Tag Archives: Volunteering

Heavenly Sleep

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Have you ever thought about your bed? What it means to have one? Or like me, do you take for granted the soft mattress, warm covers and comfy pillow? And even more importantly being off the floor? Just think what it would be like to sleep on the floor night after night. That discomfort would permeate your life. So how would it feel to be a kid in that situation? Lacking not only the comfort but the safety of having their own bed.

That might never have crossed my mind, if it were not for my long-time high school friend, Julie. Last year she and her husband, Craig, learned about Sleep in Heavenly Peace (SHP), a nationwide non-profit organization that builds and delivers beds to local children who need them. It’s easy to think that it’s not a problem in our community. But the truth is that the estimated need in Duluth is 2,400 beds. They dove right in and started a new chapter in Duluth, the only one of 5 chapters in Minnesota north of the Twin Cities.

As a bit of background, SHP was started in 2012 when Luke Mickelson and his family built a bed for a family who needed it. That grew into a national movement to ensure that “No Kid Sleeps on the Floor in Our Town.” There are now over 450 local chapters that build and deliver beds for their own community. Their second mission is to build community by hosting volunteer opportunities to build the beds.

I began hearing about this from Julie, when we baked our annual candy cane cookies, when we got our East High gals together for breakfast, whenever I saw her, actually. I might never have joined the cause had it not been for technology. Befuddled by the computer systems they were required to use, Julie began coming to me with questions. Then she asked if I’d be their IT consultant. From there it wasn’t a big leap to join the Core Team. There I learned that the biggest reward was not solving their technical issues, but joining in the real cause. Building beds to get children off the floor.

Last week we did a “Build” with First Lutheran Church volunteers. It was my first introduction to the full experience, from set-up to clean-up. Our SHP chapter provides all the lumber, tools, supplies, work tables and other materials, which we laid out in workstations in their parking lot. When the 30+ volunteers recruited by the church arrived, Julie held a short training session then they split up into teams to begin the sanding, drilling, stapling, pounding, and assembly work, with core team members overseeing each station. Soon it sounded like a busy beehive as the sanders buzzed, background music to the other tasks.

I was amazed at how quicky these volunteers learned their jobs and jumped into the work. There was something for everyone to do. Supervised youth assembled the slats or threaded washers on large screws. More experienced folks manned the drill press. Everyone else pitched in wherever there was a need.

As components moved down the line, we began stockpiling side rails, headboards, safety rails and slats. Then more fun began. The main parts required staining in custom-made troughs. I filled in at that station, donning the heavy rubber apron and gloves needed for the messy task, and soon found my rhythm lifting, dunking and wiping.

The final touch was branding the headboards with an SHP logo. The youth especially liked this part, taking the red-hot branding iron from the fire and burning in the logo.

In just over three hours, components for 20 beds were completed by this amazing crew!

But it doesn’t stop there. Every bed is delivered complete with mattress, mattress protector, sheets, pillow and quilt – ready to be slept in right away. All at no cost to the recipient. The church held a bedding drive, sewing quilts, donating sheets and pillows and ordering mattresses. So these beds are ready for delivery.

It was a long day’s work for the team, but more rewarding and energizing than I could ever have imagined. I didn’t think I could add much to the process, but was swept along to pitch in on various tasks. And I can’t wait for the next Build, including one at my own church later this year.

So far our chapter has delivered 17 beds – quite a feat for our start-up year. I have yet to go along on a delivery, but I’m told it is a heartwarming experience. Like the teen who called from school to thank them for his new bed. The smiles on the faces tell it all. In the words of the organization’s mission, “At SHP, we fully believe that a bed is a basic need for the proper physical, emotional, and mental support that a child needs.”

Our goal for this year is to build and deliver 80 beds. We find kids through social workers, schools, churches, first responders, or anyone who hears of a child who needs a bed. Any adult can apply for a bed for a child on our website if they meet these criteria: Ages 3-17, lives in our delivery area, does not have a bed. All applications are fully vetted then assigned to a delivery team. And before long, another child has a bed to call their own, a spot to snuggle and sleep, trade secrets with a best friend, or lie down and read a good book.

Funny how opportunities find us and enrich our lives. In this case I not only got drawn in to assist in a good cause, but now work with a team of amazing folks I’d never met before. Julie and I have regained the close relationship we had all through Jr and Sr High, along with our fellow Girl Scout friend, Sue. So many rewards.

There are so many ways to get involved. We are so thankful for all the grants we have received, and for donations made on our website. There are many ways to volunteer, including participating in public Builds. Bedding items can be purchased from our Amazon Wishlist, and sent to us directly with no tax or shipping. Wondering if there is a chapter in your area? Check this list. Have questions for us? Email us at mn-duluth@shpbeds.org. You never know, you might run into an old high school buddy!

