Melissa Hereford and her 10 year old Simon volunteered at the Mill Street Center on February 11, 2015 in San Rafael, serving a homemade meal. The Mill Street Center is one of two shelter programs run by Homeward Bound of Marin. “The Mill Street Center is the “front door” of their Adult Services Program, the 55-bed shelter is the county’s only night-to-night emergency shelter for homeless individuals. It serves both men and women in separate dormitory-style rooms. A network of volunteers from three dozen churches and community groups shares a monthly rotation to provide a home-cooked hot meal to Mill Street residents. This significant gift has endured since the center opened more than 25 years ago.
As space becomes available, committed residents “graduate” to New Beginnings Center, where they can stay up to six months.”
The adults in the shelter really enjoy chatting with the volunteers who serve dinners there. Melissa and Simon have served food several times, and they especially seem to like chatting with Simon. He has commented every time that he can’t believe some of these people are homeless because “they look like you and me. You’d never know that they were homeless by looking at them.” This connection to the real homeless people in our own community has sparked some interesting conversations and reflections of gratitude for the fortunate lives we lead.
[Simon admiring the entrée he helped prepare…]
[By Melissa Hereford]
