Our Neighbors’ Place Needs You!
We completed our first 14-day run with the Our Neighbor’s Place homeless shelter from December 27 to January 10. We had two nights with 39 guests, and all the others were at the full complement of 40 overnight guests. Many people, mostly from FPCC, volunteered for the 140 four-hour shifts needed to run the shelter for two weeks. In addition, approximately 700 evening meals were made, again mostly by church members.
Over the course of the fortnight, our guests went from strangers, to people with names, to our friends with whom we shared time. On the last night, I interviewed about 25 of our guests asking how things were going. I consistently heard great things about our volunteers (that everyone was hospitable, accommodating, fair, kind, and friendly) and our program (the food was great, the coffee good, and a great facility). Pat Tracy finished her last night as a leader after twelve years of service. She is so admired by the overnight guests and her co-workers.
FPCC will host the shelter for another two weeks from March 13 to March 26, ending in the middle of Holy Week. We can use help again. Call Karen Wiechman (724-456-0408) to volunteer for a shift. Call Cathy Anderson (412-400-6015) or Chris DeCrease (814-323-2311) to provide a bag meal. Call Rick Bernardini (814-323-1207) to help with the set-up and take-down.