Tending the Light

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We knew that Crisp Point Lighthouse was remote yet charming, but nothing prepared us for the beautiful sight that greeted us upon our arrival. Not only was the tower in good repair – having been brought back from the brink of endangerment in 1997 – but it’s supporters have rebuilt it’s service building, constructed a visitor center and landscaped the area with boardwalks and plantings to protect the dunes. It’s truly a testament to a dedicated group of individuals in the Crisp Point Light Historical Society. Along with a thorough orientation by the volunteers who preceded us on site, we knew we were off to a good start for our 5-day stint as lighthouse hosts.
wpid-Photo-20140618171941.jpgWe have easily settled into our job of manning the visitor center. There we are surrounded by an impressive array of lighthouse souvenirs to sell, along with displays of historical items. It is easy to linger and read the various pieces of literature in our downtime, absorbing more lighthouse history. With plenty of slow periods, we can easily take turns minding the shop and wandering the grounds.Greeting visitors is the best part of our duties. At times the whole parking lot is full, and at others we have a slow flow of customers who dribble in one vehicle at a time. Some even come by dirt bike or ATV. But they are all unique and come for different reasons. For those new to the lighthouse, just surviving the road to reach it feels like an achievement, but invariably worth it. And there are those who have been coming for years. They have great stories to tell, having seen the place before it’s recent improvements. Or when they could walk the beach in front of the lighthouse – land which has since been reclaimed by Lake Superior. We even met a man who once spent hours in the cold October Lake Superior waters to help build barriers to protect the lighthouse – all done by hand. And then there are the avid lighthouse collectors, on a quest to visit as many lighthouses as possible. Finally, those who come for a different reason entirely – rock hunting on the beach. All have something to share, enriching our own experience while on duty.
Outside our lighthouse obligations our life is pretty simple here. We have a campsite in a tidy enclosure, surrounded by the sturdy boardwalks leading to the lighthouse, beach and viewing areas. It has everything we need – a grill, fire ring, picnic table and soft sand under our tent for comfortable sleeping.

The longer we are here, the easier it is to surrender to this existence. Our world is small, but the beaches and the horizon stretch forever. Our options are limited, but I have little need for much besides a good book to read. Our technology is rendered useless, but I don’t really miss it. In fact, it’s quite liberating not being a slave to the internet.We were lucky to see this beautiful rainbow!This place is a photographer’s dream. At this time of year we can see both sunrises and sunsets, with the lighthouse adding a dramatic setting. Even I tend to carry my camera around wherever I go. Somehow the lighthouse takes on a different appearance throughout the day, and we never tire of looking for new angles or shots to take. Theoretically we have pure dark for vivid stars and night skies, although the clouds have not obliged on that front. But a short cloudburst this evening delivered a stunning rainbow – an unexpected gift.

Being able to go up in the lighthouse tower is a treat, particularly in the off- hours. From there we can survey our surroundings, seeing it from a new vantage point. A perk of the job. And the visitor center has proven to be a godsend. Numerous times we have sought shelter there, whether it be from the wind, the rain or the ravenous mosquitoes. A haven for hassled campers.

Rich out on the catwalk at the top of the lighthouseYes, it’s a good gig we have here. Definitely worth repeating. We’ll be back again next year to tend the light.

Lighthouse Keeping

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For the second time this year, we are setting out on a working vacation, retirement style. The deal involves trading volunteer hours for lodging in a unique setting. Last winter we worked at Snow Mountain Ranch in Colorado. This time our destination is Crisp Point Lighthouse in Michigan’s UP near Whitefish Bay.

This lighthouse is one of five positioned between Grand Island and Whitefish Point. It’s only a distance of about 50 miles, but Lake Superior claimed numerous ships in this stretch in the 1800s, leading to its moniker as “The Shipwreck Coast.” Pressure to build lighthouses began in the 1850s but it was 1904 before Crisp Point finally received funding and became operational. It remained in service until 1993. After nearly falling into disrepair with Lake Superior encroaching on its shoreline and lapping at its base, the lighthouse was saved by some enterprising folks who ultimately founded the Crisp Point Light Historical Society. That group has done extensive restoration and preservation work, ensuring the survival of the lighthouse for future generations to enjoy.

Lighthouse and attached service building, years ago

Crisp Point Lighthouse is said to be a beauty. Its remoteness enhances the appeal of the site, with Lake Superior’s unspoiled shoreline providing a dramatic backdrop. Only the lighthouse remains of the multiple buildings that comprised the orginal complex. The attached service building was recently rebuilt, and a new visitor center resembles the old fog signal structure.

Our gig is to man the visitor center and keep the buildings and grounds clean. We are expected to greet visitors and open the tower and gift shop from 10-5. Our instructions tell us we must “maintain the high standards of friendliness, neatness and cleanliness” in carrying out our duties. Just how many guests we will entertain is uncertain. Given that the lighthouse is located at the end of an 18-mile dirt road in an already sparsely populated area, it is not a sight to attract casual tourists. But the true lighthouse affectionados will find their way there.

