Click here to read Update: Nevada pt.1

On Thursday morning, I set my alarm for 5:00am to get up in time to make it to the Las Vegas Catholic Worker's Soup Line in North Las Vegas. I had to be at the kitchen by 6:00am to help get the items ready and to load the trailer. The part of town the Las Vegas Catholic Worker (LVCW) has centered on is in the shadow of the glitzy lights north of “the Strip”. They do a variety of compassion ministries, with one of those being a morning soup line and serve up to three hundred men, women, and children Wednesday through Saturday mornings.

I fought my way through traffic to the Washington Avenue exist, (Amazing how many people are on the road at 5:30am.) where I was greeted by a detour which rapped me around the elevated interstate. The first right that I took brought me by one of the reasons for the LVCW to exist – at least twenty-five people were buried by blankets and coats, sleeping around the construction site and on the sidewalks. Even more people were shuffling along the street, moving toward the well-known shelters, work centers, and soup kitchens in the area. LVCW prepares the food in a house and then takes it to an empty lot about a half mile away. They make about fifty gallons of soup, stew, or spaghetti (depending on the day) in huge metal pots. Along with the main course, they serve donated breads, coffee, and “cold” tea.

I took some of the utensils and crates in my car along with Chris, another new volunteer, and drove to the lot. When we came closer to the distribution area, the sight made me do a double take. Here were hundreds of people, already lined up, in three makeshift columns waiting for a morning meal. The place was incredibly dusty, which made for a very surreal picture as the individuals mulled around. They looked like shadowy figures who were engulfed in a grayish-brown cloud; and with the sun rising, it made it the haze electrified. I've never seen anything like it in my life.

We all worked hard to get everything set up. I was told to take a ladle and fill the bowls handed to me by each person. All ages seemed to be represented. The young and the old, all who were hungry and where happy to get something hot into their stomachs and were each thankful. On Friday, I chose to do a different job – I poured “cold” tea. Each person brought their own cup or plastic water bottle or even an empty flask to have it filled. I wasn't as efficient as I was suppose to be so I one of the regular workers came over to help me get the job done.

After the food and drink were gone, we cleaned up the lot, re-packed the trailer, and headed back to wash the dishes. You couldn't help but wonder how everyone got to the point of needed to show up and the crack of dawn to eat a mass produced meal. (By the way, it was excellent tasting. Kudos to the chefs!) I was able to gain incredible amounts of wisdom from the workers as they informed me that most people don't know how to define the word “homeless”. I had to think about my definition and quickly realized it was lacking. What I gleaned from my time there was the need to do good to all people, no matter their situation or where they are in life, it's not fair to group people into one category since everyone's situation is unique and important.

Definitely get involved with the Las Vegas Catholic Workers when in the area. You'll be glad you did.

Also, on Thursday and Friday, I hustled over from working at Opportunity Village to work with the fine folks of Club Christ Ministries.

Club Christ helps Las Vegas' urban youth “by offering a safe after school environment students are able to reach their potential. Every week kids interact with caring adult as they experience academic enrichment exercises, leadership development programs, community service and opportunities to participate in a faith community.” My contact was Kendra Perry, the director at Landsman Learning Center in Henderson, Nevada (one of their three campuses). She is a native to the city and has a huge desire to see the community transformed. Her plan includes providing resources to families by offering educational helps, entrepreneurial exercises, and community awareness events.

In the center of a government housing block, there's a community building that was originally set up as a medical clinic. After they ended their stay, the Club Christ team was able to lease the building if it was used to provide a social service to the people directly around it. Monday and Wednesday, elementary students and Tuesday and Thursday, middle school students use the center for a safe place to have fun and games along with a time to do homework and get help with their studies. On Friday, there is an optional Bible Club time which provides moral guidance and allows the students to connect with the adults in smaller group environment.

They are doing really great things in their community and you should be involved with it. Even if you're unable to work hands on with the tutoring, you can use your resources to provide encouragement to the kids by donating gift cards to their organization. The cards are great incentives and the boost in studies helps supplement the local schools in their efforts to provide quality instruction.

From my few days there, I was able to see the heart that this ministry has for the community and it is really good! Just contact them and ask them what they need or tell them what you can offer...everything helps.

Three states have gone by so fast and I have made so many good connections already, it makes me sad to leave but excited to see what's around the next corner. Every state and every charity seems to motivate me more and is one of those crazy lessons you learn about volunteering: helping others brings joy to you. Funny how that works – see you in Utah!