by Kimberly Parker
It’s hard to believe that 2016 is almost over and that a new year is right around the corner. It’s been a full year at Central OAC as we’ve worked to open doors to overcome and prevent homelessness. I am trying to take a few moments to reflect back on the year and give thanks because there is so much to be grateful for. More than one door often has to be opened for people to move forward, many times out of dire situations. Our dedicated staff and volunteers make this possible on a daily basis. I am always amazed as I watch and listen to the ways in which they meet our guests where they are and do all they possibly can to help them improve their life situations. It truly is a privilege to work with this team of people, and for them I give thanks.
I also give thanks for our guests. I know that it’s not easy for me to ask for help, which is probably the case for many of us. Our guests are no different. Oftentimes, they walk through our doors with essentially nothing but the clothes on their backs. Many of them do not have family or friends to lean on. Many face one challenge after another and wonder if life is really worth continuing to try and move forward. They are often ignored or mistreated out on the street, and I have to believe that many of them walk through our doors wondering if they can trust us. But, they do grow to trust us, and as we sit with them and listen to them, the privilege is ours — having someone share his/her story with us is truly an honor.
We have a long-time guest who suffers from seizures. As a result, he struggles to hold on to his identification, medications and other belongings. We had been working with him on obtaining his Georgia state ID again and it was a long process due to a number of different factors, including his health. In the last couple of days, he stopped me in the lobby and said, “I want to show you something.” He pulled out his wallet and showed me his ID. He said, “We worked on this for a long time. I finally have it.” This guest’s story is a tough one, but he has allowed us to be a part of it, and for that I am grateful.
On Mondays and Thursdays, I try to walk through our art room at least once during the morning to see what kind of art the guests are making. If “Thomas” is in there, which he usually is, he always looks up and says, “Ms. Kimberly, look.” He always wants me to see what he’s working on, and these interactions never fail to bring a smile to my face. When “Thomas” first came to us several years ago in search of assistance with ID, he was experiencing homelessness. Since obtaining his ID and getting some other assistance, he is housed and receiving the support that he needs to remain housed. He simply comes to us now to make art and to share his life with others. I am grateful.
Most recently, I had the privilege of interacting with “Sandra.” “Sandra” came in looking for mail and I happened to be at the front desk. “Sandra” came in often and if we told her that she did not have any mail, she was usually quite upset. This day was no different. She was angry when I told her that she still did not have any mail. A volunteer and I spent several minutes trying to make sense out of what she was saying and in the end, we figured out that she wanted to make a phone call to check on her food stamp card. I brought her back to the intake area and had her sit down at a desk to make the call. Thirty minutes and hundreds of tears later, “Sandra” had ordered her card, and we set a time for her to come back the next week to check on it. In the middle of all of this, “Sandra” admitted to being schizophrenic and having trouble being around large numbers of people. Trust did not come easy for her, but at the end of that day, she hugged me and said, “Mama, I will see you next week.” I wish you could have heard her call me “Mama.” It obviously was a term of endearment to her and I give thanks that somehow, she finally trusted us enough so that we could help her with one small thing. She comes in every now and then and if I’m in my office, she comes right in to say hello and talk for a bit. Sometimes, she makes sense. Sometimes, she doesn’t. Regardless, I give thanks for “Sandra.”
I give thanks for all of our guests and for how they impact our lives. They are why we do the work we do. Maybe these stories that I have shared will impact your life as well. Know that at the end of this year, I’m thankful for all of you who support us in this good work. We could not do it without you! Thank you, and have a blessed holiday season!
Kimberly J. Parker
Executive Director