I have spent the last 6 years of my life working at the Community Action Family Homeless Shelter. It has been an incredible experience filled with growth, laughter, sorrow, friendship, fear, happiness, and so much more. Tomorrow will be my final Friday night shift as I will begin the transition into motherhood.
Seems silly but truly it has been the most consistant thing in my life besides my family ever. Through every adult relationship I have had, through living in the dorms, renting rooms, and buying my house, through my pregnancy, through college and graduation, and so much more. I started my journey with the shelter in September 2003 at the age of 19 in the after school program which I did for 2 years. I also worked to provide respite care to families by watching their little ones while they were out at meetings and working on finding housing, employment, childcare, or an apartment. The summer after my sophomore year my co-worker gave birth to her second daughter leaving the children's summer program coordinator position vacant. Before leaving she asked me if I would like to fill in for her during her maternity leave. Of course I was thrilled to have the opportunity! It was the best summer of my life. Planning a day filled with fun, educational activities, field trips, and laughter. Who could ask for more? During that summer one of the resident assistants left so I was asked to step into that role. So for the past 4 years I have spent every Friday night (9PM to 9AM) at the shelter plus filling in during the evening and weekends. I have met over and worked with 309 families, filled probably over 250 food boxes, helped connect families to resources, grown as a person who has is able to show compassion, listen, and and am able to connect with famililes I meet and talk with them as though we had been friends for years.
The shelter has shown me how lucky I am and how easy it is for anyone to loose everything and end up asking for help from food boxes to temporary housing. I wouldn't trade in my experience at the shelter and with the families for anything. Even when families were frustrating or difficult, when there were attempted break ins in the middle of the night, floods in the basement, a fire in the dryer on the 4th of July, working every holiday, it was all a learning experience and helped me to grow and I didn't mind. This place has come to be a home away from home in a sense. I will truly miss working at the shelter however I know that the next journey of my life will be even more rewarding.
The pantry where we store all the non-perishable food items for food boxes.
The pantry where we store all the non-perishable food items for food boxes.
The kitchen. 
The backyard newly remodled by community groups! The transformation was unbelievable. Thanks to everyone who contributed to provide a fun space for children.
The office! I spent the past 4 years, every Friday night sleeping on futon to the right.
The living room. I spent countless hours interacting with families here. 
The dining room.
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