Comments on: Last Shift at Shepherds http://www.knitnut.net/2009/06/last-shift-at-shepherds/ Watch my life unravel... Wed, 10 Mar 2010 22:16:09 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: The Year in Review: 2009 « knitnut.net http://www.knitnut.net/2009/06/last-shift-at-shepherds/#comment-54057 The Year in Review: 2009 « knitnut.net Sat, 02 Jan 2010 17:14:13 +0000 http://www.knitnut.net/?p=1874#comment-54057 [...] was going to die. There was good news and bad news. GC and I went to the Naked Bike Ride. I did my last volunteer shift at the Shepherds of Good Hope. My severe back pain got a diagnosis. The cancer surgery got postponed because of it. Then I had [...] [...] was going to die. There was good news and bad news. GC and I went to the Naked Bike Ride. I did my last volunteer shift at the Shepherds of Good Hope. My severe back pain got a diagnosis. The cancer surgery got postponed because of it. Then I had [...]

]]> By: knitnut.net » Welcome to My Back Yard http://www.knitnut.net/2009/06/last-shift-at-shepherds/#comment-52434 knitnut.net » Welcome to My Back Yard Wed, 02 Sep 2009 14:42:50 +0000 http://www.knitnut.net/?p=1874#comment-52434 [...] Shepherds of Good Hope just purchased a hotel about two blocks from my house. It will provide supportive housing for about [...] [...] Shepherds of Good Hope just purchased a hotel about two blocks from my house. It will provide supportive housing for about [...]

]]> By: grace http://www.knitnut.net/2009/06/last-shift-at-shepherds/#comment-51359 grace Thu, 18 Jun 2009 03:24:53 +0000 http://www.knitnut.net/?p=1874#comment-51359 How about brekkie on Saturday morning? Three cups of coffee, minimum. The gardening thing has taken off. Everyone wants their goutweed removed ;0)Honestly, there are heartwarming stories from the gardening thing! I love the gardening thing. How about brekkie on Saturday morning? Three cups of coffee, minimum.

The gardening thing has taken off. Everyone wants their goutweed removed ;0)Honestly, there are heartwarming stories from the gardening thing! I love the gardening thing.

]]> By: Jamine http://www.knitnut.net/2009/06/last-shift-at-shepherds/#comment-51354 Jamine Wed, 17 Jun 2009 22:50:41 +0000 http://www.knitnut.net/?p=1874#comment-51354 I live adjacent to the Sheps so I'm familiar with the people there too. I used to volunteer leading meditation in the evenings to feel connected and less annoyed by my 'hood. It worked. One day I was walking to the video store on Rideau and a guy who'd been in my meditation class earlier in the week was sitting outside the Beer Store panhandling. We said hi. It seemed so natural to me - some of my students are lawyers, some are teachers, some are homeless - we're all just people. Thanks for sharing your story. Hope you're back there soon! I live adjacent to the Sheps so I’m familiar with the people there too. I used to volunteer leading meditation in the evenings to feel connected and less annoyed by my ‘hood. It worked. One day I was walking to the video store on Rideau and a guy who’d been in my meditation class earlier in the week was sitting outside the Beer Store panhandling. We said hi. It seemed so natural to me – some of my students are lawyers, some are teachers, some are homeless – we’re all just people. Thanks for sharing your story. Hope you’re back there soon!

]]> By: zoom! http://www.knitnut.net/2009/06/last-shift-at-shepherds/#comment-51350 zoom! Wed, 17 Jun 2009 20:36:11 +0000 http://www.knitnut.net/?p=1874#comment-51350 Greencolander, I hope you're right (not that they'll miss me, but that I'll be back). Thanks Julia. And thank you too Chair. Kate, I only wish I could say more. But you know how it is. Carmen, I'm glad you were able to experience it through your niece. I can understand why people fear it, but I love that those who get to know it a bit better seem to lose that fear. Meanie, basically what goes on is that people with the most basic unmet human needs can go there and get a little food, a pair of socks, a cot for the night. It's home for a lot of people who have no home. (But you don't have to be homeless to eat there - everybody is welcome.) Aggie, thank you. I love it when you say that. :) Woodsy, you look adorable in goosebumps. Amanda, good for you. How did you end up on my blog? Are you a regular reader, or were you googling Shepherds? Gillian, thank you. But honestly, I get at least as much out of volunteering at Shepherds as I put into it. It's definitely a reciprocal relationship. Grace, okay, I'll pay up over coffee. Have you got time this week? Gabriel, I wish I'd known you there. We would have had some good conversations, I'm absolutely sure of that. I'm curious to know - were you there just for the food, or was it a social thing too? Donna Lee, thanks for sharing your experience too. Greencolander, I hope you’re right (not that they’ll miss me, but that I’ll be back).

