Good Works

I have debated about writing this particular blog for several days now. I am afraid it will seem self-serving, and I do not want to emphasize any part of "self" in this. I think I am just going to jot this down, so to speak, so that I don't forget the feelings, etc. raised by the experience.

Last Thursday, I had the incredible privilege of helping out at The Journey Home for a bit. For those of you who may not now, The Journey Home is an organization that is trying to fill as many gaps as it can for the homeless and poor in our city. They have a small building on Castle Street, just around the bend from Cannonsburgh.

I could write reams about the work being done at this center and not touch on all the lives they are helping. There is a Community Cafe, where lunch is served 5 days a week to all comers. They have seats for 40 in the dining room, but have on occasion served over 3 times that number of people. There is a clothes closet for clients to go through, and a small computer lab for people to work on resumes and look for employment. The staff makes up food boxes (full of nonperishables) and distribute to those in need. There is a bread closet as well, open to all clients.

What amazed me the most about this place, apart from the amazing volunteers and the great sense of purpose one feels there, is the amount of unheralded community support that the center has received. Publix donates bread to them daily. Pizza Hut regularly donates pizza for the lunch they serve. Chef Wang's, my favorite local Chinese restaurant, does the Monday meal.

What amazed me about the local support is that I have never once heard of any of these businesses advertising what they do for the center. Not once have I seen self-serving pictures of meals being served by the Chef Wang's staff. Not once have I seen articles in the paper about Publix or Pizza Hut helping to feed the hungry in our community. The quiet nature of this support have disposed me quite favorably to these businesses.

I left the Center on Thursday feeling humbled by all that I have, compassion for those trying to find their way, and restored faith in business in this city.

To find out more about The Journey Home, go to http://www.murfreesboropost.com/filling-the-gaps-on-the-journey-home-cms-7637 to read an article in the Murfreesboro Post about the work of the center.