By Sheila Feldman Buckmaster
When a homeless shelter in Talbot County was just a glimmer in the imaginations of concerned community members, Ann was a powerful part of the team that got the gears turning. Her involvement with a Wilmington, Delaware, shelter put her in a good position to help make an important dream come true. The group met regularly at the Easton library to brainstorm and plan. In 2008 TIS was formed; in 2009 the doors opened.
Yet even before the Talbot Interfaith Shelter was up and running, homeless individuals were temporarily housed at Ann’s church,
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship at Easton. Other faith communities in Talbot County opened their door, as well, generally two weeks at a time. (An aside: UUFE, is an open religious community that strives for social justice, values diversity, cares for one another, and protects the environment.) During the church’s tenure as a shelter, Ann engaged in overnight supervision and helped with meals. “Mostly, she says, “I just visited with the people who were staying there.”
That kindness and dedication easily spilled over to TIS. For the six years Ann was on the shelter’s Board of Directors, she always remained hands-on, playing with shelter kids on the living room floor, providing meals, gently helping shelter guests navigate the challenges that come with parenting.
She never would simply offer advice but rather would quietly identify cues—even just a gaze–when folks needed some help. She shares that it is all about subtleties. “I would engage them in conversation,” she says. Things would organically proceed from there.
Her professional life centered around children. As a Speech Language Pathologist, Ann is experienced in dealing with children—and their parents. In several instances at the shelter she could see that certain kids weren’t developing language skills appropriate to their age. When this was the case, she would notify a member of the staff to arrange for an evaluation that usually led to some early-childhood intervention.
Ann retired her Board position in July, but quickly points out that she might well return, at some point. In the meanwhile, she continues to wear many hats, including writing thank-you notes (by hand, of course) to donors and house-sitting at the shelter. There are three shifts daily, 8-11, 11-2, and 2-4, where volunteers field phone calls, greet visitors, and handle small administrative tasks. During down-time, volunteers read, knit, interact with shelter guests and play on the floor with the young kids.
Ann is a Team Captain for the 23rd of each month. Her team fills the house-sitting time slots and provides dinner for Evelyn’s Place, the singles shelter. Providing dinner can entail providing home-cooked food or delivering take-out food such a fried chicken or pizza with sides and desserts. The expense of the meals is covered by the team member or members.
Shelter guests, invariably cite good food as something for which they are grateful. TIS kitchens are spanking clean, and the dining-room tables are always nicely set, and, yes, the food is always good!
Maintenance of the kitchen and all spaces of both shelter homes are the responsibility of the guests. There is an expectation that the guests share the evening meal with each other unless they are working at a job.
Looking over her years of involvement with TIS, she says she’s seen the organization evolve from being a mom-and-pop, grassroots operation to something, well, far more business-like. The staff works efficiently with responsibilities clearly delineated (though members of the TIS staff are known for stepping in whenever and wherever needed).
“There are higher expectations for Board participation, such as an increased awareness of bringing in funds, in addition to helping with events and spreading the word.” People are always encouraged to come pay a visit, “just to see what we’re all about,” Ann says.
“We receive less than one percent of our income from government sources,” Ann shares, with a good amount of funding coming from private-foundation grants and, most important of all, community support.
Just as I close my laptop after spending time interviewing Ann for this profile story, Laura Richeson, Director of Development and Marketing joins us. They share a hug. They have become good friends.
“Ann is our volunteer extraordinaire, always ready to step up to the plate and pitch in,” Laura says. “Yes, she knows she can tap me for whatever needs to be done,” says Ann, who prides herself on being a doer. Someone dedicated to having an impact. TIS couldn’t be more grateful.
A Call to Serve
“Ann represents what makes Talbot Interfaith Shelter so special,” says Laura Richeson. “Our volunteers and donors are the heart of TIS. You don’t have to serve on a Board or make a large financial gift to make a difference. Whether you have a few hours to volunteer, can prepare a meal, write a note of encouragement, or make a donation, there is a place for you at TIS. Every act of generosity helps us provide more than a safe place to sleep—it helps our guests move toward stability, independence, and success. We invite you to join us, get involved, and be part of Team TIS.”
Talbot Interfaith Shelter is always on the look out for volunteers to join Team TIS. If you or someone you know is interested in getting involved, email new Volunteer Coordinator, Ray, at RRich-Vines@talbotinterfaithshelter.org.
Learn more about supporting TIS HERE
Follow TIS on Facebook HERE
