Central Outreach & Advocacy Center

Central OAC

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When the Holidays are Hard

by Kimberly Parker

I’m curious about what everyone will be doing for the holidays. We tend to think that it’s a joyous time for everyone. We tend to think that it’s a time when everyone sees family and friends. We tend to think that it’s filled with good food and drink. However, I know too well that it’s not always the fun filled holiday that we might hope for. I am keenly aware this year of people who are hurting and grieving. I have friends who are moving toward divorce. I know people who have lost a loved one this year and that it will be the first Christmas without someone who is usually a part of the holiday. I know others who are having struggles with their family. Others simply know that the holiday won’t be quite the same as it has been in past years for any number of reasons. And then I see people experiencing homelessness everyday who I know will not be with family or have a place to call home.

So, in reality, it’s not always the happy, fun-filled time that our society says it should be. People are hurting. People are grieving. In my own life, I’ve been thinking a lot about this reality and trying to figure out how to make this holiday into something that is meaningful and memorable for those I love and care about. We’ll see how it turns out.

As for our Central OAC guests, we do try and make them feel special during this time of the year. Last Friday, we held our annual guest holiday party. This has been going on since long before I joined the Central OAC team fifteen plus years ago. We used to ask volunteers to provide homemade baked goods and eventually decided to expand that to include a variety of treats … oranges, apples, pigs in a blanket, meatballs, cheese, sandwiches, cookies, etc. Board members and volunteers provide and serve the food. There always seems to be plenty to go around. People have donated hygiene items, socks, and hats so our guests could receive a gift.  

The other highlight of the party is always Betty Bolander who has long been the one to provide her talent of playing Christmas carols. Many of our guests share in the singing and I always shed a tear or two as I stand in the room and witness the way in which music brings people together. It’s a special time and my prayer is that our guests felt the care and love that should come with Christmas. It is my prayer that all about whom I care can find even a moment of joy in a season that sometimes can be hard. 

Blessings to you and yours this holiday season!

 

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Wait Your Turn

by Chattrelle Gillyard

I often wonder what it’s like to be a guest at the OAC:

To come through the door with nothing but faith and hope that I might gain documents to get a Georgia ID.

To not know where my next meal is coming from.

To be unsure about where I will lay my head on a daily basis.

To be afraid to lay down at night, putting myself at risk of burglary and possibly even assault.

To be afraid to walk the streets because I might be stopped by a police officer with no way of identifying myself.

I could never imagine walking in the shoes of the guests we serve at the OAC. I’ve experienced homelessness on two occasions in my life but never to the extent of our guests.

I recently encountered a guest who described experiencing homelessness as constantly standing in line and hoping that at the end of the line he’ll receive some sort of help. Imagine standing in a line beginning at 6:00 am with no idea of whether or not what you need will be on the other side. I barely have enough patience to stand in line for mundane things like fast food or at Kroger. Yet, our guest do it nearly every day, whether it’s for an ID, a meal, shelter, or clothing, without any hesitation and usually a humble spirit.

My first ten months at the OAC have humbled me in ways I could have never imagined. Our guests have taught me to find joy in the midst of a storm, how to be patient in chaos, and how to have hope in tribulation. Sometimes, you have to be patient, trust standing in line, and wait your turn.

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Meet Me at the Palaver

by Kimberly Parker

A few days ago, I was having a supervision meeting with our Candler School of Theology intern, Emmanuel, who is from Ghana. One of the questions I asked him to reflect on was, “Where have you seen God in the work you have done at Central OAC thus far?” He talked with me about an African tradition: “Meet me at the Palaver” or “Come to the Palaver.” The Palaver is a large tree that serves as a community meeting spot in the shade where all can gather as equal partners to discuss problems, solve conflict, and heal.  Emmanuel talked about our lobby and how people come inside seeking assistance, help, and support for the things they are enduring. He saw a connection between our lobby and the Palaver – a place where people can gather, feel safe, and rest physically.

I’ve been reflecting on this concept since Emmanuel and I talked, and I’m now finding parallels everywhere. We recently had our monthly Main Frame Job Readiness graduation. During graduation, students are given the opportunity to share their thoughts and feelings about what the program means to them. One of the students, an older gentleman from the Virgin Islands, mentioned that the Main Frame had been a peaceful, safe, and restful place to be for him.  He powerfully contrasted how he feels in the OAC with how he feels out on the streets. Outside, he said, “It’s not safe; it’s not peaceful; things are chaotic. In this space it’s safe and calm.” 

Just last week, one of our regular guests travelled several states away to visit family.  As she transferred buses and drove through different states, she sent us pictures and updates through the OAC’s Facebook page letting us know about the progress of her trip. She updated us all along the way. I have continued to think about her and the way she saw us as a point of reliable sanctuary.  I believe that our staff and volunteers create a safe place for our guests each day. This guest found peace when she came into the lobby and even carried that with her as she travelled. She found a place she wanted to be and stayed connected to it. She found a community she could trust enough to tell us that she was leaving and where she was going.

This is humbling to think about, and I am grateful that we are able to offer such a place for those who choose to trust us with their struggles. Meet me at the Palaver is going to stay on my mind for a while. Our values state, “We believe in meeting people where they are with patience and humility, and treating each person with respect and dignity.” These values are similar to the ones that Emmanuel expressed to me regarding the Palaver tree.  My hope is that we continue to be the Palaver for our community of guests.

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Why Do We Close?

by Brenna Lakeson

Every August for the past six years, the OAC has closed its doors for services for one week.  To many, especially our guests, this can seem strange, indulgent, or even selfish.  Why, then, do we take a week off from providing services every August?  There are several reasons!

  1. Lack of case managers – This is probably the most practical of reasons.  In August, our summer interns have finished their hours, usually leaving us with three or four less people on deck.  In addition, August is a time when many of our regular volunteers take vacation.  Most days in August, we only have one or two case managers working when the ideal is four or five. This can get taxing and overwhelming.
  2. Organization and catching up – Our week without services gives staff time and space to reorganize, take inventory of what we need, and catch up on lingering projects.  Without the continuous piling up of new work and with the addition of three more hours per day to do work outside of case management, our staff can do things that usually take a back seat.
  3. Team building and goal setting – This is perhaps this most important aspect of our August retreat time!  Sometimes, the staff goes on a short trip together.  Other times, we stay in Atlanta but do activities together around the city.  This time together always involves evaluating the previous year and planning for the year ahead.  What needs work?  What big dreams do we have for the OAC?  The staff also spends this time building comradery and friendship, crucial for a high stress job like social services!

Hopefully this gives all our supporters a helpful glimpse into what we do during our mysterious week off in August!  We believe this week makes our team stronger, more productive, and more prepared to tackle the everyday challenges of the OAC.

We are closed for services August 26-September 2, 2019.  We will reopen with regular hours on September 3, 2019.