I’m Jennifer Thomas, one of the case managers here at the shelter.
I’d like to share a story of a guest who I will call Tim; he is a veteran and will be 70 on his next birthday. He was born and raised here in Grass Valley. Actually, the majority of our guests were born and raised here. I hear the term ‘transient’ and other misconceptions often about those homeless in our community, but in my experience, those I work with are long-term residents of our county and due to a multitude of challenges are not able to maintain their housing and become homeless in their hometown. Tim was in construction as he says, “is a young man’s work.” He retired in late 50s and has struggled to make ends meet in his fixed income since. He’s been here several months and was just approved for a one-bedroom apartment in a senior community in town. Being here at the shelter gave him an opportunity to save up for a deposit and his couple months’ rent. When I asked him what he appreciated the most about his time at Hospitality House, he said the people and meeting many new friends. When asked what he is most looking forward to about his own place he smiles and says, “The quiet, I can’t wait for the quiet.” This week we went to see our friends at Restart Ministries and Tim picked out furniture for his apartment along with kitchen wares and all he needs to set up his new home. We are so grateful to our community members who support Hospitality House in helping folks like Tim find housing, we aim to sustain this support.
Inspire others with your legacy by joining the Legacy Circle, a planned giving program at Hospitality House. The Legacy Circle offers a practical way for you to ensure self-sufficiency and housing for all, without affecting your current finances at all, through thoughtful estate planning. Like David E. Trueblood said, “It takes a noble man to plant a seed for a tree that will someday give shade to people he may never meet.”- For more information about the Legacy Circle, please visit hhshelter.org or call 530.615.0852.
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 Dignity Health Medical Group – Sierra Nevada, Grass Valley United Methodist Church, IFM Impastas, Mountain Stream Meditation Center, Kitchen KutUps, The Home Team and Repeat Offenders 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…
• Men’s body spray
• Men’s & Women’s shorts and tank tops
• Tylenol (not ibuprofen)
• Adult coloring books
• Colored pens and pencils
• Any crafts that can be done by one person
• Deodorant
• Shampoo and conditioner, regular sizes
• Bleach
Anyone who has upgraded their personal assist devices, and have old ones just lying in their dresser drawer, please consider donating these gently used items:
• Diabetes test kits (Glucose meter & test strips)
• Hearing aids, any condition
• Eyeglasses, any kind
• Earplugs
We will be delighted to have these items for repurposing to any shelter guests with those specific needs.
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!