Today was my first work day at Haywood Street. The Madison County Library allowed me to come at the end of their sale last weekend and pack up four boxes of books to take to the church. At the end of sales they cull books that have not sold and select those that are not in good shape to send to Goodwill. I was able to select from those and the "keepers" as well. So today I delivered the books and some magazines donated by a friend. They were quickly and voraciously received. Before I could get them out of the boxes and onto the shelves, several people came to get one or more. The hope is that they will be read and returned, but if they are not returned, for whatever reason, it is okay. Homeless people can't get library cards because they don't have a home address. Therefore books are out of reach for most of them. Nevertheless they love to read as I have found many mountain people do so to fill a library with new books is a wonderful gift, as I discovered today.
After I shelved the books, I went to the dining hall to see what was needed from me. They said they really needed me at 12:30 for the third lunch service and clean-up and suggested I eat at the 11:30 session and visit. I did. It was comfort food day, meat loaf, mashed potatoes and gravy, tossed salad, green beans with ham, cornbread, and banana pudding. I didn't eat much, but I tasted it all. It was delicious and the portions were generous. It is served family style and except for the banana pudding there was enough for seconds or thirds.
I visited with Momma Mae and a young couple and another young man. The young couple had a little toddler and the woman was caring for a friend's baby. The baby was tiny, the size of my children when they were maybe 6 weeks old. He was asleep in the single young man's arms when I started eating. Because I didn't eat much, I finished first and offered to hold him for the others to eat. I gave him a bottle which he lustily drank. It turned out that the baby was 3 or 4 months old. Later his mother appeared and she told me he was 14 weeks old. He was bright and strong, but so very small for that age.
I went to the Clothes Closet and met Phyllis from Mars Hill UMC and several other women who were working back there today. Phyllis and her friend Linda went to eat so for the next hour I hung clothes and organized shelves. There were many people in there "shopping" today because the weather had turned hot and they needed cool clothes. There is much need for clean shorts, shirts, and athletic shoes for men and women. Many came in asking for sun screen. Life on the street makes you more vulnerable to the sun. Also, there were many requests for nice cloth bags. We had a supply, but they were quickly gone.
At 12:30 I went back to the dining hall and served and then cleaned until 2. Most of the cleaning up had been done by the time I left, but there were some people who had just arrived after the service who were doing the last of the clean-up. Mary was there helping and so were Mary's grandsons and daughter. Mary is a member of Weaverville UMC. I had never seen her grandsons, however. They ranged in age from 11 to 7, cute, helpful, well behaved little boys. Her daughter was one of the cooks today. She mops the floors at clean up time unless someone can wrestle the mop from her. She is a hard, hard worker.
While the Holy Chaos was taking place inside, upstairs they were giving acupuncture, taking blood pressure, and giving haircuts. Outside they were planting the summer food garden and building a beautiful wall at the very back of the garden. Already there were plantings in the front of the church and the tulips, all bright red, were blooming.
I missed the service, but I'll figure out a way to take turns with some of the other workers as time goes by so I won't miss it every week. At least in the Clothes Closet, which is directly beneath the Sanctuary you can hear the organist play. Oh, my, how wonderful is his music!
Brian is still in Bolivia so Shannon did the service. She came downstairs afterward and ate and visited with the companions and those few people who were still eating.
Today there were many large dogs and someone supplies dried food for them. They are allowed in the second, upper dining hall where social workers come to sign people up for food stamps and Medicaid. I didn't see anyone ask anyone to take their dog there, but apparently it is an unwritten rule that pets are kept there, not in the big dining hall. It is good. Some of the dogs are tiny, though most are not. One lady who had her long haired chihuahua in the Clothes Closet told the dog when he began to cower amongst the many people that it was okay. No one would eat him. The dog seemed to understand. He was on a leash and stayed at her heel, but no longer laid down helplessly.
There is such a sense of belonging and feeling at home inside the church. No one is turned away. Most are known by name and if they are not then someone is trying to find out who they are and what they need. Most of the time it is as simple as a glass of water. The heart fills up faster than the stomachs are filled at Haywood Street Congregation.
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