Come to Our Party!

We have a wonderful regular client who used to be a cook in the Navy, and he misses cooking for people. He also likes to socialize and is a source of knowledge about resources in our community for the low or no income. Every once in a while he cooks up a casserole, makes some sandwiches or French toast and brings them in to share. Today, the offering is a yummy macaroni casserole and we are very busy. Twenty minutes in to the day and the pan is empty, people are eating and conversations about recipes and food are happening inside and out.

If you didn’t know better, you would think this was a family reunion or gathering of friends. Our clients love to interact and take care of each other. Let me count the ways:

•          Well, Geo brings in his culinary creations to share, of course.
•          Men give up their seats to women. (I will confess I often have to gently “remind’ them.)
•      More and more of our clients are learning to speak Spanish in an attempt to communicate with their neighbors.
•      Gentle teasing about sports teams happens often during football season. (Wear your 49’ers hat at your own risk!)
•     Disney movies with great sound tracks playing on the TV prompt sing-alongs and even some dancing. Shrek is a favorite—great sound track! “I’m a believer; I couldn’t leave her if I tried…”
•    The sidewalk chalk for children almost always gets a few adults on their knees creating masterpieces.
•      People give each other rides, help with carrying things and babies out to the cars and offer resource ideas to each other.

In the meantime, listening in on a food conversation, I heard one person tell another how much they love tacos, which led to a discourse on food truck food. One memorable Friday a couple of years ago, an ice cream truck pulled up and offered free ice cream to our clients on a hot summer day. If any of you have food trucks……

I can’t help but feel that Jesus would love this gathering place and the family feel of it. After all, Jesus was a party animal!

I cannot believe how fast this summer has gone by! A long sunny summer that has tried the patience of many of us.  At Hope House, people are hot, sweaty, and cranky—you name it.  We have been offering cold water to everyone and sidewalk chalk to keep the children occupied, but I think we are all looking forward to FALL! GO HAWKS!!!

We are in the process of collecting school supplies for our families. This is such a hard time of year for parents. I remember my husband and I had trouble stretching our budget when our children were young, and he always had a good job. But with school clothing, new shoes and underwear, school fees, lunchboxes and backpacks—well, it never ends. Every year, Hope House distributes 100+ school supply packets and over 50 backpacks.  If anyone can help, please feel free to drop off supplies during our open hours! Please help those families whose budgets are suffering from these added expenses.

We are also excited at Hope House because we are now only a few months away from tearing this old house down and building a new Hope House! Open areas will make for easier shopping, a new children’s play area in the waiting room and public restrooms for our clients—just a few of the exciting pieces to the new Hope House puzzle! This will be a sometimes confusing process for us, so prayers are needed that we keep our patience and compassion flowing.

Change can be scary, but this change will be awesome! Thank you, Jesus!