Flower Ladies
Recently our volunteer coordinator, Bekah, sat down for a conversation with two longtime volunteers in our community who organize 6 months worth of a schedule to help pick up donations from outside organizations, like Trader Joe’s - they donate bins of their flowers to us every Thursdays. Beyond being the “flower ladies” at Listening House, Pat and Pam have been in our space hearing hundreds of stories and making just as many connections with our guests over the years.
What brought you to Listening House?
[Patricia (Pat) Melody]
I was at the Dorothy Day Center in 1982, until it closed, and during that time I was aware and felt connected to Listening House. There was a closeness to our guests at Dorothy Day and I wanted to continue those close relationships, so I came to Listening House. After the pandemic hit, I was diagnosed with COVID-19 early on and was unavailable for quite some time. Now that I am back, I enjoy talking with our guests, hearing their stories, and sharing a cup of coffee with them.
[Pam Troje]
I started at Listening House after trying Joseph’s Coat, Bedrolls at St. Olaf’s and more out on the East side. Nothing seemed to fit. I was a retired LPH and missed serving people. I missed the one to one interaction. When I visited LH, there was so much positive energy, smiles, respect, and hope. One young man had just gotten some nice clothes, a haircut, shower, and put his duffle in a cubby and said, “I don’t want to look homeless going to a interview”; LH made that happen. I observed folks playing chess, another guest helping another translating a bus transfer schedule, and people having conversations over a cup of coffee like we would do at Starbucks. I love seeing the library books being taken and the fact there was always enough food.
What has your experience as a volunteer been like? What are some things you do as a volunteer here?
[Patricia (Pat) Melody]
This volunteer position has been so rewarding. Where else can you find the opportunity to talk and listen, hear stories, understand who our guests are and where they’re at in life? Some of the guests here I have known since Dorothy Day, and they truly feel like family. My “job” as a volunteer varies depending on the days. Often I am mingling with guests over a cup of coffee, delivering cakes, or organizing donation drop-offs of flowers and plants from a local Trader Joe’s. Many of my friends and family are aware of what I do here, and often, they and neighbors will just leave things at my door to bring to LH. Recently, a friend’s spouse went into a facility and she gave me his clothes to donate to the guests. A friend of mine lives in an independent living facility and she will gather items there to donate as well.
[Pam Troje]
I like delivering the flowers, staying for coffee and chatting with the guests. Trader Joe’s loves to give us flowers - I must have had 50 bouquets this last Thursday of lilies, roses, daisies, baby breaths, little plants of succulents, basils, and an orchid. My car was jampacked. Every year I send a personal note thanking Trader Joe’s that includes expressions of joy or experiences over those flowers with some general details about Listening House. This year, Trader Joe’s supervisor read it to their employees and then sent it to California to the office there. They never get a thank you like this in the office there. It was not my writing that did it; they just know we don’t take it for granted and appreciate each bloom. It is an easy job of 1 1/2 hours from start to finish. You just have to protect your car from water; I use 4 big plastic bins, 2 Menards pails and a table cloth across my back seat. I buzz the door bell at the back of the store in the delivery area. They deliver it in grocery carts and I put it into my car. I had 4 carts this time, there are times I have much less. I call when I am in front of LH to say I have flowers and they come up and bring them down for me and bring the bins back up… I then like to stay and chat with the guests and have a cup of coffee. It is my dream job.
What would you say to someone looking to volunteer at Listening House?
[Patricia (Pat) Melody]
I would assure them that it will be an unforgettable experience. So many of our people are often labeled and misunderstood. But, getting to know this population and be in spaces with them has been a blessing in my life. They are no different than a neighbor, each one has his or her own story to tell. And hearing those stories can be hard sometimes, but also heartwarming and endearing. I have appreciated getting to know all the other volunteers as well. I thank God for this experience that I never could have found any place else.
[Pam Troje]
This is where unconditional love lives and where a volunteer receives even more than the guests. It is a place of safety and hope. I have never been afraid or hesitant coming into the LH’s living room.
We truly appreciate all of our volunteers - they work they do, the hope and interactions they bring, and who they are. They are a core of Listening House and help in a different way than the staff does. We always encourage people to help in the way they can by using their interests, resources and specific skills and experiences. As a volunteer at Listening House, you are not limited by the areas that are available, you can make it your own. So, a big thank you to all those that have volunteered with us in the past and those that continue to come every day!
If you would like to volunteer with us, please visit our Volunteer page.