Thanks Julia. And thank you too Chair.

Kate, I only wish I could say more. But you know how it is.

Carmen, I’m glad you were able to experience it through your niece. I can understand why people fear it, but I love that those who get to know it a bit better seem to lose that fear.

Meanie, basically what goes on is that people with the most basic unmet human needs can go there and get a little food, a pair of socks, a cot for the night. It’s home for a lot of people who have no home. (But you don’t have to be homeless to eat there – everybody is welcome.)

Aggie, thank you. I love it when you say that. :)

Woodsy, you look adorable in goosebumps.

Amanda, good for you. How did you end up on my blog? Are you a regular reader, or were you googling Shepherds?

Gillian, thank you. But honestly, I get at least as much out of volunteering at Shepherds as I put into it. It’s definitely a reciprocal relationship.

Grace, okay, I’ll pay up over coffee. Have you got time this week?

Gabriel, I wish I’d known you there. We would have had some good conversations, I’m absolutely sure of that. I’m curious to know – were you there just for the food, or was it a social thing too?

Donna Lee, thanks for sharing your experience too.

]]> By: donna lee http://www.knitnut.net/2009/06/last-shift-at-shepherds/#comment-51342 donna lee Wed, 17 Jun 2009 12:22:44 +0000 http://www.knitnut.net/?p=1874#comment-51342 I work in a community mental health system. I've been here for 15 years and have come to know and like many people that I probably would have shied away from if we met on the street. Familiarity does not always breed contempt. My life has been more interesting because of the people I've met and work with. I work in a community mental health system. I’ve been here for 15 years and have come to know and like many people that I probably would have shied away from if we met on the street. Familiarity does not always breed contempt. My life has been more interesting because of the people I’ve met and work with.

]]> By: Five Songs And Five Things About Me Because Six Would Be Conceited « …salted lithium. http://www.knitnut.net/2009/06/last-shift-at-shepherds/#comment-51341 Five Songs And Five Things About Me Because Six Would Be Conceited « …salted lithium. Wed, 17 Jun 2009 12:04:49 +0000 http://www.knitnut.net/?p=1874#comment-51341 [...] I blog with is leaving her role as a volunteer at a food bank / soup kitchen in Ottawa so she can concentrate on beating the cancer in her [...] [...] I blog with is leaving her role as a volunteer at a food bank / soup kitchen in Ottawa so she can concentrate on beating the cancer in her [...]

]]> By: Gabriel... http://www.knitnut.net/2009/06/last-shift-at-shepherds/#comment-51339 Gabriel... Wed, 17 Jun 2009 02:47:26 +0000 http://www.knitnut.net/?p=1874#comment-51339 I ate there for a couple of years... great egg salad sandwiches. I also relied on their food bank for a while as well. You volunteers were always good to me, and did your best to make me feel welcome and like a human being. I'm sure your leaving is more of a break than anything else, but thanks for doing what you did. I ate there for a couple of years… great egg salad sandwiches. I also relied on their food bank for a while as well. You volunteers were always good to me, and did your best to make me feel welcome and like a human being. I’m sure your leaving is more of a break than anything else, but thanks for doing what you did.

]]> By: grace http://www.knitnut.net/2009/06/last-shift-at-shepherds/#comment-51338 grace Tue, 16 Jun 2009 18:43:17 +0000 http://www.knitnut.net/?p=1874#comment-51338 You owe me a box of kleenex. You owe me a box of kleenex.

]]> By: Gillian http://www.knitnut.net/2009/06/last-shift-at-shepherds/#comment-51335 Gillian Tue, 16 Jun 2009 16:30:22 +0000 http://www.knitnut.net/?p=1874#comment-51335 You're a good person. I guess you've paid it forward. You’re a good person. I guess you’ve paid it forward.

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