Agency: Safe Winter Walkways
Contact: Dacia at daciam@sunflower.com
Safe Winter Walkways is calling for volunteers to be matched with Lawrence residents who are unable to shovel snow. Volunteers will remove snow from the public sidewalk and a walkway or path from the front door to the street. Volunteers are asked to commit to the 2008-09 snow season and shovel each snowfall of 2 or more inches.
Immediate needs
• Douglas County Homeless Point-In-Time needs more than 60 volunteers to assist in taking a census of our homeless population on Jan. 28. There will be two shifts, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., and 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Training is provided, and there are multiple ways to help. If available to volunteer, contact Paige at volunteer@rhvc.org.
• The Salvation Army needs bell ringers. If you would like to bell ring for The Salvation Army this week, contact Aaron Smith at 843-4188, ext. 102.
• The Lawrence Community Christmas Dinner is served on Christmas Day at First United Methodist Church, 946 Vt., from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Pies, turkeys, hams and cash donations are needed. Volunteers are needed from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m.; contact Dave at 865-0920.
• The Lawrence Community Shelter, 214 W. 10th St., will be host to a hot breakfast for the homeless on Christmas morning, 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Food dishes and volunteers are needed. Call Diane Morgan at 832-8864.
— For more volunteer opportunities, contact Tracie Massey or Paige Blair at the Roger Hill Volunteer Center, at (785) 865-5030 or volunteer@rhvc.org. Opportunities are also online at www.rhvc.org.
Comments
LJWorld.com doesn’t necessarily condone the comments here, nor does it review every post. Read our full policy. Also, read about banned accounts and harassing comments.
just_another_bozo_on_this_bus (anonymous) says…
If the able-bodied (and minded) homeless folks got more than resentment from a large percentage of Lawrence residents, it might be easier to persuade them to do a bit of volunteer work to show their gratitude.
Informed (anonymous) says…
"If the able-bodied (and minded) homeless folks got more than resentment from a large percentage of Lawrence residents, it might be easier to persuade them to do a bit of volunteer work to show their gratitude."That's a door that swings both ways: Perhaps if the able-bodied (and minded) homeless folks did a bit of volunteer work to show their gratitude for all the handouts and coddling they get in Lawrence, a large percentage of Lawrence residents (myself included) might give more than just resentment. I do believe the onus of this one lies with the homeless.A census of the homeless? Any taxpayer dollars involved at all?
yellowhouse (anonymous) says…
Do you realize the uproar there would be if a wagon full of homeless drunks showed up at all the handicapped and elderly peoples homes!If any of those people ended up mugged or robbed, would the homeless then take the blame?
Informed (anonymous) says…
Well, yellowhouse, at least you've just admitted that many/most of the homeless in this town are pretty much all drunks and prone to violence. Kind of nullifies yesterday's LTE, doesn't it?
just_another_bozo_on_this_bus (anonymous) says…
"Well, yellowhouse, at least you've just admitted that many/most of the homeless in this town are pretty much all drunks and prone to violence."So, you're looking to yellowhouse to confirm your own prejudices?
Informed (anonymous) says…
Not looking for confirmation at all. mick. Just pointing out the hypocrisy. Last night YH was defending the homeless as hard working: "Many of them shovel snow or do odd jobs, sell art work, play music for tips." This morning, they admit that most are drunks.
Irish (Leslie Swearingen) says…
You can't force people to volunteer, it defeats the purpose of the whole thing. Are some of you angry because you think someone is getting something you are not? The Open Shelter was created because some thought the Salvation Army was being cruel in having rules and making their residents go to a certain number of classes in different subjects before they could spend the night. The point of the classes was to install structure in those who might have been raised with none in their lives. I now hear that the Open Shelter is a very rough place and former volunteers there are not doing so. Even unpleasant people don't deserve to starve or freeze. I think that mentally and emotionally these lost ones are just not capable of doing any more than they are. Now. We just have to keep doing what we can. None of us has a home or food or warmth because God knows we are superior and has rewarded us.
