*****UPDATE 7/1/2013 - Tonight is the first night of the overflow at UCC. We set up the church fellowship room to prepare it for our homeless guests, who shall arrive tonight - starting at 5pm. We received the sleeping cots and bedding from the previous church this morning, and got those all set up and ready to go. We will be at UCC at 5pm on 7/1 for the arrival of the clients. Thanks to all the volunteers who are making a difference in the lives of up to 32 family members every night this month. As the saying goes, "If you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem."
*****UPDATE 6/20/2013 - Letter to Volunteers from United Church of Christ (Congregational) Overflow Team for the July 2013 Overflow. If you want to help, please contact Meg at the contact info blow. Thanks and Blessings.
*****UPDATE 6/20/2013 - Letter to Volunteers from United Church of Christ (Congregational) Overflow Team for the July 2013 Overflow. If you want to help, please contact Meg at the contact info blow. Thanks and Blessings.
June, 2013
Dear Volunteers,
We thank you for your willingness to serve as United Church of Christ (Congregational) hosts the Homeless Shelter Overflow this July. As you know, there is limited space at the Maxine Lewis Memorial Shelter, so families and single women are transported each month to a host church to spend the night.
For each of July’s thirty-one nights, we will need two Overnight Hosts (7 pm- 7 am) to greet our guests and make them feel welcome. You are asked to bring a sleeping bag/bedding and reading material or laptop computer (UCC has WiFi), as well as a snack (refrigerator available). Hosts take turns sleeping (e.g. 10 pm – 2 am/2 am – 6 am) in a separate room from our guests, so that there is someone available to our guests at all times.
Overnight guests are screened and escorted nightly by CAPSLO (Community Action Partnership) Homeless Services staff, who provide 24 hour support. The Shelter starts bringing families and single women after dinner as early as 5:30 pm. A UCC Evening Coordinator comes around 5 pm to set up and stays until 8-9 pm. You are most welcome to come as early as 5 pm, especially if this is your first time.
We are not permitted to proselytize or pray with our guests, but witness through kindness and willingness to serve. We engage in casual conversation, if the guests so choose, play games or do crafts with the children, enjoy light snacks, and provide a relaxed and safe environment for our guests. Lights are out at 9 pm and turned on the next morning at 6 am, when Shelter staff and a UCC Morning Coordinator arrive. The guests eat breakfast, do assigned chores and are gone by 7 am. Overnight Hosts can leave once the UCC Morning Coordinator arrives.
We also are in need of donations (paper supplies, toiletries, snacks, funds) as well as your prayers, as we prepare to serve those in our community who have so little.
This is an opportunity to serve Christ as Jesus said “whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” (Mt 25: 40). We trust you will prayerfully consider this opportunity.
Please contact Meg Kuykendall (542-9559 or meg@velcrosworld.com) if you have any questions or concerns. We look forward to serving with you.
Blessings,
United Church of Christ (Congregational) Overflow Team
11245 Los Osos Valley Road
San Luis Obispo, CA 93405
*****ORIGINAL ARTICLE: June 2013 - The UCC is seeking volunteers for the month of July 2013 to help with the local homeless shelter overflow. This program is managed by our wonderful local non-profit, the Community Action Partnership of San Luis Obispo. If you can help, please contact Tim (or Meg at the phone or email address below). We need evening volunteers and overnight volunteers for every day of the entire month. Thanks to my friends who have helped with this worthwhile effort to provide a safe, comfortable place for our local homeless population to stay. The UCC letter below has more information - please click to enlarge.
