Here it is! The Seed as seen from the street. Was it what you were expecting??
The first window is reception, and the last three are offices.
Reception: One of my lovely 7th Day Adventist volunteers. What a great group of people, always so happy and willing to do whatever needs doing. This is where the guests check in, and scan their card; also where they can't keep fish alive. Where so much of the drama and action happen; police and EMS arrive through here, guests voice their displeasure here, new guests wait their turn for in-take. I've had many heart to hearts here with (too) young women who have been turned away, or kept people company who've been kicked out and waiting for police to arrive. This is also where I leave exhausted every Sunday night at 10, either completely weary from a stressful shift, or completely energized (like last night) after a really positive and uplifting 5 hours.
Zone 2: Where searches are done. When the bus from downtown arrives and there are a lot of people on it, they are sent to 2nd check in, where they are given their mat number, and meal ticket. The line if often 30 people deep and they are 'randomly' picked for searches, random is relative, as sometimes the searches are quite un-random. If the person has a history of sneaking booze or drugs or weapons in, they know they'll be searched, but we do walk along the line and if there are suspicious smells, they are also questioned and have to empty their pockets and bags. We hear "Its my buddy's beer" or "I didn't put that in there" quite a bit.
Second Check-in. That window is an office where we make new cards and do in-takes. And guests in the line make faces and stare when you're in there. Some funny, some creepy, all out of boredom.
Me and Ryan being silly. We love each other like brother and sister. I'm really very lucky to know him, he's leaving us for a summer job at a camp and I'm very sad. The dynamics will be so very different without him; I feel very protected by him and when someone is giving me a hard time, all I do is radio him and the guest immediately apologies and does what I've asked three times already. Its a little bit like tattling, only a higher (and much more mature) level. :-)
Trunk Room: Cute 7th Day volunteer whom I've never met before and don't know his name. But he's in the trunk room. This is up the stairs from the main area and each guest is assigned a trunk that locks and volunteers have the key to open them (universal key, thank goodness) and can store thier personal belongings, like blankets, shower stuff, books etc since they can't leave anything on their mats during day because (the mats)are completely disinfected in the mornings. Plus, their stuff is at risk to be stolen if left around. Cameras do little to deter theft at the Seed. I've watched it with my own eyes, when they think noone is looking. So crazy. Also saw on camera (not in real life) a girl go over to her boyfriends mat (they have different sections, obviously) and stomp on his head. Craziest thing ever, it was dark since everyone was sleeping ... Not for long!!!
View of mat area from the Trunk Room. Can you see the office?(the Bridge)? We have a birds eye view of the action from there. (had to sneak pictures - guests spaz if they see a camera, you have to remember, theres a lot of mental illness and paraniod people and the reaction is quite negative. Volunteers, however, were more than willing!! )
Ok. don't laugh. I had to smudge out their faces and did a hack job .. My photog sisters will be embarassed for me) But this is the eating/main area. See them lined up for dinner already? Watching the hockey game, playing cards, chatting, and I must say they were pretty quick to point out a sticker that was on the back of my pants, much to my sheer embarassment as one of the guest was (sincerely) trying to help me remove the distraction. He apologized later for making me uncomfortable. And the door at the top of the stairs is the computer room.
Clothing Room: Guests can "shop" three times a week, once on Mon, Tues, or Wed and once again on Thurs, Fri or Sat. Sunday is a 'free' day.
Ken - staff who makes the world a brighter place. We were so silly together last night. Making us new cards with a gangster poses and a nickname. We must've been tired because we giggled all night like a bunch of fools. His sense of humor is rare and dry and its fun to see him tip-toe over the line he thinks he might be crossing with me.
Back mat area. The door on the left side of the picture is the storage room. I should've taken pictures of it. Stacks and stacks of milk crates of shampoos, soaps, razors, shaving cream. You name it, its there! Very cool.
Another angle of the back mat area. Those mattresses are from the Olympics, used by the athletes and will be given to guests who apply for, and meet the criteria for the "Rapid-Exit" program the Seed provides to give a hand up to those who are willing and able to work hard to get out of their current situation. I'd be jealous, but then I'd have to be homeless to get one of them and I'd rather sleep on a futon the rest of my life if thats the case.
The disabled lockers and the Blanket area. These lockers are for those who are unable to make it up the stairs to the Trunk Room, whether they've temporarily injured themselves or they are wheelchair bound. And blankets (locked safely away in the cabinet) are handed out to guest every three weeks, and not a minute earlier regardless of their story. I think I come across as being really gullible, cuz man alive, I get some doozies of stories. But this chick has been around enough to know the difference - so I pass it off to staff!! haha. This volunteer below- oh, I just can't say enough about my volunteers - this guy was brought to us by his buddy who is a Sunday regular and they're such a cool duo and bring a really neat element to Sunday nights. They missed the last two weeks because of school and it was truly a different place without them. I heart them. They are kids, literally, like can barely vote which is encouraging to know there are parents out there sending kids like this into the world, into our future.
Thats all folks! Hope you enjoyed your tour. Now you can get a feel for where I am each Sunday and though the pictures can't really give you any idea as to why I am so in love with it there, I hope it gives you a better picture of where I run around like a fool some nights, sit and chat with the regulars, give newbies a guided tour to make them feel a little bit more welcome and settled and get hassled by Ryan and Ken.
If you think about it, or when you do, can you shoot a little prayer up for the continued operations of this amazing place? Their (staff and managment) hearts are truly in the right place, their motives are pure and they are moving people off the street into affordable housing, and giving them the tools to survive the real world in spite of their past. I know I've been cranky and grumbly for the last 5 months, but each week, I am reminded of how lucky I am to be who I am. These guests have exhausted their resources,whether its family, friends, employment, brain cells, whatever. Some parents are frantic, some are here with their kids, some don't have a clue or a care that their son or daughter is here. For the life of me, I don't know why I've become so attached to this ministry, but I have and I ask for your prayers as the SEED continues to rely on all of us to survive and to be a safe place for those who have nowhere or noone to go to.
Didn't mean to get all deep and stuff ...
Thats it for me. For now. Love and Happy-ness.
Leanne
