Our Program Director, April Campbell, has been with us since October. After a few months of learning the ropes, getting to know guests, and becoming an expert at case management, April wrote this reflection about the time she’s spent at COAC so far.
When I first started at Central OAC, I never imagined that I would learn so much from both my new team of coworkers or the guests that we serve.
As soon as I began working at the OAC, my eyes were opened to the amazing work that goes on here. The care and the compassion I saw in the staff and volunteers astounded me. I remember on one particular day, Pam, one of our Monday volunteers, was speaking to a guest who came in for a specific service. Pam was explaining the authorization form that we sign with each guest for confidentiality purposes, and she noticed the guest squinting. Pam stopped explaining and asked, “do you need some reading glasses too?”. The guest stated that he did, not realizing that we had reading glasses available at our guest’s request. Pam got up at that moment to get him a pair so he could see the authorization form he would be signing. This is just one example of a guest coming in for a specific service, not knowing everything the OAC offers, and leaving with multiple referrals and vouchers to suit their needs. It is the attention to detail that make the OAC a great team.
A month after I started working at OAC, I sprained my ankle. After a few days of recuperation, I came back and worked the front desk for a while to limit the amount I would need to walk. It was during that time working the front desk consistently that I learned how wonderful the people that we serve are. Mr. Rome (name changed) asked one morning, “Miss. Lady, what happened to your foot?” I explained what had happened, and for the next week every time he came in to check his mail Mr. Rome asked me how I was feeling. Recently, almost two months later, I had a guest say, “Miss, it looks like you’re walking better. You feeling better”? It amazes me how these individuals have so much on their minds and hearts, yet they take the time to send some positive and heartfelt words my way.
Working at the OAC has made me so proud. The work that we do is thoughtful, consistent, and done with patience. We pride ourselves on meeting the guests “where they are”, listening to their stories, and making sure that, even if we are not able to meet their specific needs, we point them in the direction of someone who can. Our guests are the reason we do this work. Without their smiles, kind words, and perseverance, there would be no Central OAC.