The Community Of Mount Vernon - 1182 Words

Although Mount Vernon, Ohio is a small city, it contains a very caring and proactive community of people who want to help those in need. This attribute of the citizens of Mount Vernon can be clearly seen in the great number of services and shelters available to people in crisis situations. One of the services offered is the Winter Sanctuary, an emergency homeless shelter in Mount Vernon that provides the homeless with a place to stay during the frigid winter months. I spent two hours visiting this shelter along with one of my classmates, Faith Aleshire. We were able to speak with three homeless women at the shelter, and we learned a bit about their life stories. This experience has broadened my understanding of homelessness and how the†¦show more content†¦The harsh lifestyle that these women endured could be seen on each of the women’s faces, which looked worn and calloused from the cold. The women were wearing clothes that were clearly from a second-hand store, and they were wearing several layers of soft fabrics. The shelter provided several services to help these women get back on their feet. About fifteen beds, complete with bedding and warm blankets, were placed about the room. A space heater was located in a corner next to a television set. A bathroom and showers were provided, as well as laundry facilities. One of the objects in the room that surprised me with its usefulness was a computer. All three of the women at the shelter were unemployed. During our visit with them, one of the ladies was working on filling out job applications on a computer provided by the shelter. They told each other about various job openings that they had come across earlier in the day. They even mentioned that they would like to apply for employment at the new Mount Vernon Grand Hotel. Obtaining a job is the first step to getting back on their feet. I realized that the shelter was very wise in providing a computer for the residents to use for this purpose. During our visit, two volunteers from the Salvation Ar my brought a chicken and noodle casserole and a few loaves of bread for the residents. I was surprised by the variety of services that were provided by the Winter Sanctuary, and it was clear that each of