Home at Last
Jessica came home from school last Thursday night and Friday morning we got up to head for Youth and Family Services around seven o'clock. Our Development Director had arrived even earlier to put up this banner and set out this cake.
Several more Board members arrived, followed by some staff. We knew we were in for a long, hard day, but we were pumped up!
We hired professional movers for the big stuff, but staff and volunteers carried everything else: plants, paper, files, phones, kitchen stuff, food from the shelter, toys, bedding and whatever else you can imagine would be in a youth shelter/counseling center. Here is our fearless leader (ED) hauling files.
That's the son of one of our counselors, another counselor and my daughter.
We broke at eleven for sandwiches and fruit and vegetable trays in one of our beautiful new rooms.
Our Executive Director told the shelter staff that he wanted the shelter to be as close to normal as possible before the kids got back from school, around 3:30 that afternoon. They hustled in the kitchen, in the common area, unpacked bedding, Jess and I made beds. This is what it looked like at ten a.m.
And this is what it looked like when the kids came in. Our agency has the most dedicated staff and Board, willing to do whatever it takes for our kids. I stayed until 4:30 and Jess stayed another hour or more after that. It was a long, completely rewarding day.
And yes, we're finally home.
Several more Board members arrived, followed by some staff. We knew we were in for a long, hard day, but we were pumped up!
We hired professional movers for the big stuff, but staff and volunteers carried everything else: plants, paper, files, phones, kitchen stuff, food from the shelter, toys, bedding and whatever else you can imagine would be in a youth shelter/counseling center. Here is our fearless leader (ED) hauling files.
That's the son of one of our counselors, another counselor and my daughter.
We broke at eleven for sandwiches and fruit and vegetable trays in one of our beautiful new rooms.
Our Executive Director told the shelter staff that he wanted the shelter to be as close to normal as possible before the kids got back from school, around 3:30 that afternoon. They hustled in the kitchen, in the common area, unpacked bedding, Jess and I made beds. This is what it looked like at ten a.m.
And this is what it looked like when the kids came in. Our agency has the most dedicated staff and Board, willing to do whatever it takes for our kids. I stayed until 4:30 and Jess stayed another hour or more after that. It was a long, completely rewarding day.
And yes, we're finally home.
posted by Mom Thumb at 3:24 PM
8 Comments:
Congrats! It looks great!
heather - Thanks, it is the most beautiful building on the planet. In my most unbiased opinion.
It's gorgeous! Good job... and congratulations! How exciting for you.
jeff - Thanks! Now, if we could only get a certain phone company to fix the phones and the internet . . .
Linda, that is so wonderful! What you do has got to be so rewarding. I am very happy for all of you, and I hope the kids appreciate what you have done for them.
di - The kids are amazing. They really appreciate the chance to get to live a semi-normal life.
I hope you get to feeling better soon.
Wow, that's incredible, Linda. Looks awesome!
tracy - Thanks - I hope we get to have our ribbon cutting ceremony before it gets too cold, because our founder is 103 years old, and we don't want her to get a chill!
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