AUGUST 2010

I am so blessed to have the opportunity to interact with so many different people on a daily basis. It is not just the number, but the variety and quality of interactions that have made my connections at the House of Charity so special.

Patrons come to the House of Charity for a variety of reasons, and we see some patrons more regularly than others. Some we only see once a day right at 11am for a delicious and filling meal while others can be found regularly in one of the dayrooms talking with friends and playing cards. Still others might only come in occasionally to benefit from the Medical Clinic or to pick up mail. Our Sleeping Program is entirely run by male staff, so I haven’t even seen some of the regular patrons upstairs. There are patrons who have been frequenting the House of Charity for years; yet, there is also always someone new who walks through the door each day.

More varied than the services patrons use or how often patrons frequent the House of Charity, are their life stories, their current struggles and joys. At the front desk a few days ago I heard, “Well I had a psych evaluation today and yep, I’m bipolar. Oh, and can I have a few ibuprofen?” This statement was uttered so matter of factly, a simple statement of what he had done that day while trying to get his needs met at the House of Charity. When handing mail to a patron who had just received a gardening magazine with a beautiful cover, I asked her if she had a garden. Her reply was “Yeah, we are growing tomatoes in the bathroom.” Her reply was so sincere, and her response made me smile, reminding me of how different everyone’s perspectives are.

How great it is that the House of Charity can bring people from all different walks of life together. No matter their past or the uncertainty of their future, it is a place where, under one roof, all of our patrons can find help, rest, hopefully an opportunity to connect with others, and a place to simply be. Between staff, patrons, and volunteers, relationships and connections are made, and a community is formed. There are not many other places, at least in my experience, that bring people together quite like the House of Charity. Strong community can be found in many different venues, but the House of Charity community is unique. In other settings, expectations, beliefs, or qualifications often form the basis for belonging. At church you generally share the same religious beliefs; at the gym you have to pay a membership; at college you have to be admitted based on predetermined criteria. While as staff, it is hard to connect personally with each patron, in the very least the House of Charity is a safe haven - a place where all are welcome and can seek community with others.

While my term as an AmeriCorps Volunteer is at an end, I know that when I return for a  visit, many faces will have changed, but I am sure that the House of Charity community will always be something I can count on.

Katie Bray

AmeriCorps Volunteer

Spokane, Washington