Day Three
Hi everyone, my name is Carmen Fortunato.
I am a senior communication major with an emphasis on public relations and I
will be your blogger for the day! Today, we woke up around 8 a.m. for our first
day of service. Today we went to Public Action to Deliver Shelter (PADS)
homeless shelter to help Katie, the owner of the Ottawa branch.
We arrived at PADS for our first day
of service shortly after 9 a.m. We rolled into the parking lot sleepy-eyed
after our long but fun day in Chicago. Once we stepped out of the RV are
sleepiness subsided with the anticipation of a day’s work. Katie, who thanked
us for the help, met us outside and we began our tour of the shelter. The
shelter was very well kept and in order. You could tell immediately that Katie
puts her heart and soul into the shelter. Katie is married with three kids who
were there to help us throughout the day. Our first job was to begin work
outside.
Katie explained to us that the
previous year when they cleaned up the outside of the shelter it took her and
her family three days to finish. She was thrilled to see the seven of us out
there to work outdoors for her. It was a beautiful morning to work outdoors,
although it was hot. Our work consisted of weeding, gardening, trimming and
weed-whacking. We ran into a few hiccups with the weed-wacker and hedge
clippers but Bob, who was a member of the board for PADS, graciously bought us
new string for our trimmer.
Grace and Biz were weeding the garden
that grew potatoes and onions. Mike and I were on weed and ivy patrol and made
pretty short work of the pesky weeds. Leigh Ann was pruning the trees while
Austin and Brad were trimming and cleaning up trash. During the day Mike took
the role as ‘Bucket Man’, which we happily named him because of the bucket he
carried around to pick up the trimmings. Unlike the Batman, Bucket man was very
open to people knowing his identity. After finishing up inside, we moved
indoors to clean bathrooms, floors and sort out the kitchen.
After we cleaned Katie shared some
stories about her time at the shelter. Most were pleasant and talked about the
positive experience she has had running the shelter. Katie thanked us once
again for our work and we were on our way to a neighboring town to register
Grace, Mike and myself to drive the RV. Weary, we made our way home to showers
and some of the best Pizza I’ve ever had at Austin’s aunt and uncle’s house.
Overall, the day was a success and showed us all what a solid day’s work can do
for the body. Yes we are sore, but it is a sore that comes from a day of
helping out someone who has dedicated their life to helping those who are not
blessed with a place of their own.
Katie told us of a few people who came
into the shelter with nothing and left with something. That something varied
from a job to a full stomach, a good night’s rest or even something as small as
hope. I learned today that the smallest act of kindness can do so much. Whether
that act is a warm bed and hot meal or simply mopping a floor, we can never
underestimate the impact a helping hand can have.
Now we head off to Denver where we
will be driving through the night. Shifts of drivers and co-pilots have been
set-up to allow each of us to sleep accordingly. The Boys and Girls Club awaits
us in the Mile High City, and I can’t wait to get started again.
Signing off, Carmen
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