Some Summer Background
I started this blog not actually thinking about the reality that if I ever got any readers I'd have to start updating it. Here goes.
This summer I am living in Cambridge directing St. James's Summer Shelter. We're a PBHA program and we operate in St. James's church in Porter Square. We straddle the line between being a trransitional and an emergency homeless shelter and as the summer progresses we start to lean increasingly towards the emergency side. My co directors are Eric, who went home to Georgia recently, and Judy H., who still remains to hold up the fort with me/in spite of me. Judy is great to work with, is an incredible friend, and also happens to be Josh's girlfriend.
We're both at the shelter Sunday-Thursday, 6-11pm. We set up the place, welcome guests, collect free dinner fromt he back of Annenberg, dish dinner out, save leftovers, play scrabble, and sometimes manage crises. We also have case management meetings with guests to talk about their longer term plans for housing, employment, addiction, etc. At 10pm we are replaced by two of our 14 superstar supervisors, who then stay on duty until 8am. There are also a corp of semi-skittish high school volunteers who hang out, wash dishes, play games, and talk with guests. They are a lot of fun and often have interesting/rediculous questions about college and Harvard.
Oh! Oh! I almost forgot. I drive an ENORMOUS 12 seater van. I love it. There are a few of them we rotate on each day with other PBHA programs, they are a pain in the ass to get a hold of sometimes, the creak, they slide, the brakes aren't great, they are scratched, they are very hard to back up in without hitting things. (especially when I don't tell Judy to stop in time ;) ) And- I love them. I fell like a monster truck driver in them- probably explains why Judy always wants to drive when we're together.
During the day. I am also really busy. Grants, fundraising, emails, interviewing applicants, supply shopping, managing the supervisor projects- that one needs more attention, writing recommendations for guests to longer term programs, tracking down a van for the evening, and just spinnning my head around what needs to be done.
Since Eric left I've been living in Leverrett House F-tower. Before that I lived for a month with my friends Shimon and Jay in Rabbi Avi, the Hillel rabbi's apartment. It was awsome living there! I had a kitchen! I cooked Shabbos dinner for 11 a bunch of times- chicken, gaucamole, rice, salad, veggies, brownies, the works- not to mention breakfast and general weekday cooking. It was amazing and I was very sad to leave the place. My sister even gave me a recipe index card container filled with great dishes for my 21st birthday- fabulous.
Ok- I think that's a decent backdrop for future posts. More soon! I miss all of you guys and love reading about all your adventures!
This summer I am living in Cambridge directing St. James's Summer Shelter. We're a PBHA program and we operate in St. James's church in Porter Square. We straddle the line between being a trransitional and an emergency homeless shelter and as the summer progresses we start to lean increasingly towards the emergency side. My co directors are Eric, who went home to Georgia recently, and Judy H., who still remains to hold up the fort with me/in spite of me. Judy is great to work with, is an incredible friend, and also happens to be Josh's girlfriend.
We're both at the shelter Sunday-Thursday, 6-11pm. We set up the place, welcome guests, collect free dinner fromt he back of Annenberg, dish dinner out, save leftovers, play scrabble, and sometimes manage crises. We also have case management meetings with guests to talk about their longer term plans for housing, employment, addiction, etc. At 10pm we are replaced by two of our 14 superstar supervisors, who then stay on duty until 8am. There are also a corp of semi-skittish high school volunteers who hang out, wash dishes, play games, and talk with guests. They are a lot of fun and often have interesting/rediculous questions about college and Harvard.
Oh! Oh! I almost forgot. I drive an ENORMOUS 12 seater van. I love it. There are a few of them we rotate on each day with other PBHA programs, they are a pain in the ass to get a hold of sometimes, the creak, they slide, the brakes aren't great, they are scratched, they are very hard to back up in without hitting things. (especially when I don't tell Judy to stop in time ;) ) And- I love them. I fell like a monster truck driver in them- probably explains why Judy always wants to drive when we're together.
During the day. I am also really busy. Grants, fundraising, emails, interviewing applicants, supply shopping, managing the supervisor projects- that one needs more attention, writing recommendations for guests to longer term programs, tracking down a van for the evening, and just spinnning my head around what needs to be done.
Since Eric left I've been living in Leverrett House F-tower. Before that I lived for a month with my friends Shimon and Jay in Rabbi Avi, the Hillel rabbi's apartment. It was awsome living there! I had a kitchen! I cooked Shabbos dinner for 11 a bunch of times- chicken, gaucamole, rice, salad, veggies, brownies, the works- not to mention breakfast and general weekday cooking. It was amazing and I was very sad to leave the place. My sister even gave me a recipe index card container filled with great dishes for my 21st birthday- fabulous.
Ok- I think that's a decent backdrop for future posts. More soon! I miss all of you guys and love reading about all your adventures!
posted by Avi at 12:34 PM
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