I’m Jennifer Thomas, one of the case managers here at the Shelter. Each week we like to share a story of a guest here, I often share stories about supporting guests find housing, this week I’d like to share about some of the great work guests do to support the Shelter functions.
Adam grew up here in Nevada County and has struggled with homelessness for years and has been consistently staying at the shelter for six months as one of our caretakers. He wakes up every morning at 5am and makes coffee, prepares breakfast and serves all the guests. He then helps a team clean up the kitchen and dining room; he cleans the decks, mops the floors, takes trash out, and does all the house laundry. He also supports others here in emotional ways by being a confident and peace maker.
Adam is one of the kindest, hardest working people I have ever met. He is an invaluable part of our community here. During this time where everyone is facing the stress and fear of a global pandemic, those without their own homes feel the brunt of the community’s stress. Adam continues to rise to the occasion every day as a caretaker and caring friend. We are beyond grateful for his efforts and commitment to the community here.
As you might have heard, Hospitality House is now operating its emergency shelter and programming 24 hours a day, seven days a week at five locations. Individuals are receiving onsite supervision, case management, hygiene necessities, food, and a place to stay throughout the day and evening. Hospitality House has become an around the clock operation. The Homeless Outreach and Medical Engagement team aka HOME, a collaborative partnership between Hospitality House, County of Nevada Behavioral Health, Turning Point Community Programs and AMI Housing, is helping with food delivery to motels as well as Hospitality House’s Homeless Access Transportation (HAT) van, a service made possible by County of Nevada, CA and United Way of Nevada County. A big thank you also to our Lake Wildwood volunteer weekend food drivers! To learn more about our safety protocols around COVID-19 and ways to have an immediate impact in your community today, visit hhshelter.org.
As we continue to face uncertainty together, we’d like to give our heartfelt thanks to Frank Goss, this month’s Volunteer Spotlight! Frank first learned about the efforts of Hospitality House in May of last year, and after one conversation with staff, he took a tour of Hospitality House and immediately signed up to be a volunteer. Since then he’s taken on the role of delivery driver for church donations, business sponsorship recruitment, raffle ticket sales for events, fundraising to help launch the pet program, volunteer recruitment and most recently, he’s now one of the volunteer drivers from Lake Wildwood Clubhouse, helping with weekend food service to ensure the folks who have been temporarily placed in motels are also receiving hot and healthy meals. From all of us at Hospitality House, we thank you, Frank!
Normally at this time we also thank all the cook groups who came and cooked over the last week, but to keep our shelter safe amid COVID-19, our cook groups are supporting our meals by donating financial support and food, and Chef Chris is safely cooking all meals instead. We’d like to thank Twin Cities Church, Holy Trinity Church – Episcopal: Historic Faith for Modern People, Mountain Stream Meditation Center, Kut-Ups, The Home Team and Abundant Life Community Church the Oaks Clubhouse, and Grocery Outlet for all their recent help. 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…
• Women’s and Men’s jeans and pants
• Rain gear
• Handwarmers
• Deodorant
• Ibuprofen
• Tylenol
• New blankets (new and packaged only)
• 3-part to go food containers to help with meal transportation
• Special request: stationary bike
Please drop off urgent items to Utah’s Place, located in Brunswick Basin, past the DMV, at 1262 Sutton Way. For a tax receipt, please ring the doorbell and wait for someone to come outside to assist you. We greatly appreciate the community’s help at such times of certainty. If we all stick together, we’ll all get what we need. Thank you!