NaBloPoMo Success!

I made it!
Yay, me!
Thirty consecutive days of posting nonsense!

I do realize that Out of My Hat doesn't post much in the way of valued content anymore. While I do still check on things like views and look forward to any comments, I now mostly write as a way to organize my own thoughts and converse in a way that preempts the interruptions of actual conversation with people that don't really care what you think or have to say. 

     * * * * *

It is November 30 and it is cold in the Ozarks of SWMO. Sometime around sunset yesterday the temperature dropped below freezing and it will remain below freezing until sometime Tuesday afternoon. It is a bit of a shock to the system for a guy just returning from the tropical beaches of Mexico.

With the cold nights comes dangerous conditions for many that have no permanent shelter nor safe, warm places to sleep. There are a number of places that offer overnight shelter, but there are too few of them and there is a great need for volunteers. 
Tonight begins my sixth season of volunteering/working with one of the shelters that is a cooperative effort of three local Springfield churches. The coordinators from the three churches are compassionate, caring, and truly hardworking people. I am honored to be a part of the work that they organize and do on top of their regular day job duties. 
Please consider being a part of our work. There are volunteer duties that vary from very little contact with people like setting up, cleaning, and hauling laundry, to full on spend the night watching over and caring for 30 or so people and their pets. 
Let me know if you are interested or have questions. I will happily point you to the people that can help you to be involved and fulfill a great need this cold weather season.

Today will be a lazy day and a long overnight.
I am glad that I won't feel the need to post tomorrow. 
On the other hand, I will have plenty of time to do so while our overnight guests are sleeping, so you might have more useless reading waiting for you tomorrow.

Be well
Be warm
Be grateful
Be kind

John