Friday at the Campus was a day everyone was dreading a little bit. There was a lot on our plate. Two big special events were set to take place: “More Than a Toy,” our opportunity for participants to send toys and gifts to loved ones, and a big fundraising luncheon downtown. There was some lack of clarity on how many volunteers we had for More Than a Toy, and how staffing would work. The video presentation for the fundraiser wasn’t done, and much of the administration team was stressed out over that event. In addition to all of this, the first of the month is always a busy time. It’s when we have new funds to help people with getting their ID cards, birth certificates, and prescriptions. It’s also “check day,” when government checks come in the mail. The checks increase attendance for a day while people try to convince us to give them out early. Unfortunately, much of the money that comes in the mail goes to buy drugs, booze and cheap motel rooms, but that’s another story.
The story of Friday, December 1, was not one of taking, which is so often the story. It was of giving.
I was able to attend the fundraising lunch as a guest (though not a very profitable one!) at the table Susan Brantley was sponsoring. Five women from church and I sat at the table in the back of the packed Renaissance Hotel ballroom. This suit and tie crowd included many Room in the Inn volunteers, business people, government officials and community leaders. While we ate grilled chicken salads, several people spoke. There were musical offerings, including a harmonica solo from one of our Odyssey participants and a beautiful rendition of Poor Wayfaring Stranger. The highlight of the day was a very moving video presentation about what Room in the Inn and the Campus have meant to people. The video featured three people whose lives have been profoundly impacted by the good things that go on at 532 8th Avenue South and in churches around the Nashville area. The three took the stage at the conclusion of the video, which was a very emotional moment for everyone. One of them, Melvin, who is now a staff member at the Campus stole the show as he spoke about how thankful he is for what he has been given in life.
Just a few years ago Melvin was on the streets. Thanks to those people at the Campus who believed in him and showed him the unconditional love due everyone, his life has been completely turned around. Melvin has now gotten married, purchased his own home, and become a deacon in his church. He works as a shift coordinator in the Guest House, which is the residential component of the Campus. He is also preparing to get his G.E.D. As Melvin was speaking, I was imagining what it would be like for some of our current participants to stand in front of a group of 500 “important” people in a hotel ballroom to tell his or her success story. That is the hope that drives what we do.
Back at the Campus, More Than a Toy was in full swing. I only had a few chances to go upstairs and get in on the action since I had to help keep things running downstairs. I couldn’t believe what I saw when I first went into the chapel the day before to see the toys that had been donated. They were all brand new, very nice toys (very nice!)—over 700 of them in all. Participants could “buy” vouchers to attend More Than a Toy using the points they had been earning by going to classes and coming to the education center each day. I sold the vouchers during the morning store time on Friday, and I was astounded by the generosity of people. We weren’t actually deducting points from peoples’ accounts, and we weren’t really sticking to that necessary minimum of 100 points. Participants nearly came back in a panic that some of their friends didn’t have enough points to buy a voucher, or didn’t have enough points to get what they needed. One man had been going to classes to earn points just so he could give them to someone that needed them since he didn’t have any kids to buy for. One man wanted to have his points transferred to another man’s account. His acquaintance had his bags stolen and needed a new hat and gloves. I assured all of these people that I would take care of everything that people needed, and that they didn’t have to give away all of their points. What a humbling thing to see such generosity by those who have nothing.
Upstairs, after people had enjoyed some cookies and hot chocolate, they got to go into the store, with the help of a personal shopper and choose toys that were appropriate for their children. Many of our participants have several children, and most of them have not been in contact for a long time. Often, they will pick toys for much younger children, because they don’t realize that they have grown up. After picking toys out, they were able to head to the art room to do some wrapping. They could also have their picture taken to enclose in a card. The cost for shipping was covered by volunteers, or participants could take the gifts with them. Without fail, each person was very grateful and generous.
The dread that many of us felt toward last Friday was completely gone by the end of the day. We still talked today about what a phenomenal day it was. The housed community was generous. Nearly half a million dollars was pledged over the next three years to the work of the Campus for Human Development. The homeless community was generous. Hundreds of gifts were sent to families and friends who probably aren’t expecting anything from the absent father and mother living on the streets. It is in giving that we are blessed and in loving that we open ourselves to be loved.
The story of Friday, December 1, was not one of taking, which is so often the story. It was of giving.
I was able to attend the fundraising lunch as a guest (though not a very profitable one!) at the table Susan Brantley was sponsoring. Five women from church and I sat at the table in the back of the packed Renaissance Hotel ballroom. This suit and tie crowd included many Room in the Inn volunteers, business people, government officials and community leaders. While we ate grilled chicken salads, several people spoke. There were musical offerings, including a harmonica solo from one of our Odyssey participants and a beautiful rendition of Poor Wayfaring Stranger. The highlight of the day was a very moving video presentation about what Room in the Inn and the Campus have meant to people. The video featured three people whose lives have been profoundly impacted by the good things that go on at 532 8th Avenue South and in churches around the Nashville area. The three took the stage at the conclusion of the video, which was a very emotional moment for everyone. One of them, Melvin, who is now a staff member at the Campus stole the show as he spoke about how thankful he is for what he has been given in life.
Just a few years ago Melvin was on the streets. Thanks to those people at the Campus who believed in him and showed him the unconditional love due everyone, his life has been completely turned around. Melvin has now gotten married, purchased his own home, and become a deacon in his church. He works as a shift coordinator in the Guest House, which is the residential component of the Campus. He is also preparing to get his G.E.D. As Melvin was speaking, I was imagining what it would be like for some of our current participants to stand in front of a group of 500 “important” people in a hotel ballroom to tell his or her success story. That is the hope that drives what we do.
Back at the Campus, More Than a Toy was in full swing. I only had a few chances to go upstairs and get in on the action since I had to help keep things running downstairs. I couldn’t believe what I saw when I first went into the chapel the day before to see the toys that had been donated. They were all brand new, very nice toys (very nice!)—over 700 of them in all. Participants could “buy” vouchers to attend More Than a Toy using the points they had been earning by going to classes and coming to the education center each day. I sold the vouchers during the morning store time on Friday, and I was astounded by the generosity of people. We weren’t actually deducting points from peoples’ accounts, and we weren’t really sticking to that necessary minimum of 100 points. Participants nearly came back in a panic that some of their friends didn’t have enough points to buy a voucher, or didn’t have enough points to get what they needed. One man had been going to classes to earn points just so he could give them to someone that needed them since he didn’t have any kids to buy for. One man wanted to have his points transferred to another man’s account. His acquaintance had his bags stolen and needed a new hat and gloves. I assured all of these people that I would take care of everything that people needed, and that they didn’t have to give away all of their points. What a humbling thing to see such generosity by those who have nothing.
Upstairs, after people had enjoyed some cookies and hot chocolate, they got to go into the store, with the help of a personal shopper and choose toys that were appropriate for their children. Many of our participants have several children, and most of them have not been in contact for a long time. Often, they will pick toys for much younger children, because they don’t realize that they have grown up. After picking toys out, they were able to head to the art room to do some wrapping. They could also have their picture taken to enclose in a card. The cost for shipping was covered by volunteers, or participants could take the gifts with them. Without fail, each person was very grateful and generous.
The dread that many of us felt toward last Friday was completely gone by the end of the day. We still talked today about what a phenomenal day it was. The housed community was generous. Nearly half a million dollars was pledged over the next three years to the work of the Campus for Human Development. The homeless community was generous. Hundreds of gifts were sent to families and friends who probably aren’t expecting anything from the absent father and mother living on the streets. It is in giving that we are blessed and in loving that we open ourselves to be loved.
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