Chicago Lights

As a part of our semester experience in Chicago, we are to complete 50 hours of community service at the Chicago Lights Program.  We are to be working with Abby Farnham during the Sunday Night Dinners. 

I was actually quite shocked at our first day there.  I didn't really know what to expect, but we were to be working in a beautiful old Presbyterian church that is actually about kitty corner to where I work.  That makes me a pro of the redline. 

While working here, our primary duty is to help with Sunday Night Dinners.  Throughout our time here, I have come to appreciate how much work Abbey and Jill and the other staff put into helping the homeless, in not just helping out, but in creating an experience as well.  This is the one day a week that people can come and feel just like every other person in the city. As part of the experience those dining can experience:

• Nicely sat tables
• Flower center pieces
• Rolled silverware
• Drink service
• Conversation
• Free bread or fruit

A typical day at Chicago Lights for me consists of setting up the tables and chairs with table cloths, flowers, and table numbers.  After that we are then supposed to help set out the donated bread or fruit that would later be handed out during dinner.  Depending on how much there is to do, Sam and I join Val in mixing the drinks. (Tea & Lemonade) Around 4:00pm people will start to trickle in and take their seats next to their friends and chat for about an hour.  During that hour 2-3 of us will carry around pitchers and serve everyone until dinner is served at 5:00pm and then continue to pour drinks throughout the night.

If I wasn't able to make it to Sunday's dinner, I would come in on either a Monday or Friday morning to help out where ever needed.  I worked mainly with Jill during those days.  On those days I would typically work in the closet.  The closet is another program offered through this service which allows people to come in every 2-3 months and pick up a new set of clothes.  This is appointment based, so all day there is one person picking out clothes during their 20 minute slot.  While I am there I usually go through donations and decide what to put out and what to pass on.  I have come across some super expensive clothing that anyone would want, sometimes I find myself wanting to go shopping there!  Again this service prides themselves on creating an experience that many people wouldn't get.  While there they can experience a real shopping event with:

• Use of a shopping cart
• A 'budget'
• Shuffle through hangers of clothing
• Go through a check out system
• Receive a nice brand name shopping bag

 Coming into this situation I wasn't necessarily shocked.  I grew up in a single (farming) income household most of my life, so I know what is like shopping second hand.  Heck, most of the clothes I own come from second hand shops.  I actually just got a new Burton winter coat from Goodwill for $3.00.  I can see how some of the other people on this experience might be shocked and feel lucky that they don't have to, but it has become second nature to me to save money that way and still dress the way I want. 

As a whole, the Chicago Lights experience has helped me to appreciate the line of work everyone from this program has done.  As much as everyone wants to do something meaningful in their lives, it takes a strong-hearted person to actually allow their lives to be consumed with helping others.