“Will you let me be your servant
Let me be as Christ to you
Pray that I might have the grace
To let you be my servant too”

While we (the staff of Hope House) are usually focused on how we may serve our clients, often we are moved by the simple kindness they share with us as well. Sally brings in a handful of wildflowers to brighten our desk; John offers a box of donuts he received from a local bakery; Irina shyly hands us a box of homemade cookies at Christmas. This is in addition to the kindnesses they share with each other: rides home, offers of babysitting while someone shops, and sharing of resources in the community.

“We are pilgrims on the journey
We are brothers on the road
We are here to help each other
Walk the mile and bear the load”

The hardest part of our intake process is sitting with those (usually men) who are embarrassed and ashamed about needing help. They stress this is temporary and swear to help when they are back on their feet. This is when I tell them about the “circle of life” and how we are all going to make it if we work together and help each other. Sometimes you give and sometimes you receive—that is how life works.

“I will hold the Christ light for you
In the night time of your fear
I will hold my hand out to you
Speak the peace you long to hear.”

Local agencies send clients to us with Continue Reading

During the Lenten season, Rory and I host a small faith sharing group on Monday evenings. This group is composed of members of our church community. While one or two participants may come, or go, we have a core group that are very comfortable with each other. The emphasis is on sharing with each other, not arguing the finer points of our Faith, and I personally learn so much from group members. Many (probably most) of them are cradle Catholics and being an adult convert, I am always curious about growing up Catholic.

This year we are reading a book called Resisting Happiness by Matthew Kelly, a down to earth Australian who calls it like he sees it. My kind of study guide! Last night we were discussing the chapter in which he talks about “Aha!” moments. An Aha moment happens when suddenly the lip service we have been paying to our Christianity makes sense, when He wakes us up and lets us see the truth. Matthew likes to call these  Pentecostal moments; I call mine my Epiphany moment. Here it is.

My Aha Moment

Probably 12-13 years ago, at Hope House (you knew it would be around Hope House, didn’t you?), I was working the front desk. The front desk is the center of the action—responsible for welcoming those coming in the doors and for helping those going out with their bags, etc. I call it air traffic control, and it can be busy.

The door opened and a woman walked in carrying a little girl maybe just shy of 2. So adorable, with curly blonde hair and big blue eyes. When I asked the woman how we could help her, she said they needed some hygiene supplies and clothing. Noticing the little girl’s bare feet (it was February!), I said, Continue Reading

So, today’s blog will be about one of the great passions in my life (beyond my family)—Hope House. I will warn you—I have the BEST job in the world and I am passionate about it!

What is Hope House?

I am frequently asked “what is Hope House?” and that is not an easy answer. The quick answer is that we are a faith based social service agency that meets the Basic Needs of theneedy in Whatcom County. Hope House is a collaboration of Church of the Assumption and Catholic Community Services, and I am employed by CCS as the Program Manager. I am also a parishioner of Assumption, so I am uniquely qualified to combine the Catholic Faith of both entities and put them to use at Hope House.

What are basic needs?

This invites the follow-up question of “what are basic needs”? Simply put, basic needs are those Continue Reading