There was a lot of discussion last winter about the warming shelter. We were so thankful that the City of Grass Valley and Nevada County partnered so we could open up 15 more beds in the dining room. Over the course of those four months, 157 people sheltered in the dining room alone, with 107 people of those people having some kind of disability. That’s additional 68% people we served!
It has been a surprisingly full house here for this June, with every bed taken. But two beds opened up last Tuesday when Sarah and Chuck practically skipped out of Hospitality House. They shared:
“We’ve been at the Hospitality House for six months and we worked really hard, and we got housing, and we’re out of here and starting our new life, and a little one on the way and hopefully things will go good! The [Rental Readiness] class was amazing. It got us a place is what it did. It got us to clean up all the little things that were left behind. You don’t realize what is important when you pick a place and we were able to get it all cleaned up. Out the door! The first place we applied for!”
You can see that video and others on the Hospitality House-Community Shelter Facebook page.
Hospitality House was down one student in our culinary class this week since he was working as a line cook over at Wild Eye Pub. The job readiness class made pulled pork for the other shelter guests on Wednesday and all the ingredients for that dinner and lunches the next day were covered by the Grass Valley Elks Lodge 538, who also came to serve dinner. The other six nights were covered by all of the food ingredients for dinner for 70 people. Thanks to Twin Cities Church, Trinity Church, Veritas Church, Beverly’s Kitchen Kutups, Nevada County Cannabis Alliance and the Unitarian Universalist Community of the Mountains.
Now down to the nitty gritty needs of the shelter for THIS week . . .
· Extra-long twin bed for a tall gentleman who moved into a place several months ago and is sleeping on a cot.
· Double stroller
· Need men’s shorts and pants small and medium
· Men’s summer tank tops
· Men’s slippers and sandals, all sizes
· Men’s belts
· Ladies short pants S,M.L
· Ladies summer tops M, L
· Ladies sandals all sizes except 7
· Ladies and men’s summer pajamas
· SUNSCREEN
· Alcohol-free mouthwash
· Hairbrushes
· Industrial 3-hole punch/drill and other office supplies
· Volunteer to do simple video editing about once a week
Drop off your donations at Utah’s Place, located in Brunswick Basin, past the DMV, at 1262 Sutton Way. Or email Debbie@hhshelter.org with questions.
Bread & Roses Thrift and More gives our case managers the opportunity to outfit our homeless guests for free, thanks to your donations. Please think of Bread & Roses for your housewares, small furniture and unused decorating items. The donation area is open 10-5 Tuesday through Saturday, located next to Big A Drive-In and Sierra Cinemas. And now that school is out, bring your teenage kids or grand kids for a fun afternoon of thrifting and a milkshake over at Big A’s!
And a final shout out to all of you volunteers, including the DJs here at KVMR 89.5FM & 105.1FM. Last year your 11,297 hours saved the shelter $343,728. What amazing community effort—just like this community radio!