February Greetings
February Greetings Dearest Hub Family!
I write to tell you of the pearls and seaweed gathered from our first two months of community based learning, building, and honing our unique power-sharing practices and off-grid shower system.
Heart Growth:
As we settle in under the Morrison Bridge we have been working out questions such as:
“What is the kindest way to ensure people get showers that genuinely make them feel happier, better cared for, and fully respected while ensuring others waiting get their showers in a timely fashion too?”
Happily, our all-staff problem solving circle came up with the marvelous idea of asking patrons to select their preferred time up to 20 minutes. This has smoothed the timely flow of showers and while enhancing satisfaction. Staff have also decided to hold a forum to ask patrons how they think we should balance timely showers with ensuring more challenged patrons get the time their disabilities require.
This is the daily work of the hub: identifying areas of social friction and puzzling through how to address friction as a community; asking all to invest the time and heart to figure out fair, kind, equitable ways to meet our collective aims.
Technical Milestones:
After 3 alternate hot water heaters, 6 pumps, 2 generators, and a new main battery - we are hopeful that, as of this week, we finally have an off-grid shower system that works reliably. WOOT WOOT! Now we can turn to a new issue: becoming so popular we need a new tank of water (275 gallons) every night! It’s a good issue to have.
Channeling Joy:
Even as snow and ice, and mechanics have challenged us, something special is unfolding at H4A. Our nights are punctuated by singing in the shower, impromptu guitar concerts, and dancing patrons and staff bopping around the edges of our painted medallion, lit up by the swank café lights. And then there is the mysterious appearance of curious bobble-creatures from an unknown benefactor. A shrine to honor them all - from Dental-Hygienist to Muppet bobblehead - is in the works.
Where We Need Help:
As H4A’s popularity and patrons increase we need funds to keep up with doubling water costs (A regular donation of $15 a month for a year = an additional night of water for showers at H4A).
We need volunteer supply helpers to help support organizing, tracking, and delivery of cleaning supplies, underwear, socks, hygiene related toiletries and more. This work is contactless and COVID safe.
Finally, we need laundry helpers - to help pick up, launder, and deliver towels. Currently I handle those jobs which takes time away from the vital work of attending to emerging power sharing processes, building our community-focused assessment tools, and grant writing.
Your ongoing passion for our endeavor is the lifeblood pumping through our daily practices, keeping us all vibrant and hopeful. We unabashedly hope we can draw you further into our joyous human effort, so that - together - we can be the spark that lights the fire for bolder changes so urgently needed in these times.
In Solidarity and Hope -
Sandra and the Hub Crew