Tonight was my fourth and final time volunteering at Operation Nightwatch this year. Of all the different organizations I have worked with this year, Nightwatch has been the most influential on me. The center, open Thurs-Sat nights, provides a safe, substance free place for those looking for shelter from the streets. As a volunteer at Operation Nightwatch, it is my role to provide hospitality to our guests. Tonight was the fullest I have ever seen Nightwatch, and I have to believe it has to do with the cold weather we are getting in Portland. The reoccurring conversation for the evening was whether of not it would snow over night. This time of year, I am used to hearing friends and family wonder aloud if there will be snow with the nostalgic tones; hopeful for a white Christmas. For many of the guests at Nightwatch, snow is cause for concern. Around the room tonight I saw many familiar faces looking weary and some sick from the cold streets of Portland in December. I spent most of the evening playing board games with a guest who I see regularly around town, but have not seen since the Summer. Nearby a young man waited, barefoot, much of the night for a dry pair of sock to be fetched from the donated clothing. He was given new, dry socks and shoes that night. But the rain continues here and he is likely fighting off cold feet again. As volunteering experiences go, Nightwatch is sadder and more raw than most here in Portland, but for me, one of the reasons it is my favorite place to volunteer is, with the sadness and difficulty, the unique perspective of the blessed lives we live. I am grateful for this perspective, and for each person I've met at Operation Nightwatch.
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| Merry Christmas, Operation Nightwatch |
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