Service Learning Log 1 - Benjamin M. Paige

“Go ahead and grab yourself something to eat” “no thanks, I just ate”

But really, I’m STARVING. I haven’t eaten in about a day, but yet I cannot bring myself to eat this food. Am I such a stuck up a**hole that I won’t eat this fare, even though I’m extremely hungry, simply because I don’t like the type of cheese Pizza Hut uses. I guess so. I am doing service for the Denver Rescue mission out in Commerce City. I am the only volunteer here today but the kitchen is swarming with about two dozen other ‘residents’. I get to wear a ‘special’ apron because I am the guest server of the day. I feel so unique. But at least I have a job where my objective is clear. Cheese, pepperoni, or sausage?, and yes… it is the sausage from this morning. No, I’m sorry but the limit is two pieces (but ill happily give you my share).

These members are part of the “program”. This, as I come to find out, is a four step process of rehabilitation lasting about 14 months. My team leader, Tuesday Black, which, by the way, is the coolest name of all time, greets me with much more enthusiasm the second time after she finds out that I am here out of my own free will. But I am not much different than the other folks in the kitchen, yea I have seen that movie, I have been to that place before, I even like that same Foo Fighters song playing on the radio. But I think they see right through me, in my mind every time they greet me they might as well be saying, “I’m not even going to try and remember who you are and what your name is because I will probably never see you again in my entire life”, even though that is probably the furthest thing from their minds.

I felt much the same as you do on the first day of a new job, you don’t really know anyone, you aren’t really sure where to go or what to do. However, I did make a phenomenal cookie tray arrangement, so… there’s that. But I had a great time talking to the other folks there, mainly I was asking questions about “the program” and what kind of requirements there are, what the dropout rate is like and what, if any, spiritual commitment is involved. I realized that it’s a lot like those horrible African missionary stories that you hear about where a group of Christians go in to ‘seek and save the lost’ and will only give the poor starving people food once they accept a new Christian name and are able to recite bible passages from memory. Yet here at the DRM they do require you to pass random drug screens, which is good, People can choose to leave at any time, which is definitely a positive thing. Shelter, food, the warming glow of Jesus’ eternal love, what else could a person possibly ask for?

I found that the dropout rate was surprisingly high; several reports indicated that there was at least one a day from that location, which was not very large. And 90% of these were due to substance abuse, well heck; if they would stop doing so many surprise UA’s they would have a much higher retention, right? But then again, it is difficult to read the book of Mark with heroin running through your veins. Not that that is necessarily the case at all.

Overall it was a very rewarding experience, not just from what I saw, but also from what I didn’t see. There were still many vacant rooms at this location, and while not ideal, it was along a central bus line that can accommodate even the busiest urban workhorse. The stories about people getting removed or turned away, it’s really saddening on many different levels. I’m certain that I wouldn’t want to have to go to bible study every week, but I’m pretty sure I could handle it if it meant that I could get on the right track. But the folks who were there really seemed to take to it, they were engaging, respectful and darn right happy. I will forever remember my experience.