Welcome Back!

 Welcome back!

Hours: Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 9-11 am (not 11:30). 

NO FRIDAYS.

·      

      **********You will not be entering Hope House.*************

Hygiene, baby diapers/wipes and emergency food only.

NO CLOTHING FOR NOW

·       ONE visit per month.
·       Keep porch and front steps clear at all times.
·       Please only ONE person per family in line. Leave children and animals home.
·       Social distancing is REQUIRED. Line up on yellow dots.
·       Please wear masks for everybody’s sake.
·       No loitering after receiving your order.
·       No Financial Assistance at this time. Hopefully, in a few weeks.

If bunching and grouping occurs, we will be forced to close. If that continues, we will close again until things are better. We are trying to serve you the best we can—please be patient and follow the procedures.

I am sorry to announce that Hope House will be closed indefinitely due to the current Corona virus crisis. Both for the sake of our senior volunteer staff and also to avoid groups of people waiting for assistance. With schools also closed, children would also be with their parents, as well as our senior and homeless clients. We cannot take any chances at this point. We will be donating our diapers, wipes and feminine hygiene products to the Bellingham Food Bank until this crisis is over.

Please stay home, stay safe and we’ll see all of you soon, we pray!

Cheri Woolsey

 IMPORTANT NOTICE!

Hope House will be closed today (Friday) and Monday, the 16th. We will reopen on Tuesday, the 17th with LIMITED SERVICES.

With limited services, only one client will be allowed inside HH at a time, for only hygiene, diapers or food. No clothing or household at this time. This service will be confined to the front door area. Our volunteer staff are all elderly and some are immuno compromised--the population most affected--so we will try to still meet basic needs as we can.

Hours will be shortened, as well. Mon--Tues--Thur will be 9-11, Friday will be 12-2. There will be no Financial Assistance until further notice.

We may need to close altogether soon--we hope not, but it may be something we need to do. Keep checking our Facebook page and this page for details as we go.

Also, for donations--all we need at this time will be diapers, food and hygiene products. We will not be accepting clothing or housewares.

 God bless you all--please keep safe and pray for each other!

Writer's Block

Sometimes it is hard to discern what to blog about. Sometimes I go through a dark and dry spell in which I feel “apart” from our Lord. Calling it “writer’s block” seems too temporal and secular for the path I have chosen for my life. But it is true that it often is hard to blog with any passion.

However, lately our morning prayer before opening has been “flowing” better for me, and I think the dry spell is almost over. Here are a couple of non-materialistic interactions I have had lately at Hope House:

·     A longtime client (and friend) is having a difficult time with something from his past causing him emotional pain. He spends time with myself and with Bonnie venting his anguish and anger. When I tell him I wish I could help, he states that I do—by listening.

·        A client from long ago makes a new connection with me. We had a very serious “not ok” relationship in the past. Back then she was homeless and high. Now she is clean and sober and housed. I almost didn’t recognize her, and we came together to heal our relationship. I’m so proud of her and all she has done to heal herself

·        A young woman who painfully reminds me of someone I know with the same problems, often comes in to try to get some clarity about life and her challenges. We listen, offer common sense advice and off she goes.

These are just a few examples of other ways that Hope House and the Hope House Community offers non-material assistance. Sometimes just knowing that someone will listen, sympathize and even “mother” them a little goes a long way. I like to think that we are helping in the moment, where they are and what they need at that time.

Hope House is not just “stuff”. It is also a haven for those who need it.

Think Happy!

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I have the best job in the world! Today is a typical Thursday, busy, crazy, noisy and crowded; and yet, somehow it works out and feels homey around here. When I wander out to the buzzing waiting room, I find laughter, teasing and sharing of resources and information. I ask if we are having a party and I get lots of smiles in return. It probably helps that at this time of year, we are blessed with extra goodies to share in the waiting area—people bring us candy, cookies, oranges—and that makes everyone smile. I am always amazed at the patience my clients share with each other and the “system”.

On Monday mornings, our waiting room becomes the “morning after” football discussion and critique. Our clients are huge Seahawks fans and we wear our colors proudly! When the occasional Bears or Cowboys fan wanders in, the teasing begins, but we all have fun with the whole subject. I wish the Seahawks could see how much they mean to those with little else to brighten their days.

So what’s the point? The point is that Hope House is family to those who need our services. We are a place where people feel valued and welcome. We are a community within our greater community and we are proud of it! Our clients love coming in and being greeted by name, they like that we know who their children are and what they are up to. They love the teasing and laughter they find to go give them armor to face the rest of their day.

At this time of year, to borrow a phrase, “Hope House is one of the happiest places on earth!”

A Grace Filled Day

A couple of days ago, I had what I call a “grace” day at Hope House. What is a grace day, you might ask? I love my job so much because, hello, I get to give to those in need!!! How much more blessed than that can you get at work? At any rate, a “grace” day is one in which the rewards are particularly obvious. Here are the rewards I received the other day:

·         First in was a young woman who has not been here for a couple of years. She could be my daughter, and her story was so sad. She has gone from being housed with her husband and children to being homeless and alone. She cried and said it hurt to be here when the last time she was in, she was so much happier. I can tell she is working on getting back to that life, but she told me that our support has always been vital to her and her family.

·         A regular client brought in a t-shirt with a beautiful faith message printed on the front—he said the message described me for him! So sweet.

·          A man fresh out of prison was so incredibly grateful for new clothing and hygiene items to start his job search.

·         And finally, there was Gracie. An adorable, intelligent and articulate little 4 year old charmer. She absolutely brought sunshine into Hope House. Gracie lives in a car with her mom and dad, who are keeping things bright for her while they find work.

All in all, a wonderful, fulfilling day at Hope House! As I always say—I love my job!

Little Things....

I can’t believe it has been almost a year since we opened in our beautiful new building! This place has been a blessing to so many people in our community, and so much of what we do is dependent on the support of our wonderful part of the world.

Sometimes it is one of the little things we do that causes the most joy to one of our clients. For instance, we allow homeless individuals to have their mail sent here until they find housing. Many of them are expecting new ID cards, birth certificates, etc., so this is a worthwhile service, no matter how much of a hassle it can be (some people only check their mail once every 6 months or so!). At least once per week, you can hear me threatening to discontinue this program due to the time it takes.

But then, you get a day like today. I was swamped with work on my computer, many voices calling my name for questions, etc.---in other words; a typical Friday! When a small, quiet young woman came to my office door to ask if she had any mail, I sighed and started searching through the stack. When I found the one, hand written envelope with her name on it, she teared up and held it close to her chest. Turns out her husband is in jail, and she is homeless herself—the only way he can communicate with her is through the letters he sends to her care of Hope House. She is so appreciative, and I am so contrite to realize how much something that irritates me just makes her day.

The little things—or maybe not so little?