I’m Leah Farkas, the Volunteer Manager at Hospitality House. I have the pleasure and honor of working with all the wonderful people in our community who donate their time to help further our mission. One of the most rewarding parts of my job is to announce our monthly Volunteer Spotlight, which this month, goes to our Spiritual Support Group Lead Chaplain, Rob Cairns.
Four years ago, Rob was approached by his minister and asked if he would be interested in starting a new spiritual support program at Utah’s Place. The group’s only mission is a simple, although extremely valuable one, to listen. They are not there to pressure or to teach or to council or to advise – they are just there to sit and listen.
To no one’s surprise, Rob said yes even though he had absolutely no idea what to expect or what to do. Announcements about Rob’s arrival were made at the shelter in the preceding days, and to everyone’s delight there were people lined-up waiting to talk to him that very first day. Since then, Rob has grown the program to a rotating volunteer staff of four that come into our shelter every Sunday to do what they do best, listen.
Rob was ordained as a minister through the Independent Church of the Essence and sees volunteering as a calling. As anyone who has the honor of spending time with Rob can clearly see, he is passionate about his work and does it from a deeply genuine place in his heart. When asked about how we should best try to address homelessness in our community, Rob’s response was clear: “We have to address the entire person, the whole social situation; there is more to it than just connection to social services—it all comes back to sharing and having respect for people. We demonstrate that we are all worthy, that someone cares about us.” Or more simply put, he says, “I see you, I hear you, I respect you, and I love you.”
Well Rob, we see you and appreciate you. Your dedication to our guests and to Hospitality House over the years cannot be easily measured. It lives in a place that goes beyond words and beyond simple human understanding. We are truly blessed to call you a member of our Hospitality House family and are forever grateful for all that you do.
Want to help your community like Rob? Then come and join Hospitality House’s team of volunteers! We have many areas where you can help including at Utah’s Place, Bread & Roses Thrift store and in our office. Volunteering with us is a great way you can make new friends, while giving back to your community! In fact…
The countdown to the 14th Annual Night of Giving is here! Night of Giving is our hometown holiday Christmas party and musical benefit for our shelter, featuring over 30 of Nevada County’s favorite performers. Last year, nearly 800 people came, and we hope we can count on you to come this year, too! Or we also have many fun volunteer opportunities, so if you or someone you know is interested in participating please contact me, Leah Farkas at 530-615-0805 or by email at lfarkas@hhshelter.org.
When: Saturday, Dec. 21
Where: Miner’s Foundry
Time: 5 p.m. – 10 p.m.
See hhshelter.org for details and a big thank you to The Union Newspaper for sponsoring Night of Giving again this year.
This past week, we were blessed by many caring individuals and I’d like to give a big thank you to Alta Sierra Latter-Day Saints, Twin Cities Church, Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, Mountain Stream Meditation Center, Kitchen KutUps, The Home Team and Repeat Offenders 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 sweaters, size L
- Men’s jeans, sizes 32,34 and 36
- Men’s and Women’s thermal underwear, sizes M and L
- Men’s belts
- Men’s deodorant
- Disposable silverware
- Razors
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 get what we need. Thank you!