Winter is coming...

Today it’s sunny and in the 60’s, making it difficult for me to believe that Thanksgiving is really next week.

Though, on Monday the winter shelter at the Oakland Army Base opened up and the number of guys contacting me about getting a voucher to stay there is a sure sign that rain and cold weather is on the way. In total there are one-hundred beds, thirteen of which we distribute from SVdP. The guys can stay there for 28 consecutive days between the hours of 5p.m. and 8 a.m., and are also provided with transportation to and from the base.

It’s great to be able to help 13 people find shelter for the winter, but at the same time it’s a reminder of just how many people are in need of a place to sleep. I’ve felt a bit like Scrooge having to turn so many people away, but that’s just the reality of the situation.

In other news, the men’s center has been chaotic as always. This week I had to call 9-1-1 after a man had a seizure in the shower. After seizing for a couple of minutes, he seemed to be okay, a little disoriented, but the response time of the paramedics was less than stellar had it been a more serious situation. Moral of the story, please don’t have a heart attack in the men’s center.

While that was going on an older man who mostly just comes into the center to check his mail came in waddling rather quickly with a serious case of the runs. I’m not sure if he made it to the bathroom on time, and I didn’t ask as he re-emerged twenty minutes later shaking his head.

This afternoon there’s another graduation ceremony for the latest batch (pun intended!) of culinary students to complete the 12-week program. For the final project each student prepares a dish that is served after the ceremony for family, friends and staff, so in preparation I ate a light breakfast and lunch and should be ready to put on a Kobayashi-esque eating display.