of the Christ child.

At Hope House, it seems we get busier and busier each day, with a sense of an almost panicked need to process people through as fast as possible. It’s a legitimate need, we are crowded, it’s cold outside, and so everyone wants and needs to be inside while waiting to have their needs met. We have spent the last couple of months doing our best to improve traffic flow and keep aisles open. A lot of thought and discussion has gone into seeing as many of our clients as possible as quickly as possible.

But in this process, have we actually missed part of what makes Hope House so special? As I sat in church on Sunday, I felt convicted where I sat; as if God was asking me “what’s your hurry?” Am I really giving comfort to those I serve when I move them through so quickly?

The simple truth is that many of our clients are frequent visitors, some almost daily. Do they really “need” stuff every day? No—they “need” the comfort that is found in human interactions, in conversation, in a cup of coffee and a chance to watch children play on the floor. Most importantly, the comfort of a place where someone will call you by name and offer a smile with whatever you are receiving that day.

So it has become a balancing act at Hope House. We are balancing how many are shopping, how many are waiting, how crowded it is, how cold it is outside, how many of our clients need to talk to us about more than clothing and hygiene products. Sometimes giving comfort involves listening to His people when they need to talk.

So at Hope House we will be walking the tightrope, hoping not to fall (fail)!

People space

As I stood in the middle of a crowd of people—stood because I literally could not move in either direction—I realized we had a problem. Hope House is a house, which is part of the attraction for our clients and staff, but which can also hinder the very work we are trying to do. On this Friday, as on so many other days in the last year, we were full to capacity, and it was the worst traffic situation I had ever seen there. As I found myself yelling to be heard above the noise of 35 individuals, I knew we had to do something about it.

But what? We have been working for the last year and a half on trying to get funding for a bigger building, but that was going nowhere. All the extra funding we could find needed to be spent on our clients and we were so busy I could barely keep up with the day to day organizational issues. I was going to need to find some alternative solution that would work in the present space.

So that night, I tossed and turned until 2 am trying to come up with a solution. We have been moving racks around at Hope House over the last couple of months, trying to clear space for people to shop, trying to be more efficient in the use of our space—what else could we do? At 2 am, I turned it over to God—I told Him I needed sleep and to let me know what he has in mind the next day.

Sure enough, the next morning I woke up to the realization that we needed the entire front room to be our waiting area—not just half of it. It meant losing a bright and sunny room for our baby/toddler are, and squeezing the women and children’s area, but we needed more people space, not more stuff space. So the next day, Rory (my husband) and I went in to Hope House and spent our Sunday afternoon tearing up the front room and then putting it back together as a large waiting area. We now have a bright and sunny waiting room, with a corner for the kids to play, a front desk moved to a more efficient place and lots more chairs and standing room (because we still get so many people at once that they are standing).

The first day we opened with our new arrangement, I waited until about a half hour after we filled up, and then went out and asked the front desk person how it was going. “Listen”, he said, cocking his head towards the main room, “they’re talking to each other.” He was right—not only were they talking to each other, but grown men were playing peek-a-boo with toddlers on the floor, one mom was reading to a group of children and many quiet conversations were happening all around me.

This is called “community”, and it is one of the reasons why Hope House works in a house. Our waiting area now felt like a big living room full of friends and family, sharing, laughing, talking and playing.

Come join our community—you may find us playing Charades in the living room. 

Written in stone?

Why is it that when everything is going well, I can still focus on the one thing going not so well? This rings true in all parts of my life, but especially so at Hope House.

Last Tuesday was a good day at Hope House—a very good day. We were busy but had plenty of volunteer staff on hand to help. Things were humming along, I was able to work on some paperwork and files while Judy worked the intake desk—all was good.

Judy and I make a good pair—we think alike and when she came to me with someone who desperately needed gasoline, I was able to write them a voucher even though it was not a Financial Assistance day. That felt good—the ability to reach out and be flexible to assist someone in the moment they needed it. Later in the morning, she sent me a young couple whose electricity had been shut off. They entered the room expecting nothing more than a gas voucher so they could continue to pursue help around town. I looked carefully at the mother, sitting there holding her little boy. She was fighting back tears, and looked worn out and sad. Both of them were polite and grateful for what they thought would be $20 worth of gas for their car. I asked to see the shut-off notice, which surprised them, but the father went out to the car to get it. The mother said that it had been cold in their apartment last night and all the food was spoiling in their refrigerator. When the man returned and I realized that $63.50 would get their electricity turned back on, I called PSE and pledged that amount for them. They both started crying and must have thanked me, Judy and all the staff at least 5 times before they left. A good day.

In the midst of this, I received a call from a volunteer who said he was coming in with a check from BP, where he works. When he arrived, it was a check for $300 for Hope House. Another volunteer called to say that St. Paul’s had been able to help one of our clients with the money he needed to get home to his family. I love it when a plan works so well!

