Director's Deliberations - July edition

There is a Warming Center because of you! And though you may be tired of hearing that, it is critical that you remember it. For the fact is, there would be no Center without you. Thank you! 

Preparations for season eight (8) are in full swing and in the near future you will be hearing about volunteer training dates and updates. The leadership team and the board are diligently working together to be sure that — come December 1 — we will be ready to open the doors and welcome our guests into a safe, warm place.  

As I am sure you are aware, we live in some challenging times. With recent changes in available funds, executive orders issued concerning those experiencing homelessness, increased costs for housing (who would ever imagine that the average cost for a house in Boston would be $1 million and rental costs would follow the same pattern), the rapid increase of persons displaced and experiencing homelessness, and more — we could get discouraged and paralyzed by fear.  

There are a number of things that one could do, but for us — the Malden Warming Center — we are going to continue to be who we are and do what we do! We are going to continue to practice hospitality and to provide a safe warm place for those who are experiencing homelessness. We will continue to collaborate with other care providers and organizations to assist our guests as much as we can. We are going to remember that we are serving people who presently need help and are dealing with any number of issues or problems in their lives. And we will do all we can to help them remember that they are people, and that their challenges and problems don’t define them. Someone cares! We care! 

Thank you again for what you do to make sure there is a Malden Warming Center. Whether you consider your part large or small, you and what you do is important. Together we make a difference in someone’s life. You are appreciated! 

Looking forward to season 8! 

Grace and peace to you, 

Pastor Gerry