PHP

PHP

 By Sr. Glenda Bourgeois, O.S.U.

           One of the by-products of the social media is the development of on-line jargon sometimes referred to as net lingo and text talk. Chat acronyms are common to many faithful texters. I recognize only a few “space savers” ( LOL, OMG, DIY, DIT, BTW and cul8r) because I am, at best, a primitive texter!

Following this line of thinking though, I came across a phrase the other day that  summed up  Clare House ministry for me. In acronym form It is PHP! The message might jump out at you. You will not find PHP in a text dictionary now, but hopefully someday you will!

You have figured it out! Clare House ministry is all about PEOPLE HELPING PEOPLE. The thirty seven year history of this incredible out- reach in our community in its simplest form is the story of PEOPLE HELPING PEOPLE.  Those of us who are blessed to be volunteers in any aspect of the daily operations are inspired by the wonderfully compassionate evidence of this.

PHP is a sign that we are one big human family, that we belong to each other, that our happiness is tied to the well-being of others. PHP is a great peace making activity, an expression of divine love in our world.

Clare House is one of many places where PHP is what it is all about! Let’s cheer on each instance of PHP that happens right in front of us.

Carrying the Cross Together

...And the Lord will provide

“…And the Lord will provide”

     By Sharon Peterson

I am a Wednesday morning volunteer, one of those who works at Clare House downstairs, sorting, dating, and shelving donations in preparation for the evening crew who bag the groceries for the handouts to our clients twice a week.
     This past winter, (which was so long and difficult for everyone,) saw a generous outpouring of not only foodstuffs, but also, blankets, homemade quilts, hats, gloves and scarves for both children and adults.  Sometimes we would get numerous bags of these warm items at one time and sometimes we would just get one or two; it didn’t matter, because it all helped.  Donations
came in from our Annual Holiday Food Drive and also from caring individuals, church groups, businesses, and school children with the help of their parents and teachers.  Just when we would be wondering how we would fill the shelves for tonight’s baggers, more food would come in from an unexpected source!
     Another “provision” came our way recently when a long-time and most loyal volunteer, Shae Davidson, moved out of the area.  The week after this happened, the Lord provided us with a most and wonderful new volunteer, Phyllis Urban.  Now we are once more back to full force downstairs, though we miss Shae very much!
     It has happened time and time again;  on a day we are short of help handing out groceries, someone will miraculously show up because they had some free time that day, or had just heard of Clare House and wanted to find out more about it.  So, I am now firmly convinced of “divine help.”  Sometimes when you least expect it, help arrives, but almost always it comes when you desperately need it.  Don’t ever think that your efforts at donating things or volunteering yourself and your time are too small to make a difference, because they do and they will!

Making Biscuits

Bernie Greene making biscuits at the soup kitchen.

Giving and Receiving

Giving and Receiving

by Bill Tolone

"One gives freely, yet grows all the richer...

Whoever brings blessings will be enriched"

(Proverbs 11:24-25)

"Giving and Receiving."  It seems as though we at Clare House "give" to the poor and the poor "receive" from us.  But, it's just the opposite.  It's no coincidence that we as Clare House volunteers meet every week with our sisters and brothers who line up for food.  Whether we call these meetings something that is pre-ordained by God, or a God-moment, the fact is that we are brought together.  Now, it's up to us to work something out.

Giving and receiving of food is pretty routine.  Some people are inside Clare House ready to give food and others outside in line are eager to receive food.  However, become part of the conversations between people in the food line and you realize that there's something much greater going on.  They share their experiences, and their food, and sometimes their books for the Little Free Library with each other.  In other words, our sisters and brothers in the food line are providing an excellent example of what Dorothy Day, and Tina Sipula, have in mind and practice about ministering to the poor. 

The poor are the first to minister to each other.  We need to "receive" from them and do our part.

Friends of Clare House

Friends of Clare House

By Bob Sampson

If you visit Clare House during the daylight hours, you might encounter some aggressive neighbors. These folks have been known to run right up to people, stand erect and silently—but insistently—demand to be fed. And, oh yes, they have four legs and bushy tails. They are squirrels.

What began several years ago as a way to dispose of excess blueberry pancakes on a Saturday or Sunday morning has evolved into multi-generation relationship with a colony of squirrels who inhabit the trees and, sometimes, attics of buildings around Clare House. It has become a relaxing way to pass a few moments by handing out peanuts and other treats to our “friends.”

And others have joined in. Take Charley. Charley was a friend of Randy, who lived in an apartment in a house on the corner. Charley and Randy would spend hours each day in good weather sitting just off Randy’s stoop, watching the cars go by, discussing the neighborhood and the world, and feeding squirrels. When Randy died a couple of years ago, Charley lost not only a friend but a place to go, a place to be welcomed.  Over time, he started stopping by Clare House, leaving ears of corn for the squirrels and if someone was outside, stopping to sit and talk on the tailgate of the pickup truck.

People need to eat but they also need other things—friendship, a place to sit a bit and chat, a welcome. So do squirrels. Both type of God’s creatures find friends at Clare House.

Drop Off Locations for the Food Drive

Drop Donations off at these locations through November 27^th:

Schnuck’s Supermarket

Extreme Motors Locations

Resurrection Lutheran Church

Jem’s Hair Studio and Spa