The cherry on the cake, though, was that we had a plumber come out and install a new toilet in our bathroom. Our old toilet had only worked sporadically and we had quit using it for the most part. A wonderful day for all involved!

So, as you can see, this was an amazing day at Hope House—one of those that make it so worthwhile on the not-so-good days. So, why was I left with a sad, nagging guilt?

Somewhere in the midst of the wonderful morning at Hope House, I was approached by a client who wants to volunteer at Hope House. As I spoke with her about this, she also asked me if she was correct that she could only access our food pantry once per month. I replied yes and handed her the resource guide for all the places to eat and get food in Bellingham (a not so small list). She thanked me, and then left. It was only after the busy, crazy and wonderful morning was over, that it occurred to me that she would not have asked me about food unless she was hungry. And I, in the busyness of my day, missed the opportunity to help her. There are few rules written in stone in Hope House and I could have easily given her some food, but I missed the chance, the need, and the opportunity to minister to and serve a child of God in front of me.

Hope House works so well because the staff of devoted volunteers, the parishioners of Assumption, Sacred Heart and St. Paul’s, and the staff at CCS and Assumption all view our mission as one of service to the Body of Christ. We serve in that capacity and with that attitude; love, kindness and compassion are the only rules written in stone at Hope House. We serve those in front of us, so we better pay attention to them.

So, to the woman in front of me who I failed—I hope to get another chance to serve you. Then I will truly have had the best day at Hope House.

Happenings at Hope House

It was a very busy day at Hope House (what else is new?), and as the intake person, I was touching bases with everyone who came in the door. Many of the first clients were there for financial assistance, usually gas vouchers, and I knew we had reached the point of only having enough money left for one voucher. Dave, an ordinary looking man in his 30’s came in, requesting food, clothing and “hopefully, a gas voucher”. I told him it was his lucky day, because we had one left—just one. He looked at me and then quietly said “if that is the last one, then save it for the young mother out there with her baby—she needs it more than I do”. As I acquiesced to his request, he left, looking very much at peace with himself. Dave not only received that day, he gave.

Tim entered the intake room looking upset. When I asked him how he was, he said he could be better. He and his girlfriend had just had an argument out in the waiting room and she had left Hope House. He said he wasn’t sure they were going to work together, no matter how hard he tried. He was just out of jail, was 9 months clean and sober and was having trouble getting her to trust in him again. We spent 15 minutes discussing how he needed to give her space and time and just stay clean to prove to her how he had changed. He also acknowledged the need for him to concentrate on his recovery and not get derailed in the stress of this relationship. When he left, he appeared a little strengthened in his resolved. Tim’s need that day included someone to listen to him.

Sandy was crying in the waiting room when I called her in. she told me she was pregnant and her boyfriend had just gone to jail for 180 days. Sitting next to her in the intake room, I went over the good things happening in her life—shelter, food to eat, clothing from Hope House. She gave me several big hugs when she left. Sandy received support and encouragement as well as food and clothing that day.

John comes by Hope House a couple times a week to break down our cardboard and empty trash—so does Bob. They both like to feel that they are contributing to Hope House in some way in return for what they receive. Bill uses his leftover food stamps each month to purchase food for Hope House. It is his contribution to us.

So much more happens at Hope House than handing out clothing, hygiene and diapers. Stop by and check us out someday! Better yet—donate to us!

On giving....

She came in and waited quietly with her children in the waiting room, holding a bag in her lap. When I came out of the intake room, she rose and sought my attention, holding the package out to me. “It is from me and my children—a thank you for all your help” she explained in broken, accented English. Anna is from Russia and the gift she brought me was a Valentine heart full of candy! She is a valued and welcome client and her children are adorable and so well-behaved. How kind of them to think of us!

Anna is not the only client who offers us “things” as a thank you. Mona brings me wildflowers she has picked, children will save up their pennies and give them to us for the “poor kids” (these children are clients!). We have been the lucky recipients of cookies, tamales and stuffed cabbage; and one client even brought us a beautiful crucifix from Mexico which we have hanging on the wall in the waiting room. Another client takes pictures of us and offers them to us in small inexpensive frames. There is also Fred, a homeless gentleman who uses his “extra” food stamps to buy food for us to distribute to others.

At Hope House we are truly a family, and we all receive from each other. The most precious gifts we receive from our clients are not tangible items; the gifts of love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faith, sharing, compassion. Pretty much all of the Fruits of the Spirit! To see a smile break out on a face that came in the door looking sad; to hear a laugh from playing children on a gray and cold day when all of our clients seem COLD; to offer food to someone who looks hungry; to hear teasing and conversation among clients—all of this is a huge gift to those of us who work at Hope House.


It is why we are there—to receive as well as offer.