Eating Ice Cream Without the Cream Just Isn't Right...

Ahhh, tonight is like a girls "PJ" party. The tension of the first few days, the newness, the apprehension is gone on the surface. Tonight, one group is eating Anne Arentz' Bryers Strawberry Ice Cream with bananas, another group is eating her chocolate and bananas (mind you the Skorvetz) family who served a fine dinner also served Chocolate chess pie with real whip cream and coffee with real cream. After dinner, the miniature chocolates prepared and delivered by Alice Majure were divine -- potato candy -- you're reading right, potato with a vein of peanut butter. Better than yum. Amazing!

Yet another group is watching the story of Chef Julia Child who took France over by cooking one chocolate éclair at a time. Another group of ladies are conversing about various things, grandchildren, and special stories they wish to share with each other. Then there are the book worms. Helen has just completed reading Chip Furr's Thin Places. Chaney discovered where the phone is and is making up for lost time by conversing with her mother, family and associates. Everyone was anxious to receive their laundry. One of our helpers had to deal with an old dryer that was working overtime, but she completed the drying and folding and returned the fragrant linens during supper and before bedtime. All is well.

Even the chaperons are winding down at last - Wink is reading her Sunday School lesson.
Jan is straightening up the supplies, and Paulette is wrapping up notes from the days' job barrier conversation with our guests.

Paulette invited our guests to begin focusing upon and talking about the barriers they perceive as hurdles to overcome as they search for jobs...Our guest musician and choirster Nancy was direct with the need for more computer time, and a place in which to quietly work on their paperwork and easier access to bus passes when interview appointments are scheduled-- with less requirements. Each affirmed they must complete ten job searches and confirm contact with each of the companies each week. They are obviously hampered by lack of basic resources. The downtown library, once an ideal site for computer time to file applications on line - the new norm for human resource to receive applications - now seems to be dominated by the crush of the men's use of the computer center. Space requirements for handling the volume of women and children in the HOPE Center have placed demands on the "Resource" room once made available for job search and working on paper work when the Center first opened. Our guests appreciate the visual and substantive changes we are making to their resumes and the extra copies we provide to them. We also note they need assistance in writing long awaited letters to families and for business related matters. They are very thankful for any service we provide to them. Annie shared her contact about the Rehab Center as did Chaney and Wanda. Annie prefers to not enter the Center, and minimizes her contact with the personnel there, preferring to work independently. She begins seasonal work on November 29th with Samaritans' Purse - her second year to work there. A long bus ride with multiple changes.

Each guest has been given contact information for job resources of Pro Net, Charlotte and JOBS. We've also shared news of Wal-Mart job openings as well as UPS package/driver coordinators now. A harder suggestion, but a good one is to encourage them to read the newspaper from cover to cover to learn what is going on the business world, to give them more timely conversation fodder to offer while in the interviewing process. When one is worn out with no freedom, no control, and too many "NOT HIRING", it is hard to pick up a paper and read about the days' news.

It is amazing how organized Tandy, Jill and Nancy are in their administration of this project. They arrive early, stay late, sweep, copy, search, hug, secure, clean, fix beverages and find cookies at the last moment and and sincerely give of their best to help each of our guests. They meet with each of our guests, staying constantly on the watch for the slightest need that is real and ferret out the unreal need. When Fran became ill, each were there to provide clear beverages and warm up soup and just let her know they were concerned for her. She is well now and back to her lively self.

Now the rooms are darkening, and the voices are getting silent. Even their nighttime voice is at a different pitch -- softening as needed for the sleep of others. Laughter comes easy now. Most plan to attend Providence Presbyterian's 9 AM worship service with their chaperons and other volunteers. We hope they do.

Postscript: Eight of our eleven guests attended Church services and Nancy sang in the choir. We are proud of their sacrifice of much needed sleep in a quiet and peaceful place in order to attend services. They were waving to Tandy, Paulette and Nancy in the choir loft and smiling big. Hansen was constantly looking their way during his sermon, and they spoke with him afterwards.