Makes it all worth it!
Earlier this week, a guest approached the door volunteer to express his gratitude. The guest said "The shelter is the best thing that ever happened to me!" He has been at the shelter and employed since November. He is earning $15/hour and saving up for the end of the shelter season. As the volunteer relayed, "this makes it all worth it!"
Of course, by "all" we mean recruiting the needed volunteers, coordinating meals for over 100 men each night, managing expectations and emotions of men who are living heavy lives, raising more than $100,000/year, etc. Your time, food, expertise, and donations make it worth too. Thank you!
We are half-way through the shelter season and continue to operate at full capacity on most nights! And we still have volunteer slots to fill! Please click the buttons below to let us know if you can help by staying the night, making dinner, or preparing sack lunches. Your service makes the difference!
In this month's newsletter, we are delighted to share the story of medical and foot clinic coordinator Dr. Martha Crenshaw, a long-time presence and advocate for the shelter!
We also share a menu for when the week gets way from you--a ready-to-go rescue meal.
Again, thank you for volunteering and contributing your financial support to the Shelter. We can't do it without you! We hope you can join us in loving on our guests by financially supporting the good work happening on MLK Jr. Drive. The Shelter operates entirely on volunteer work and donated dollars. Your tax-deductible contribution today makes the difference between a hot meal and warm bed or a cold night with an empty stomach on the streets for our guests. Your donation today helps us purchase much needed coats and supplies as temperatures drop below freezing. Please click on the buttons below to volunteer or contribute now. Setting up a recurring contribution of $10, $25 or $100/month is particularly helpful right now. |
Why I Serve: Martha Crenshaw
I have been volunteering at the Bashor Night Shelter, specifically its medical and foot clinic, since the 1980s. Soon I roped my husband, Ike Lee, into joining me to drive down to Central each Wednesday for the shelter, jokingly calling it our date night. I became the medical clinic coordinator, and he became the foot clinic coordinator in the early 90s.
45ish years later, I continue to volunteer. I do so for small reasons. I hope each guest who sits down at the foot clinic feels a bit better after getting his feet done. I watch as new medical students bring renewed energy each year and introduce new approaches like checking insurance qualification to ensure guests get access to benefits they already qualify for. I was able to volunteer alongside my children, watching them understand that the world they live in is not always easy. I have gotten to see the full circle of a former guest recently returning to volunteer. To me, this signifies what the Bashor Night Shelter seeks to do -- we cannot solve the large homelessness problem -- but we can offer small acts like a place to sleep, a warm bucket of water to wash feet and a kind physician to speak to that add up to much more.
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Kitchen Corner
Ready-to-go rescue
Sometimes the week gets busy and we need to just stop by the grocery store for a ready-to-go meal. Here is a menu that has worked well for several groups. Menu is for 30 men at Shrine. Double-ish for 70 at Central.
- 8 Rotisserie Chickens
- 5 16oz baked beans
- 5 16oz potato salad
- 2 Large packs of Hawaiian Rolls
- 5 Assorted pies
- 3 Gallons ice cream
- 4 Gallons lemonade and iced tea
- Heat or cool as needed.
- Serve!
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