Our Community, Our Mission
Our Community, Our Mission
Ep #247 – A Season of Service: Holiday Volunteering at TRM
Join us for a special episode where we talk with John Roberts, Deputy Director of Community Needs & Services, and Suzie Paslay, Volunteer Coordinator, about the heart and hands behind the Topeka Rescue Mission. TRM’s team gears up for the holiday season—sorting gifts, wrapping presents, preparing food bags, and creating opportunities for intentional holiday moments for both shelter guests, unsheltered neighbors, and community members in need.
As TRM’s volunteer opportunities grow, so does the excitement. John and Suzie share what makes TRM unique: a community where service goes beyond distribution and each volunteer has the chance to make a genuine impact. They explain that a TRM volunteer is someone who truly loves people and feels called to give their time and skills in support of the community. This episode celebrates the holiday season with TRM and shows how, by making needs known, they’re able to meet those needs through purpose, compassion, and faith.
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Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you, lord, for this day and God, your blessings. God, we thank you as we come into this holiday season. God, just all that we're thankful for, lord, we're thankful for your provisions, we're thankful for, Lord, the opportunity to serve those in need, lord, and we thank you for all the people who get involved to help us make that possible. So, lord, we just pray a blessing over this conversation in this time and pray that people would hear and be encouraged to action. Lord, in your holy name, we pray, amen.
Speaker 3:Hello everybody, thank you for joining us for our community, our mission. A podcast of the Topeka Rescue Mission here on Wednesday, november 13th of 2024, podcast number 247, for those of you who are counting, which we know there are some out there who listen to every podcast, so thank you for that. This is your host, barry Feeker, here today with Lamanda Burrells, executive Director, topeka Rescue Mission. Good morning, lamanda.
Speaker 4:Hello, good morning.
Speaker 3:How are you?
Speaker 4:I'm wonderful.
Speaker 3:We're kind of getting into. You're wonderful. Yeah, you know, we're not going to ask you why you're wonderful, that's right, because you just are.
Speaker 4:You know we have a lot of blessings, but we're also in the thick of a lot of stuff around here.
Speaker 3:I'm going to ask you how you're doing, but I don't really mean it, because we've got so much to talk about.
Speaker 4:That's why I just gave you the wonderful answer. If today sucks.
Speaker 3:I'm sorry, we don't have time for that.
Speaker 4:Spoken by the famous words of Barry Feaker.
Speaker 3:We do not have time for bad, but it is a lot of good stuff. But before we get to the really good, important stuff and all that, we have these special research and development department findings for the podcast Our Community, Our Mission, that they worked really hard on Google to come up with these and normally they have three, but today they only have two, probably because we have so much to talk about. But today is World. What Day.
Speaker 4:Kindness Day.
Speaker 3:Kindness Day, you should practice it I know I should, and that's why I'm being nice to you right now. Okay, so November 13th is World Kindness Day. I know you know that, LaManda, but do you know when it started I cheated. Oh my goodness.
Speaker 4:Was it 98? No, oh my goodness.
Speaker 3:How did you know that?
Speaker 4:I cheated.
Speaker 3:Okay, you looked, you looked. Okay. Do you know what? They should have started it before 1998. I know, I mean, I think we wouldn't be in the problems we're in today if we had more world kindness.
Speaker 4:And you know I love this day, but, Barry, it also feels kind of icky, Like why do we have to every day?
Speaker 3:Well, if my math serves me right, you in 1998 were about 10 years old 11. 11? That's why we started World Kindness Day. We needed some help, so anyway.
Speaker 4:Oh, that's a good one, barry. Okay, that's a good one. Yeah, that's right, come on Dress.
Speaker 3:Let's get a little drum roll here or something like that here, or something like that. Okay, so we got one more national hug, a musician day. Do you know any musicians, any people?
Speaker 4:that play stuff, a magician or a musician, yeah.
Speaker 3:Do you know any of those people that play stuff? Yes, I know a couple. Are you going to hug them today?
Speaker 4:Well sure, If I encounter any of them, hopefully I'll remember.
Speaker 3:What are you doing this for?
Speaker 4:That's right, because it's national hug. Yeah.
Speaker 3:A music guy.
Speaker 4:Or if that doesn't seem okay, I'll say it's National Kindness Day. I'm trying to be kind.
Speaker 3:That's right. One or the other, you're kind of a musician-ish. You sing Night more, night more, not anymore, no, oh. Nobody wants me to sing anymore, I know we haven't intro'd our guest, but one of our guests is a musician. Yes, that's the next thing I was going to say. They're kind of looking at each other here, so did you guys bring your material today to be able to play for us?
Speaker 5:Oh, look at the time, all right.
Speaker 3:Do you need a hug? Okay, all right. Well, that gets that part out of the way for those of you who can turn us off now after you've listened to that, because that's your main thing for listening. But we do have some more important stuff to talk about. So, amanda, this is. We're going to talk about Christmas and the holidays and Tuesday, giving Tuesday and so forth, but there's something coming up before that. Yes, that sometimes, when we look at we get past Veterans Day and then we're zooming on to Christmas, there's this thing. That really is a pretty cool day. And what does Topeka Rescue Mission do for Thanksgiving?
