May 27, 2009

ROCKLIN-LOOMIS BASIN ROTARY TAKES A HAND TO HELP THE HOMELESS IN PLACER COUNTY

When President Ed Krumwiede called on his Rotary club to help feed the homeless through “The Gathering Inn” program, he expected a handful of Rotarians to show up on a hot Sunday evening. More than 20 Rotarians, family members, and guests prepared food and were at the ready on May 17 when about 50 homeless folks showed up to be fed and housed overnight at the Methodist Church in Roseville.

Rotarians and their helpers were first instructed in food safety and the “rules” of helping feed the homeless guests from various parts of Placer County. The menu included spaghetti casseroles, chilled water and juice, rolls, salads, and deserts. The Rotarians greeted the homeless people and mingled with them as they ate. By the end of the evening, President Ed and other Rotarians were in conference with the organizers of the “Gathering Inn” about the club providing food and service on a rotating basis in the future. “We hope to get other area service clubs involved, said Ed, and perhaps we can be regular contributors in helping this important project continue.

Suzie Defosset of “The Gathering Inn” brought a message to the club on March 4 that no one wanted to hear. More people in our communities are in need of help now than in memory. And, we’re not talking here about people who have through their own negligence and wastefulness find themselves homeless. We’re talking here about people who have nowhere to turn, families, children and people who are without the means to sustain them through no fault of their own, Suzie said.

Suzie and her organization “The Gathering Inn” have set out to do something about it. TGI is a non-profit organization, assisted by more than 40 churches, offering a faith-based response to homelessness in south Placer County. They put into action their time, talent, and energy to provide meals and overnight accommodations for people who are struggling with homelessness. They work in collaboration with Placer County and many cities, such as Roseville, Auburn and Rocklin, to offer services to address the causes of homelessness.

The problem of homelessness is huge these days, Suzie explained. Up to 60 people per night are housed at different churches in the area. They get a shower, clean socks, a place to store their belongings, and a bed bag with two blankets and a pad. 32 different churches host and provide a meal and a place to stretch out and sleep.

Some of the churches provide job placement services and The Gathering Inn organization helps connect “clients” with services that help them with counseling and assistance to find housing. They sponsor a substance abuse program and plan to offer “triage” medical care. Half of the people who seek help are doing so for the first time, Suzie said. Many of the “new” clients are families with children. Each “client” gets a free TB test through the County. Those seeking help must be clean and sober and cannot be on the list of sex offenders.

At that March 4 meeting in Loomis, Suzie helped us understand the plight of people who seek help from “The Gathering Inn.” The organization is supported by donations and grants. She said the club could help by donating “motel” soaps and shampoos, which are ideal for the individual use of those who seek help. She also planted the seed that flowered on May 17 when the 21 club members and their family members showed up with a prepared meal for the homeless at the church in Roseville.

“We believe in service to our community and the world,” President Krumwiede said. “Our 40 members donate dictionaries, fund school innovation grants, and offer thousands of dollars in scholarships each year at the local level. But we also look beyond our own community: we’ve helped a refugee family in the Congo this year and provided solar cookers and water purity sensors in villages in South Africa.” “Wherever there’s a need, around the corner or thousands of miles away, Rotary responds on the basis of its motto: Service above self.” He said.

The Rotary Club of Rocklin-Loomis Basin meets each Wednesday at the Whitney Oaks Golf Club. On the first Wednesday of each month, they meet at the Ugly Mugg restaurant in Loomis. Membership is open to any business or professional person who desires to make a difference in their community and the world through an organization of 32,000 clubs with 1.2 million members in more than 160 countries throughout the world.

Prepared by Larry Kavanaugh

Rotary Club of Rocklin-Loomis Basin

632-1978

larrykav@ssctv.net

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