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Volunteers spice up shelter's kitchen
Weekends are a time of cleaning and organizing for many area residents. A group of 16 volunteers from Greenwich Presbyterian Church took those tasks to the next level last weekend, spending Saturday scrubbing, painting, repairing and restocking the kitchen at The Haven, an emergency homeless shelter in Warrenton.
The update was much needed and much appreciated, said Ed Childress, executive director for Fauquier Family Shelter Services, the agency that oversees the shelter.
“It has had about 10 years' worth of wear and tear on it,” he said, noting that when The Haven's capacity was doubled three years ago, the kitchen remained the same.
“We are so appreciative that they would take the time and make the effort to do this for us,” said Childress. “What we've found is that groups and churches respond so well to the need here.”
Responding to needs, both locally and globally, is the goal of the church's mission committee, said project organizer Stephanie Sturges.
“We all have a vision of what a missionary is, but you don't have to travel out of the country to be a missionary,” Sturges said, noting that the church's mission committee is involved in volunteer projects in Mexico, China, and Burma, among other places.
The 500-member church has a special relationship with Fauquier Family Shelter Services, she said, explaining that The Haven's former director was a church member who educated his friends about the needs of the program.
“For the Fauquier shelter, we do a Christmas party every year at our church, with Santa Claus, food, and crafts for the kids,” Sturges said. In August, the church will host a cookout, with food and games, for residents of the Vint Hill Transitional Housing program, which is also operated by Fauquier Family Shelter Services.
Last year, Sturges met with shelter coordinator Rick Avery to discuss needs at the facility. During the conversation, he mentioned the kitchen update and Sturges tucked that information away and later presented the idea to members of the mission committee.
Once the group committed to the upgrade, Sturges took an inventory of the kitchen and created a to-do list. Volunteers reinforced or replaced damaged cabinet shelves, and cleaned, painted, lined, and labeled cabinets, Sturges said, noting that the committee also replaced pots and pans, silverware, and cooking utensils.
“What was really great about the day was meeting with residents there and really getting to know people's lives and what they're going through,” Sturges said.
Sturges, who joined the church two years ago with her husband Mark and three children, has been pleased with the fit. “They have been very welcoming and really nurturing,” she said. “If you have something that you enjoy doing, they want to lift you up so that you can do it. It's like an extended family.
“There are so many different ways for people to volunteer. So many people have good intentions, but getting from intention to doing the job, that's where people have a hard time. If you can give them an avenue [for volunteering], it's so rewarding for them and for you. You almost feel selfish because you feel so good after doing something.”
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