The weather is very strange here; one minute it's sunny and warm, and the next it's cloudy and cool. Like today, it was lovely until late day when the wind picked up as I was walking to the shelter. Normally we hang out outside to let people in as they come, but tonight all 3 of us were chilled from the wind so waited inside.
Well we got talking about hot water and how important it is for me to have hot showers. I admit that I'm a princess in that regard as I just can't do cold water showers. They make me miserable. It was then I learnt that they don't have hot water at the shelter, which didn't really surprise me, but at the same time on a reallly cold night, where everyone coming in was commenting on how cold they were, I couldn't imagine having to get into a cold shower, which as I've mentioned, is something they are expected to do. One poor new guy (and there were many new people tonight because of the cold) was told that there was hot water, I think as a joke, and I guess he was pretty happy until he got in and got a blast of the cold stuff which apparently made him screech a fair bit.
I learnt that they had the parts for the electric showers, but no cables to connect them. It would cost about 1500 quetzales (around $200) for the cables and installation. I questioned whether the project was trying to raise these funds and was told no, that it was up to them, the staff. Alex and Telma said that there were lots of donations going directly to Casa Jackson (the hospital for sick children) as an example, because everyone wants to help children. But that nobody wants to help adults, whom the staff pointed out, need help too. This translates to the shelter only being open 3 nights a week and without some basic things like hot water, which would be so appreciated especially in the cold months. I still questioned why the project wouldn't pool its resources and share them with the shelter, but the communication barrier didn't aid in my process of understanding unfortunately.
I was freezing, which I know may not mean much given that I am always cold, but it really was chilly. People were able to take two ponchos because of the cold, and they filled up on "atol" a hot drink made of different cereals. A mother and her 13 year old son had come in, and had been laying on their mats, wrapped in their ponchos since they had arrived. Just before I was leaving the mother asked me if there were any clothes, as she was in shorts and sandals and must have been freezing. Plus her son needed clean clothes. We checked but there was nothing for them. Yet the day before I had participated in a clothing drive where a group of us volunteers distributed clothing to women and children. There must have been over a couple hundred people there and tons of clothes that had been donated from the US. But yet there was nothing for the people at the shelter. My favourite lady, Maria came in her usual skirt, others had short sleeved shirts etc., clearly insufficient for the weather. So once again my mind was racing, thinking about getting them some basics, even just long socks to have at the shelter for when people really needed them.
I've also decided to pay for the hot water to be hooked up. It's really a no brainer as it's not a ton of money, yet it will make a huge difference for many needy people. Plus, I didn't end up paying an administrative fee to the project, I'm not sure why, but I would rather my money go directly to the shelter anyway. It's actually quite fitting that I will be contributing to something that is so important in my own life.
I can recall being quite young and wanting to be the director of a homeless shelter, so clearly this group has meant something to me for a long time. Well this shelter in Antigua is going to be my special project while here, and once I am back home as well. I've decided that for sure. The message I hope to pass on is to not forget those who have it rough, young or old. Adults need help too!
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