The Guest Chef Event was last night. I enjoyed seeing all the different types of food Chef Dupuis of Picán Restaurant and the Kitchen of Champions students had to prepare. I got to try some of the dishes and I enjoyed everything, especially the chocolate brownie-like pastry dessert. I liked this event, and the other guest Chef from À Côté, because I was able to see some new foods that I have never seen before. The mood was nice and classy as there was a jazz band, fine wine, and formal dress. As a server, I ran the food out to the guests, serving ladies first and from the guest’s left side. When the guest was finished with a dish, I reached for the empty plate from the right side. The rules are important.
It is a busy week. Tomorrow Homeless Court will be conducted at St. Vincent de Paul’s Community Center. All clients expect to have their tickets dismissed, and I do not think that they will be disappointed.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Monday, February 8, 2010
An Encouraging Monday
I conducted the Homeless Court orientation today at St. Vincent de Paul. Every Monday at 9:45am clients come to St. Vincent de Paul to listen to the orientation and receive information on how the process works for Homeless Court. I have been meeting with a lot of clients lately, and I sincerely hope that I am making a positive difference in their lives.
Today I received some real feedback from a St. Vincent de Paul client of how I am helping the community. A woman came in to St. Vincent de Paul to go to the Women’s Center. She saw me and said, “You’re the Homeless Court guy.” I was surprised she knew who I was because I did not remember meeting her. She said that she was the mother of one of my previous clients. She stated his name and I remember him coming in for a Homeless Court session. She said that I really helped him out. Those words made me feel good, and reminded me that St. Vincent de Paul works to help people in a way that really matters. As I meet with clients, many times all day long, words like those give me energy and motivation to continue my work.
Today I received some real feedback from a St. Vincent de Paul client of how I am helping the community. A woman came in to St. Vincent de Paul to go to the Women’s Center. She saw me and said, “You’re the Homeless Court guy.” I was surprised she knew who I was because I did not remember meeting her. She said that she was the mother of one of my previous clients. She stated his name and I remember him coming in for a Homeless Court session. She said that I really helped him out. Those words made me feel good, and reminded me that St. Vincent de Paul works to help people in a way that really matters. As I meet with clients, many times all day long, words like those give me energy and motivation to continue my work.
Learning to live with what I need
BY NICOLE JONES, VSC Volunteer
Finally. Peace and quiet in my office at Society of St. Vincent de Paul after a day of non-stop meetings, orientations, client intakes, police sirens, Job Club class, emails, setting up appointments and data entry in between. Earlier today I was on the verge of just melting into a pool of mush underneath my desk. I knew how stressed I was when while in Job Club class, I had to read a sentence multiple time over before its meaning registered.
But, alas. The day is coming to a close, and though I still am up to my eyeballs in new paperwork from orientation and data entry of transitional employees from the past 2 years, I feel like a lot was accomplished. I am trying hard to not to overlook those moments when I helped make someone's day just a little bit better. I understand how important it is to crunch data and numbers for the organization that funds our Transitional Employee program, but I am also aware of how it affects the way I interact with clients. Showing of all of our hard work here is imperative, however I try to not let it be at the cost of building authentic relationships with the TEs--or even just walk-in clients who just need some brief, yet compassionate advice, or better yet, to know that they are being listened to.
Tomorrow will present an entirely new day of new clients with new problems. Half-way through this job, there have been a fair share of moments where I felt like just shutting down. But I never seem to do. Perhaps its the reminder that all staff here at SVdP work so hard. Maybe I secretly thrive off the chaos and continual changes. But mostly, I think I hold it together by reminding myself that it's my responsibility to be here, for my mentors, teachers and family that raised me to reach this time in my life. But all and all, when the day ends, I'll be returning to a nice home in a good neighborhood where I can expect a warm meal on a table surrounded by a supportive community. The volunteer paycheck may not be very attractive, but I'm learning to live with just what I need.
Here's" a story recently published about the work I've been doing.
Finally. Peace and quiet in my office at Society of St. Vincent de Paul after a day of non-stop meetings, orientations, client intakes, police sirens, Job Club class, emails, setting up appointments and data entry in between. Earlier today I was on the verge of just melting into a pool of mush underneath my desk. I knew how stressed I was when while in Job Club class, I had to read a sentence multiple time over before its meaning registered.
But, alas. The day is coming to a close, and though I still am up to my eyeballs in new paperwork from orientation and data entry of transitional employees from the past 2 years, I feel like a lot was accomplished. I am trying hard to not to overlook those moments when I helped make someone's day just a little bit better. I understand how important it is to crunch data and numbers for the organization that funds our Transitional Employee program, but I am also aware of how it affects the way I interact with clients. Showing of all of our hard work here is imperative, however I try to not let it be at the cost of building authentic relationships with the TEs--or even just walk-in clients who just need some brief, yet compassionate advice, or better yet, to know that they are being listened to.
Tomorrow will present an entirely new day of new clients with new problems. Half-way through this job, there have been a fair share of moments where I felt like just shutting down. But I never seem to do. Perhaps its the reminder that all staff here at SVdP work so hard. Maybe I secretly thrive off the chaos and continual changes. But mostly, I think I hold it together by reminding myself that it's my responsibility to be here, for my mentors, teachers and family that raised me to reach this time in my life. But all and all, when the day ends, I'll be returning to a nice home in a good neighborhood where I can expect a warm meal on a table surrounded by a supportive community. The volunteer paycheck may not be very attractive, but I'm learning to live with just what I need.
Here's" a story recently published about the work I've been doing.
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