Shelter News 14
It was an interesting week at The Phinney Ridge Men’s Winter Shelter. The annual visit of the Seattle Academy Eighth Grade Challenge served our guests on Tuesday and Wednesday evening. The Wednesday group of eight eighth graders and two adults were particularly attentive in their serving and elicited a thankful and happy response from the men. One man remarked while the kids were leaving for the night, “Gee, those kids are gonna think homeless people are nice.” Such was the heartfelt thankfulness of the moment. Of course the reality is that some homeless people are nice, and some are not. Just like all other segments of society. The men and I then had a good laugh remembering a couple of events with past guests now banned from the Shelter. Thanks Seattle Academy for your service.
On another note I am calling it a tie in the ongoing competition of “dessert most quickly consumed”. Both Krista and Ryan had times of just under 15 minutes. Krista had the advantage of doing the actual cooking of her “dump” peaches there in our kitchen. (Please correct me if my spelling is wrong.) This is a peach cobbler like dish and the aroma went throughout the Shelter. But anyone who has tried to eat really hot peaches covered with a crisp crust knows it will slow you down quite a bit. I don’t think anyone was seriously injured.
Ryan, a welcome quest at the Shelter, walked miles holding a pie shaped container with cinnamon rolls topped with cream cheese frosting. I made the men wait until they ate their vegetables as usual before getting at the rolls. This may have added to the fervor with which they consumed the dessert. Anyone wishing to take part in this competition can see me for the qualifying details.
I understand that SPU is closing their tent city endeavor this weekend and it is moving to the Free Methodist in Shoreline I think. I mention this because we have our new pastor, Bob Zurinsky starting this week at Emmanuel Phinney Ridge Church and he was the campus pastor at SPU. Several of our servers are from that campus.
That’s the news from The Shelter where all the volunteers are good looking and all the men are above average.
Ben Paul 3-8-2015