Our accomodations on site will be a rustic campsite perched on the edge of Lake Superior. Devoid of running water, electricity and other amenities including cell reception, we will have to be self-sufficient for our 5-day stint. While it’s not required to stay overnight on the lighthouse grounds, to us that is the whole appeal. We even upsized to a 3-man pup tent for more elbow room, a luxury of car camping. Having our own slice of Lake Superior shoreline, sitting by a crackling campfire, reveling in the super dark night skies and the ever-hopeful possibility of Northern Lights are the draw for us.

We should arrive at Crisp Point tomorrow morning about 8:00, in time to talk to the volunteers who are preceding us and get some pointers before assuming our duties at 10am. After that we will be out there on our own with little connection to the outside world, just like lighthouse keepers of old. Check back with us in about a week to see if we find ourselves fit for the job.

 

 

The Latest Adventure

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Just four and a half months since we cycled to the end of our Grand Gaspé Cycling Tour, we are on our way to another new vacation experience. This time we have loaded up our cross-country skis and are headed for the Rockies. Although we won't be self-propelled between destinations this trip, we will be “self-supported” during our stay.

Snow Mountain Ranch Nordic Center

With retirement comes plenty of free time, and an incentive to conserve funds. So when we heard about the volunteer opportunitites at Snow Mountain Ranch, a Nordic Ski Center run by the YMCA of the Rockies in Colorado, we didn't hesitate a moment before filling out the application. When the call came to say we were “hired” we were thrilled. We've never skied in the Rockies before, and are unlikely to spend the big bucks to go there, so it was the perfect solution.

It's a sweet gig indeed. For three weeks we will work as volunteers for 28 hours a week, in exchange for room and board, and access to 100 kilometers of mountain ski trails. They are putting Rich to work in IT, doing a PC upgrade on all their computers. I chose a more leisurely pursuit – working in the craft shop, helping others with their projects. The remainder of the time we are free to enjoy the amenities of the center, most notably the ski trails. For a couple of XC skiing enthusiasts, what could be better?

We have it on good authority that they treat their volunteers well, as they are the life blood of the operation. And in fact most of them return year after year. Some stay the entire winter, but newcomers like us are encouraged to try it out on a shorter term basis. I'm sure they will be checking us out as much as we are them. The staff accomodations are reported to be 60's style motel rooms – right up our alley having spent night after night in budget motels on our cycling trip. And someone else will be doing the cooking – sounds good to me.

We check in tomorrow afternoon. Let the adventure begin!

 

Experiencing Habitat for Humanity

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It was my first time volunteering to help build a house. I know nothing about construction, but I was warmly welcomed and put to work. In this case, the project was nearing completion – after only 8 “volunteer weeks” the house was ready for indoor finishing work. I spent two and a half days wielding a paint brush, coating countless feet of trim and interior doors with coat after coat of semi-gloss paint. It was not exactly challenging, but it was work that needed to be done and it was a task that felt safe and comfortable for me. On my final afternoon, however, that changed. Without doubting my capabilities, the site supervisor assigned me and a young partner to trim the doorways. In no time, we were measuring, cutting, mitering corners and hefting powerful nail guns powered by compressed air. What looked so simple when he demonstrated for us took a lot more thinking on our parts, but we mastered it! And the result was not bad. I may have felt timid at first, but the resulting sense of accomplishment was the highlight of my tenure on that project.

But I gained a whole lot more than that out of the experience. I learned that Habitat for Humanity is as much about the humanity as the habitat. Like most people, I did not really know how the organization operated. It’s not just building affordable houses, it’s setting up new homeowners to succeed. Habitat families must put in 300-500 hours of sweat equity, helping build their own home and other Habitat houses. They must meet specific income requirements, and qualify for their mortgage. They attend classes on managing their finances and home maintenance. It put the homes in a whole new perspective.

But there was another side of the humanity. Working alongside other volunteers, I met people from a variety of backgrounds. We were encouraged to talk, take breaks and eat lunch together. Each day I partnered with different individuals, learning more about them through the course of our work day and I was inspired by their stories. I worked alongside a young woman who was just diagnosed with MS. Despite dealing with the side effects of her new medications and the lurking uncertainty over her future health, she worked tirelessly and eagerly. A young architecture student was putting in 8 weeks at Habitat this summer, gaining practical knowledge for her future profession. Retired folks were there for the entire week, some lending expertise from their former careers. One of them put in over 60 days on Habitat houses last year. One man took a day of vacation from his job to work with us. A Hmong brother and sister, college students, chipped in for a day. We were a motley crew, but made to feel appreciated.

I wonder what I’ll learn next time?