Monday (It is Monday, right?)

It's a little weird how often I have to check to see what day it actually is before I hit publish for a Monday Meditation, Wednesday Wisdom, or Thursday Theology post. I still haven't decided if not knowing what day it is is a good thing or a bad thing. Maybe not needing to know is the good thing; actually not knowing is neither good nor bad most of the time.

Mostly, mornings are just mornings. 
The sun is shining on my face as I squint to make out the words I am typing on my Chromebook. My coffee is good and the noise from the highway seems unusually loud today. And I think the hummingbirds are gone. I only saw one yesterday, none yet this morning. 
I will see you soon, my little avian friends -- PV in a month!

I'll keep better track of days when winter gets here and I have the regular responsibility of working at the shelter again. There are shelters for women only and men only. A few allow couples or singles of either gender. I believe that the shelter where I work is the only all inclusive shelter and it is the only one that takes pets. All of the shelters have a great need for volunteers. Without volunteers, we cannot open. 

In Springfield MO the crisis cold weather shelter season is from November 1st until the end of March. During that time, dinners are centralized to a single location where shelter sign up takes place. Transportation to the shelters is provided by City Utilities via the Springfield bus system. Since buses do not transport pets, our shelter needs volunteers to transport pets (crates can be provided). Morning buses pick up guests to transport them to a central breakfast place. 

In addition, our shelter needs people to set up cots, prepare the kitchen area and serve drinks and snacks, stay overnight, open the kitchen for coffee, hot cocoa, and oatmeal in the morning, morning pet transportation, store cots (when necessary), clean up, and laundry drop off and delivery.

All-in-all, our facility alone uses 15 volunteers every night that we are open!
Some tasks take less than an hour and have no actual contact with our unsheltered friends. Other tasks are for two or three hours and a couple are for a 12 hour overnight shift. The overnight shifts can accommodate a four or five hour sleep time if needed.
If you are interested in volunteering this winter or are a part of a church or organization that can provide shelter or a steady stream of volunteers -- please let me know. We would gladly have somebody come talk to your group about serving our community with us.

When we reach the point of collecting donations for our shelter pantry and closet I will share that info and links in a future post.

Be well, my friends.
And find a way to serve your neighbors.

John