December Hope

Jerry's been a volunteer for over ten years.

Last week we made dinner for 2012's last group of families who had been afforded temporary quarters through Home and Hope. We trundled the dishes up to the Lutheran church and arrived just as the first couple of families came to the dining room.

Jerry grabbed a knife and immediately began carving the ham that Diane had roasted. Kay brought baked chicken thighs, Merle made vegetables, and Irene chipped in a salad. Nellie contributed a delicious bundt cake, while I, who had the least amount of kitchen skills, was tasked with bringing the ice cream, which I am proud to say was delivered to the freezer without incident.

The 31 churches who are members of Home and Hope provide housing and food for two-week stints, after which the Home and Hope clients are shuttled to another church. There are gaps in coverage, because only 17 churches have sleeping facilities. It also puts a strain on some congregations to find volunteers who can stay overnight with the clients.

We had a pleasant dinner and watched the kids play with the toys in the sitting room. I set out the ice cream and did the dishes. We all have different gifts. © 2012 Stephen Yuen