On my first day back from a long, 15 day vacation, I accompanied my mom for an unforgettable day of volunteering. Our plan was to go to two locations in downtown Dallas to drop off food made at a volunteering event for those experiencing homelessness. We packed our car with 680 PBJ sandwiches, 75 sack lunches filled up with food and drinks, and 35 snack bags with shelf-stable snacks. All of the items were collected and made by her army of Charities2Love volunteers.  

Volunteering makes me feel connected 

I love traveling, but spending so much time (and money) on my personal enjoyment makes me feel disconnected from the hardships that people around me go through.  It was super exciting to be able to come back in full throttle once I was back home. The two places we dropped food off led to two very different experiences. But, they both gave me a lot of insight into some realities of homelessness and my role in building up communities.

First Stop:  Austin Street Center

First, we visited Austin Street Center, a 24/7 homeless shelter in Dallas. We met Carol at the front desk, and the incredible Jennifer Atchison, Chief Advancement Officer. After dropping off  580 sandwiches to the shelter, she kindly offered to show us around the year-old facility. This place BLEW my mind!

Touring the New Austin Street Center Building

I learned that in the previous building, everything was all in one big warehouse type room. In their new facility, there are separate spaces for administration, food, check-in, technology access, medical respite, and separate housing for men and women. It is thoughtfully laid out. They even have a space for those that are not staying there but need to come inside from the extreme weather. 

Kindness by those at the shelter

Those that are staying at the shelter showed my mom and I, guests in their home, so much kindness. The clients nodded, smiled, and acknowledged us as we were taking the tour.  It just proved to me that with proper support, funding, and vision, there lies an enormous opportunity to transform communities.

Next Stop:  Under a Bridge with Under My Umbrella

Our next stop was to meet a local nonprofit, Under My Umbrella (UMU)  founded by Christina, Avinash, and Ishaan Cheng-Patel.  Our final destination was a homeless encampment under a freeway bridge in downtown Dallas. However, since the exact location is not found by GPS, we first met them at a random intersection nearby and followed them to a secluded street under a bridge.

As we approached the dirt lot with over 20 tents, I was feeling a little bit nervous that it was wrong to encroach on people’s space. How would I feel if random people drove up to my home unannounced and set up shop? Looking back, I could not have been more wrong about my initial judgment, and I’m extremely humbled at the openness that was extended to us. 

Setting up to distribute at the encampment

When we got to the encampment, Christina and her family immediately pulled out a table from their car and got busy. They started stocking it with our food bags along with fresh food made by Christina’s mom, affectionately called Mama Cheng.  UMU had also brought baked goods, iced tea, clothes, and hygiene items.

One by one, people approached the table. They lined up in an orderly single file line to get their items. Some people requested additional items for their friends that have difficulty walking or that weren’t there. 

For those that did not make it to the line, I joined Christina and my mom to bring items directly to their tents in the back. I carried a cooler bag filled with ice pops and cold drinks. Mom and Christina carried bags filled with food and supplies.  It is clear that Christina knows everyone there well, and makes it a point to bring specific items someone may need.

Kindness by those in the encampment

One woman we visited who was laying down in her tent was extremely grateful and kind (also hilarious). She told us that no matter what happens in our lives, to never stop reaching for the stars. She feels the work we are doing is extremely important, and asked to please pay her electric and water bill if we win the lottery! Her encouragement and kindness will stick with me forever, and I hope to visit her again.

Community bonding no matter where you live

Before this experience, I did not understand that encampments are first and foremost a community, with strong leaders that encourage kinship and loyalty. While the shelter we visited gave added layers of security and basic needs to those staying there, those at the encampment also looked out for one another. I felt the same underlying sense of family during both experiences.

Treating everyone with dignity and respect

My volunteering experience proves to me that no matter where people are on the spectrum of homelessness, being treated like any other human is a prerogative that everyone deserves. It can go a long way in increasing quality of life too. I am grateful to be a part of helping them get there, even if it was just for a day.