November 4, 2008

Dear Volunteers:

Out of the Cold wishes all of our returning and brand new doe-eyed volunteers a very warm welcome!  What a wonderful day it was.  Again, there was nothing left of the meal!
Eight trays of chicken with mushroom sauce over rice, plus four trays of roasted chicken, four pots of flavourful vegetable soup, a tossed salad with mandarins, vegetable medley and apples and clementines to carry away because they were just too full to eat another thing.

One hundred and twenty-five guests including Jayson, age 7 and Nicholas, age 4 along with their grandmother Jean enjoyed the evening.  For several years, our group has quietly helped Jean by purchasing Christmas gifts and clothes for the boys which she says brings so much joy to them, satisfaction and a helping hand for her as well. You may have read about Jean in the Spec. She is a member of the group R.O.C.K. Raising Our Children’s Kids. A petition to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario will be in the “Volunteer Room” next week, if you would like to support their cause.
Our old friend and dinner guest, Ralph, popped by to say hello and say that he’s getting by and wouldn’t be staying for dinner.  But, he looked me in the eye and thanked us for starting up another year of helping others.

The Belly Boys did stay for dinner.  Before dinner they thump their hollow stomachs, and then after eating, with jolly laughter, they do it again.  Hear the difference? Thirteen guests slept over, including 4 women, one pregnant, due in January.  Need I say more?

Joanne Manishen, Lila Strub and Rhona Rottman are such capable volunteer coordinators who wish to make your experience at OOTC the most it can be.  My idea of housework is to sweep the room with a glance.  But THEY make sure that everything glistens and is put back in place. If you are on a shift from 4:00 pm to close, please communicate with them in advance if you will be absent, ill or late.

“A Talmudic tradition says that one facet of the human experience that enables us to process a higher reality is called “The one who knows his place.”  In order to prevent societal manipulation, you need to know who you are and what you stand for.  You have to have a spiritual backbone.”

Make no mistake, your service here has an enormous impact on the lives of our dear guests and on those close to you. The following poem was written by one of our thoughtful and talented guests.  It will better illustrate the idea that I’m trying to convey.

See you next week.

Cindy


Response:

OUT OF THE COLD
Seated at worn table, earthly cares set aside,
One of many humbled shadows taking life’s woes in stride
Eyes downcast past angelic guests
For a respite of rest
Bowl of soup, a wedge of bread to be downed
But first, cradled like they were a jewel in a crown
Among forlorn smiles, part of the fold
Lingering for a while out of the cold.

Thank you for sending this Cindy. It's incredibly moving. What an
incredible job you all are doing. It's simply inspirational.

Wendy