What to bring with you to the homeless shelter.

What to bring with you to the homeless shelter.

Tupperware containers. A pillow if you have one.
A partner if you have one.

Cell phone. Charger. Dirty laundry. Ziploc bags. Trash bags. Duffle bags. Backpack. Suitcase with roller. Containers for leftovers. What you own is what you can carry.

You work at McDonald’s, the Waffle Shop, WalMart or you're a student at Penn State. A job but no home to return to. You are engaged to be married, but no home. I guess love doesn’t need a roof.

Someone brought UNO cards. Bluetooth speaker plays Reba. Laughter comes easy. We stack them: Draw Two becomes Draw Four becomes Draw Six. The cards can literally be stacked against you. Humor pushes back the darkness; hope draws from the withering pile.

Was 16 degrees this morning. Warm up the van. Grab an old scone and some coffee.

On the way back, we listen to Christmas music on the radio. One of the guys wanted to hear it. The old song sings about chestnuts roasting and stockings hanging and spirits lifting…and all this happens in a home--in somebody's home. Made me uncomfortable, but not for their sake, for mine.

I'm going to the office today and I'm thinking of each of them and where they might be. I know some of them are at work. Others might be at the library, a good place to stay warm.

I felt bad winning UNO.
Because...haven't I won enough
already?

This poem was written years ago after another night volunteering with the terrific local non-profit Out of the Cold whose mission is to provide shelter, support, and hope for adults experiencing homelessness in our community. Some volunteers at the time would spend the night with the men and women seeking shelter for the night.

In 2025, 745,652 people or 22 out of every 10,000 US residents experienced homelessness. That's the same population as the Nashville or Denver.