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Angels in Our Midst Angels come in many sizes with any number of wings. They have been sighted at various times over several thousands of years. We have our own angels who have come to help us in the new building although they would probably deny such divine origin. First, Marshall, one of our older members came over to see the new building. “See those floors, I can get them clean.” This had been a factory. No one believed it was possible. Marshall came and Marshall conquered and Marshall brought Dan with him to help with the clean up. Dan who has spent the last few years visiting communities across America spent his first forty years working with his father in a home construction business. “Look what God has given to us the first day we moved into the building,” we chorused. Dan has been the mainstay of our rehab of the Sylvia Center. Also during those first days, Frank, a long time JPUSA friend and church goer came to us with a proposition. “I want to be the janitor of your building.” Frank has built several successful years of freedom from alcohol and drugs and he gives Jesus credit for every second. Frank has already started janitoring and more; he has become our resident locksmith and proven his capability in many more maintenance jobs. And the angels just kept on coming. The JPUSA high schoolers. The youth groups. The inner city Plunges from suburban churches. They cleaned, they scraped floors, they built walls and they painted and painted and painted. Some organized our free store and even constructed a dressing room. Some played with the kids. Some helped serve meals. An Eagle Scout and his supporters brought a truckload of toys and clothes and other household items. And they all just flew in and then out at the end of the day and we hardly knew whither they came or whither they went, only that they left copious angel dust. God bless you volunteers! Without you “angels unaware” this home for the homeless would not be up and running. We will always remember your diligence and Thank God for You. |
THE SYLVIA CENTER Jerome and the After School Lesson Stories Over Dinner |
THREE MONTHS AGO, 4615 CLIFTON WAS THE HOME OF Mechanical Servants. This thriving business outgrew the five story, concrete/steel building and has moved to a larger facility. Now this sturdy building has been renamed Sylvia Center and is housing not ‘mechanical servants’ but very human people, men and women who are there to help each other get back on their feet. Production areas have become places for the reconstruction of lives. Storage areas have become sleeping rooms for many who have not had a good night’s rest in days. Some of you have heard the unfolding story of Cornerstone’s purchase of the Mechanical building. We first learned the building (right across the street from our existing Clifton Women and Children’s Shelter) was for sale over a year ago. It was a perfect place if you had eyes to see the soundness of the building and the spaciousness of the room it could provide. Plus we knew first hand of the great need there is for more housing for families that are homeless with nowhere to go. So we walked forward taking one step at a time, trusting that everything would come together if it was in our heavenly Father’s plan. This month, June 2001, The Sylvia Center’s Family Emergency Housing welcomed it’s first guests. A man came with his children; his wife had deserted the family when shelearned the police were coming to arrest her for cocaine use. Another man, with a steady job came with his wife and child. Their apartment building had been sold and the new landlord upped the rent so much that it was impossible for them to meet their obligations. Actually, three of our families are victims of enormous rent increases. A grandmother came with her special needs grandson. And two couples came from out of state needing to find employment.. Within a week the center was full, 75 people. When one enters the Sylvia Center the first impact on the senses is noise, but it is a delightful noise. The children are playing in the further reaches of their imaginations. Some are construction drivers, others are mowing the lawn and some are mothering Teddies. We are amazed at how they are able to adjust. The second impact is color. The walls are warm and inviting. (Thank you, men and women of the paint brush/roller brigade.) Blue mattresses line the wall where bunk-beds soon will be. The third impact is space. The warming center sponsoring organization came to inspect. His first words were: “ This is great, you sure have a lot of space here.” Another representative gave a woman’s perspective, “The colors are so warm and I can’t believe the space!” It’s not just space; it is very much needed elbow room. Along the west wall rooms are being built for couples who need privacy. As soon as we get a room done it is filled. One day we heard there were more families coming that would need private rooms. Our existing rooms were full and we had no idea where we would find the time or the extra skilled labor to help erect these needed rooms. The answer came with the first of these new families. It was a man with two children and construction skills. He finished up the room that he was to stay in and hasn’t stopped yet. After settling in a guest begins the hard work of getting out of homelessness. For each person the needs are different but generally they must get a job, save up enough money for a deposit and first month’s rent and find some permanent daycare arrangement for their children. Sometimes other problems that war against the basic needs must be faced, such as drug or alcohol dependence, and physical or mental health. Some will leave us for other transitional shelters that fit their situation. Some will find a family member or friend to stay with, others will get resettled in their own place. Our new Sylvia Center has doubled the number of families we can help. And it is only one floor of a five story building. On half of the second floor we have already established a new free store. Guests from any of our shelters can shop there as well as others in need who get referred to us. The inventory is supplied by donations and includes everything from coats to computers.
We are working to expand our “Neighbor’s Overnight” program
by extending the time to 24 hours. At present about 65 single women
come every night for a meal, a shower and a bed for the night. In the
morning they get a small breakfast but have to leave by 7:00 AM when
the transitional shelter families come down for their breakfast. These
single women have to go back out on the streets for the day. With the
extra space in the new building we are hoping to provide a 24 hour home
for these women. The financial aspects of being able to support such a large increase in ministry are still being worked out. It is a daily walk by faith, often not knowing the end from the beginning but knowing Him who knows. — Curt Mortimer |
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