Adding Some Method to the Madness: My Work at the Mission

I just started working at the Holland Rescue Mission as an Outreach Worker/Resource Research and Development/guinea pig for anything we can think up. Ultimately I want to approach the guys in a relational way so they can understand a good community so that when they move out developing community in a healthy way for the rest of their lives seems a little more possible and actually.

All the resources are great but can get very overwhelming on top of everyday stresses let alone those related to loss of job/home/lifestyle. I'm hoping to add some organization to the madness.

All in all this means that  I’ll do some research (right now I’m working mainly with Michigan Works!) and see how we can integrate resources from what other agencies are wanting to offer into the mission. That way we don’t “double dip” so to speak and try to offer something that someone else is already doing (it’s always better to work together!). Something I noticed was a huge oversight with things being offered to the homeless while I was in Denver was that there was actually SO MUCH being offered by so many different organizations it would be very easy to let it become disorganized and overwhelming. When your life is already a whirlwind of crazy events (job loss, home loss, making a move etc.) it makes it even harder if you have multiple pamphlets, paperwork and places you “need to go to”  that may all actually be pointing to the same thing or offering similar yet slightly different services. So I’m trying to put my organizational skills (what I have of them) into practice to offer the guys at the mission a less overwhelming and more efficient approach to the help that is out there for them. On top of that I’ll eat lunch with the guys most days, take them out to coffee, go to some sporting events and just have fun. It’s a good reminder to me of why I care and love what I do.

Thanks so much to all of you who have made this possible! If you don’t know I am able to do this work from the generosity of others. If you would like to help out you can donate here. I’m trying to raise enough support for the next couple months. Thank you so much, please contact me with any questions or advice.

Thanks and God Bless!