Not a Bad Day at the Office

Sometimes, especially when you're in an administrative position, it feels really good to just get out and connect with our mission. 

The YWCA was able to take part in Project Homeless Connect today. This event brings a TON of people together to coordinate resources for the people in our communities who need it the most. It's like a one-stop resource shopping place for those in our community. DHHS was there, Dept. of Education was there. There were doctors, foot care clinics, people to do hair and nails, clothes, food. Information about where to find jobs, where to find childcare, library cards, JobCorp, the Homeless Coalition, bus passes, daily health information. 

One of the programs that the YWCA offers is called Job Outfitters. This program assists those who are actively seeking employment and need clothes for an interview, or for people who have a job and need appropriate clothing to do that job. We partner with Goodwill and provide vouchers for those people to go and get the clothes they need. 

In a span of 2 1/2 hours, we were able to provide over 20 people with vouchers totaling over $400. These vouchers, and clothes, will make a huge difference to people looking for jobs and people just starting out in the work force. 

I was met with gratitude, kindness, embarrassment, and hopefulness. Every person I saw had a story. Some shared their story with me and others didn't say much. I was reminded how incredibly blessed I am. It wasn't that many years ago that I was sitting on the other side of the table needing clothes to start my first professional job. 

I am blessed because I am able to work with an agency that provides so much to our underserved populations. I am blessed because I was able to maybe brighten a few people's day. I am blessed because some chose to share their story with me. I am blessed because one woman was thankful and completely shocked at the generosity of the agency that sat with her for 40 minutes and helped prepare her for her job interview this week and she just couldn't believe that with our assistance, she was going to have clothes to wear to it as well. (I will be praying for her on Thursday because I know that's when she has her interview.) I am blessed. 

Not a bad day at the office when you're reminded how blessed you are.