October and November will highlight the areas I have the most interactions within Living Waters: The Shop and breakfast coffee station September was my first full month in the YAV program in Boston, MA. I am placed at Living Waters Center for Hope and Eliot Presbyterian Church in Lowell, MA – at the end of a commuter rail line. Every Tuesday and Thursday I work at Living Waters to engage with people on the street who are seeking to transition to a more stable condition. Beginning in October, Living Waters is transitioning to a center with the goal of lifting up those who are committed to doing the work to better their situation. Living Waters consider itself like the child in the Starfish Story. The Starfish Story by Loren Eisley, for those who haven’t heard it, goes like this: “One day a man was walking along the beach when he noticed a young child picking something up and gently throwing it into the ocean. Approaching the young child, he asked, “What are you doing?” The youth replied, “Throwing starfish back into the ocean. The surf is up and the tide is going back out. If I don’t throw them back, they’ll die.” “But,” the man said, “Don’t you realize there are miles and miles if beach and hundreds of starfish? You can’t make a difference!” After listening politely, the child bent down, picked up another starfish, and threw it back into the surf. Then, smiling at the man, said, “I made a difference for that one.” This story speaks to the mission and work of Living Waters: being intentional and helping those who will benefit from the services they offer. The Center is moving from being considered a drop-in shelter to a place to go for help. People who desire aid will look to Living Waters. There are several ways the Center provides opportunities to cultivate the whole person. In this series on Living Waters, I will focus on three services that are offered. This month I will focus on The Shop. -The Shop is a clothing ministry that Living Waters has as one of its workshops aimed at helping those who want help. It has many moving parts that assist in making a retail-like experience for the guests who take advantage of the service.
Beginning at 11am, I assist Cindy, the mastermind behind The Shop. She used to work in retail and has got a system that makes this ministry run well. Her process halts the guests’ feeling like a child in a candy store and refocuses them on getting the items they need. She begins with some one-on-one time to create a connection and recognize their human sacredness. Their living situation is discussed here and done so with care. If someone is living outside, in a shelter, or housed, we base the next steps off of what they will need most. After intentionally checking in, we move to the toiletries cabinet where the guest can receive anything from a toothbrush / toothpaste kit to body lotion to a hairbrush. We try to give as much choice as possible by bringing out the bin of deodorant or brushes for them to choose from. If we have a multitude of items, say an entire bin full of shampoo and conditioner, we give out several of those. Everything is then placed in a black plastic bag to preserve privacy. After the toiletries, the guests are shown the clothes rack. This is often where their eyes light up at the possibilities before them. The guests can take three shirts, two of each type of undergarment, one pair of pants, and one specialty item (anything from a sweatshirt to a poncho to a belt). Once picked out, Cindy and I take the garments, fold them, and place them in the guest’s shopping bag. One Shop experience I won’t forget was a woman, who was very tiny, visiting with her husband. We decided to have them shop separately to maintain a level of privacy, even among newlyweds. She was skeptical about finding a pair of jeans, but we said to look in the bin anyway since she might be surprised at what’s been donated. She dug to the bottom and pulled out these small maroon jeans. As she takes the tape off and lets the rolled pair unravel, she squeals in delight. These were exactly her size, in her favorite color! She carried the pants with her throughout the rest of the time in The Shop until she finally let us put it in her black bag. The joy this experience gave her and the opportunity to choose her clothes rather than be given them was a moment I want to replicate for all who go to The Shop. I have loved seeing what a quick 10-minute appointment can do for the self-esteem, the swagger, the confidence of guests who come to The Shop. This once a week service adds to the Living Waters mission of human dignity and respect by recognizing it throughout their time in The Shop.
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AuthorHi, I'm Sierra! I will be serving in Boston, MA as a Boston Food Justice Young Adult Volunteer for the 2019-2020 academic year. I graduated college with a major in Philosophy and minored in Classical Studies. Archives
July 2020
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