Project Home

Tonight I did something very difficult but very rewarding at the same time.  I volunteered for Project Home, which is an overflow homeless shelter for families sponsored by the Saint Paul Area Council of Churches.  
I wasn't really sure what to expect going into it.  The only thought I had was from a recent movie we watched at movie night called "Where God Left His Shoes".  An amazing movie about a family who becomes homeless and the difficulties they face living daily life - somehow they work through it as a family, and are stronger for it.  I highly recommend it - with a box of kleenex next to you.  Let me know what you think if you see it.


Anyway, I arrived early and one of the coordinators for Project Home met me at the location - we had a chance to talk a bit, then when the others arrived we went inside and began setting up cots and air mattresses for each family.  We were expecting 3 families (4 adults and 10 children) and then another family was added (1 adult 1 child), so we ended with 5 adults and 11 children!  


We prepared some snacks for when they arrived and went over some rules for the evening - the coordinators leave the volunteers and "residents" there.  The families started to arrive and seemed to know the routine.  They each got some snacks and began to eat.  We had some games on one of the tables and one of the little girls walked up and started poking at the play-doh in a ziploc bag.  She asked me what it was and then if we could play.  I said I'd love to play, but thought she should finish up her snack first!


After what seemed like a few akward moments, people started to move around and interact with the 3 volunteers.  I started working with a few of the girls picking out crayons to color with, and found just the right picture for them!  One of the little boys who was probably 3 was very lively and full of energy.  He grabbed my thumb and just wanted to walk around the hallways - he sure did love to talk!.  Although I really didn't understand much of what he said, it was important for both of us to share that time together.  I hope he got as much out of it as I did.


The night went on, and we played tic tac toe, made lots of things out of the play-doh, played "Sorry!", and even "duck duck goose."  I haven't been on the floor running around like that in quite some time!  It was good for me to feel like a kid again.


But then I remembered I'm an adult, and as I look into the eyes of each of these kids - it set in.  As innocent as they are, as much promise as they have for their future, they have no place to call home.  They are shuttled from place to place to place.  I can't help but think what more could we do?  What would these families do if they didn't have a place like Project Home to help?  Would they be subject to foster care and taken from their families - or be placed in regular shelters that could be much more dangerous and not a place for children.


I will be returning to volunteer on Thursday night once again and will probably see some of the same families.  The kids will again be full of life, full of energy, and just looking for some sense of normalcy in a world that is anything but.


As I get ready for bed tonight, I am grateful for what I have and am very humbled. I will no doubt see each of their faces as I close my eyes - haunted by their reality, but hopeful for their future.