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About Sarah's Hope
Directions to Sarah's Hope |
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Serving Sarah's Hope: On Sunday January 10 Sarah's Hope volunteers met to reflect and celebrate the past year of service. John Walter offered an opening prayer and the group shared soups provided by Bonnie Clarke, Sue Ruhl, and JoAnn Ruther. The Challenge of Different Cultures Sandy Losemann shared a chart "Hidden Rules" summarizing cultural differences between low-income, middle-income and wealthy families. We discussed some of the ways in which Sarah's Hope residents have shown different values than our own. For example, it sometimes appears that impoverished families have spent money on electronics, toys or clothes that are "luxuries". However, there are reasons for this. Money isn't saved when there is no sense of control for the future. Mothers who have little to give may want to give their children something special even though they can't afford living expenses. Reflecting on Service Bonnie Clarke led a reflection on our on our Framing Story John 13:1-15 Washing His Disciples' Feet and explored questions on insights the story brings to our experience in serving the families at Sarah's Hope. The reflection led to the question of how we can tweak our work at Sarah's Hope so that the residents experience a bit of God's Kingdom now. The Needs of Sarah's Hope Families Conor Wall, who is the volunteer coordinator for Sarah's Hope, updated us on their activities. Sarah's Hope has been at capacity since it opened, and turns families away every day. Clients are usually referred from the Department of Social Services, be may also come in as emergency referrals from the police or other programs. Women coming to Sarah's Hope come from many difficult circumstances. One woman grew up in 15 different foster homes. While individual backgrounds are confidential, statistics show that forty percent of homeless women were abused as children and sixty percent were abused at some time in their lives. Often the mothers at Sarah's Hope yell at their children because that is how they were raised. Sarah's Hope provides parenting, financial training and individual job training and employment assistance. The program works with the mothers to access services and transition to assisted housing, toward a goal of self sufficiency. Limited follow up services are provided. At the invitation of the City, St. Vincent de Paul successfully applied for a stimulus grant and has received a donation of commercial kitchen equipment from another church. This will enable major improvements in the program and the facility. They in the process of arranging for the second floor to be available for Sarah's Hope. This will allow improved housing for the families and the first floor will be renovated so that an entire room can be used for the improved kitchen and a separate room for the dining room, as well as expanded laundry facilities. Conor thanked the group for Ashland's support and said that the courtesy that we extend to the Sarah's Hope residents is more important than the food. Nurturing Parents are a Bit of God's Kingdom Carole Norris-Shortle, visited us from Light Street Presbyterian. Carole is a psychiatric social worker who works with homeless children 3 years of age or younger at four facilities including Saran's Hope. Carole proposed to answer the question Bonnie raised in the reflection. Research shows that when young children have 3-5 meals a week as sit down meals with the family, there are significant reductions in alcoholism, reductions in criminal activity, improved literacy and other social markers. Feeling nurtured by parents is likely to be an experience of God's Kingdom on earth. There are two things we can do to promote the experience of a healthy family:
Promoting an experience of family We never know who God is bringing to us in these children. It important to welcome the families; greet them at the door with a smile. Thank them for coming with their children. Always support the parent; compliment the mother about her children - but never be false. When they are arriving for dinner, there is a very brief time for intervention. Ask the mother before interacting with the child if it is okay; enforce with the mother that the mother is important. For example, if a child's shoelace is untied, our goal is not to tie the shoelace it is supporting the Mom so Mom will support the child. If Mom has had difficulty tying the shoes, our ease in completing the task increases her frustration. The table should be set and attractive when families arrive. Offer a simple pack of crayons with a pad of white paper and give it to Mom for her family. Two great games to promote family interaction: Modeling an Attitude of Gratitude Shelter families are sick of being thankful. But it is important to model gratitude for the children. Best case is for a man or someone who has not obviously prepared the meal to lead the thanks (not a prayer). Say something like " Thank you for coming to our dinner tonight. We know you could have eaten something else and we are glad that you decided to join us with your family. We at Ashland feel families are really important. This is how we do our family meetings. We thank the people who have prepared the food (applause). We thank parents for bringing children (applause). We thank the children for being patient (applause). We are grateful to be here with you tonight. We take a minute of silence to be grateful. (Bow head, close eyes for a minute.) There are many opportunities to support this program: contributing wish list items, supporting youth group collections, backing cookies, packing lunches, assisting in food preparation and serving food. Sarah's Hope also has a continuing need for on-site volunteers in various roles. Contact Carol Walter for more information. Carol Walter, |
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