Informed (anonymous) says…
@Cleo -- WTF?? No one's talking about anyone starving or freezing. Go back to the LTE thread.
OonlyBonly (anonymous) says…
couranna1 well, Reality_Check did point out a fairly obvious fact that seems to be far too often overlooked and which should be stated much more than it is and that qualifies as "help(ing) someone today." IMHO
sk_in_ks (anonymous) says…
Does anybody know if snow shovels are provided to volunteers? I'm an apartment dweller so don't have my own.
lacoov (anonymous) says…
Reality Check-my 11 yr.old and his best buddy shoveled snow for two days straight.last week after school.They did a good job and made a little Xmas $$$ to boot. Not all kids are lazy and in the house doing nothing but playing video games. BTW do you have kids? If so, how do they make their spending money?
Confrontation (anonymous) says…
I remember shoveling snow for the elderly when I was a child. Do you know how much I got paid? Nothing! It's called learning to help others, and not charging them for it! It's not teaching your kids anything if they're not donating their time when they "help" seniors. Well, I guess it is teaching them that the almighty buck is more important than helping someone in need. This is why we have weak children today, who become idiots just like their parents.
Bladerunner (anonymous) says…
Its amazing how the homeless can walk six blocks to the liquor store to pick up a bottle of Kentucky Deluxe but cant seem to work a few hours a day. If you monitor the Police scanner you will hear at least 10 calls a day to the shelter at 10th and Kentucky. They sure are able to fight and drink but are curiously disabled when it comes time to give back to society.
Informed (anonymous) says…
Woa! Major disconnect there, Windlass!! Who said I thought anyone owed me anything? I work for a living. If you're looking for a sense of entitlement, don't look at me; look at the most of the homeless in this town. I dunno, seems to me that maybe you and Cleo are sharing that bourbon that justforfun is running out of. Stop by the wet shelter; maybe they can spare a drop.Bladerunner, you are spot on!
leadstone (anonymous) says…
I used to work at a resource center for homeless teens in L.A. Whenever the doors opened they had to line up and get a chore assignment, nothing really terrible like cleaning gutters just simple things like set up chairs or wipe counters, pick litter from out front etc.. All chores were to be completed before breakfast was served or showers were allowed. There were a few grumblers, but that's just being kids. For the most part, the system worked very well. Teach them young that nothing is free, if you need help don't be upset if we ask a little help in return. I think the idea of having the ambulatory homeless shovel walks has merit. Have a rotating schedule as snow allows. When they check in for the evening have them recieve their assignments for tomorrow.If they don't show and can't explain why, they wont have a cot that night. Besides maybe other crews will be in the area and could possibly offer them a paying job doing some shoveling elsewhere.
BigPrune (anonymous) says…
What about caregivers who cannot get any time to get out of the house to shovel even though they are able bodied? Will they qualify for a shovel volunteer? I doubt it, but I bet there are more of those than people think.
Informed (anonymous) says…
Windlass, you know so little of what you think you know. Thanks for playing. NEXT!
Informed (anonymous) says…
"I know of the people you refer to. They cannot work; not for all the tea in China."No. You mean they *will not* work.
Irish (Leslie Swearingen) says…
Informed, I don't know why I put in the part about freezing or starving now that I reread it. Unless I was subconsciously thinking about a homeless girl, she was around 18, who froze to death in the train park. I spent six months at the Salvation Army shelter around four years ago and when I was there we had to sign up for a certain number of classes and attend. It had nothing to do with the church part. They were classes in learning to budget, how to apply for a job, we had mock interviews, and how to chose healthy foods. Perhaps it has changed since then. I know that the Captain at that time was furious when he told us how the night workers had their tires slashed, and someone stole a box of hats and mittens meant for everyone. A restaurant across the street would bring by food when they closed and one or two men would grab it all. So, I am quite aware of what it going on. I am also quite aware that I met men who went to work every day and put their money in the SA safe to save up to get housing. They were decent men who were miserable having to deal at close quarters with riff raff, but they did not give up and give in. Give praise where praise is due.