I want to share the story of a man that we have called Paul. We have been working with Paul for at least five years, as he suffers from substance use disorder and has been living on the streets, sometimes camping or couch surfing as well. In the past three months, we have seen more of Paul, as he has frequented our Outreach Dorm, to be able to stay indoors with us during the winter season. He will come to the shelter for food and clothing, but he didn’t engage much. However, after multiple interventions from our Outreach Team, and myself as a Case Manager, Paul finally agreed he needed treatment and he agreed to enter a recovery program.
We worked to place him in a detox and rehabilitation program through the Granite Wellness Center right here in Grass Valley. He entered that treatment program just this last week. If he follows through with this recovery program, he will then have a greater chance of eventually re-uniting with his family, and hopefully even moving back in with them.
Our shelter’s Outreach Dorm was certainly an attractive pathway, providing him with some necessary stability, to finally gain traction and get into treatment. Paul’s story is an example of how it can take a significant amount of time to build up trust with someone. They can then feel that they have enough empowerment for the next step to get healthy and get away from their previous destructive lifestyle. A person first needs to be supported, cared for, and encouraged to move forward to seek recovery. Paul feels like it’s now time, after living with addiction since his early 20’s. He now understands that it is the right time to take action. He didn’t want to live like this forever. Once he is out of treatment, we will make sure he gets the appropriate wraparound services he needs. We will support him in his path to self-sufficiency. He will also need to rebuild trust with his family. it will not be a one-way trust, but must be rebuilt both ways, between himself and his family members
Empty Bowl is coming up soon on Saturday, March 14! Our favorite artist-driven event returns next month with bowls aplenty. Every year, artists around Nevada County come together to create handcrafted bowls that are then filled with soup for our patrons. Sharing a simple meal of soup together is an opportunity for the community to express its compassion for those struggling with homelessness.
We sold out last year so get your tickets now! All sales and donations at the event will help people transition from homelessness to housing. You can purchase your tickets at hhshelter.org and BriarPatch Food Co-op. A big thank you to Nevada County Association of Realtors and Interfaith Foods Ministry for being sponsors this year.
Give for International Women’s Day. Let’s Double our impact! Donations to Hospitality House will be matched up to $7,500 through March 8 by caring community member and donor, Lauren Maddux, for International Women’s Day. A $5 donation automatically will become $10!
Donate online at hhshelter.org, or by mail at 1262 Sutton Way, Grass Valley, CA 95945. Write “IWD” or “Women’s Day” in the check memo. Donations will be doubled from March 2-8.
This past week, we were blessed by many caring individuals and I’d like to give a big thank you to Unitarian Universalist Community of the Mountain, Telestream, The Gourmet Squad, Meals by Heels, Peace Lutheran Church, The Home Team and Abundant Life for coming out to cook. To everyone who donated our most needed items last week, thank you as well!
Now down to the nitty-gritty needs of the shelter for this week…
- Men’s boxers, (not briefs), sizes 32-38
- Coffee
- Sugar
- Cases of water
- Granola bars
- Tampons
- Ibuprofen
- Alka-Seltzer
- Tums
- Cough drops
Please drop off urgent items to Utah’s Place, located in Brunswick Basin, past the DMV, at 1262 Sutton Way. If we all stick together, we’ll all get what we need. Thank you!