Speaker 4:Sure, you know, I think we've pivoted a couple of times because of COVID, right, the big C word, I know but we are back to joining our community Thanksgiving, and so I think that is incredible, and I'll say that in just a moment.
Speaker 4:But I think that that then causes some confusion.
Speaker 4:You know, we have a lot of volunteers and I appreciate this so much, but so many people want to give up some of their family time where they could just, you know, be at home enjoying the day off, cooking their own traditions.
Speaker 4:But they see value in taking that time as a family to come serve, and so they don't see it as giving up, they see it as investing right and coming to the mission to serve. But we do take guests to the community Thanksgiving and we do that, which I know then kind of lessens some opportunities here at the mission for people to help on that day and particularly lunchtime. But we do that so that our people that are guests, they already kind of form their own community, sometimes by choice, and sometimes it's just that way, right, because they're here, they're in close quarters, that's who they. They're here, they're in close quarters, that's who they are connecting with as they're in this transition and we see it very important that they see themselves as a bigger part of the whole community and that they have just as much of a right or a welcoming you know, to be there is doing something just solely here.
Speaker 4:So thankful to be a part of that and thankful for man, all of the incredible volunteers that make such an impactful day that I'm sure is full of so many logistical things they have to do for thousands in our community so grateful for the leaders of the community Thanksgiving, the servers. Our part we help with some of the volunteers for that and you just really see a lot of people come together to make what could be hard for some a very special day of being united.
Speaker 3:Really shows how people can work together. Yes, rescue Mission could just stay here do its meal. Years ago, the community organizers community Thanksgiving organizers said hey, if you can get them here, bring them here. It's kind of like getting out of the house and going out to eat with a large crowd and so, yeah, so it's very helpful and I know that historically what they've done if somebody can't get there, that's staying at the rescue mission due to health reasons or whatever they provide food to bring back, which is pretty awesome. Yes, yeah, so, anyway, that's coming up, and then a whole lot more. Josh, we have something called Giving Tuesday, which normally is in November, but this year it's in December. Talk about Giving Tuesday, yeah, but this year it's in December. Talk about Giving Tuesday.
Speaker 1:Yeah, giving Tuesday is always a really fun day because, you know it just, we really encourage our donors to say, hey, you know, set aside some time and some resources and support the mission. So it's kind of a global day of giving. That really encourages people to get involved. So it's a fun day. And then before that we've got Black Friday.
Speaker 3:And so we've got Black Friday, topeka making a comeback and a fun way to give and shop. So there's going to be cool stuff on Facebook and stuff like that. Oh yeah, oh yeah, you guys just knock that out of the park.
Speaker 1:So we have a lot of fun with that and so we're excited for those coming up yeah.
Speaker 4:And you know it's one of those things that money can always be an interesting topic, right can always be an interesting topic, right. And it's one of like the hardest things that I've mentioned that before on the podcast of as the executive director and that's why I go to you like Barry, did you feel like this? And then you say yep, every year every year.
Speaker 5:You never had a problem with nothing.
Speaker 4:Oh, yeah, I forgot. You're not being kind today, well, it's just me problem as the new executive director. But finding this balance of being wise, unkind today, well, it's just me problem as the new executive director. But you know, finding this balance of being wise with financial stewardship and taking on as board of directors as myself, as the executive director, communicating with the community, the needs that we have financially so that we can continue to serve the community. And so finding the balance of saying, hey, we're doing asks, putting stuff out there in front of everyone on social media platforms, our websites, by saying, hey, we need these things, maybe even talking about deficits financially. It's such a fine line to draw of doing that. But then also realizing the Lord is not a resource that we tap into when needed.
Speaker 4:The Lord is the source of it all.
Speaker 4:And so finding the balance of trusting him, walking in faith, of trusting him, walking in faith, not wanting to do our talents or anything that he's given us with too much that we're not trusting him.
Speaker 4:But then there's also just this reality, if I can be frank, of man the needs are great financially, and so being able to come transparently to donors and saying, hey, we respect, we know everyone's own budgets are tapped everyone is facing the inflation and all of that but also being vulnerable with the community to say we have these asks and we're going to be doing that on Black Friday, we're going to be doing that on Giving Tuesday.
Speaker 4:Donors can anticipate an end of the year letter coming from me in December and we hope that that is not annoyances. We hope that that doesn't seem like it's from a place of ungratefulness or greed, of being thankful for what we have and trusting the Lord's provision but then also constantly being transparent with the community that in order to continue to maintain a healthy budget keeping up with the needs that arise, other resources in our community being tapped where they are providing less because of what they're facing, we're going to have to have some pretty significant financial asks coming, and so I just hope that everybody knows the heart that goes behind that. From the board's perspective, my perspective we don't ever want to ask too much or sound alarms, but we also want to be saying the needs are increasing and the needs are not TRM needs. When TRM needs increase, that's because the needs in the community are increasing and the needs are not TRM needs. When TRM needs increase, that's because the needs in the community are increasing.
Speaker 3:You brought up a big subject here.
Speaker 4:I did.
Speaker 3:Yeah, you know I would like to speak into that a little bit.
Speaker 3:It's something I learned, and what I heard in what you just said is that we kind of, with a little bit of intimidation, walk into this money issue of telling people what we need, almost in an apologetic way, because there are a few just a few out there that want to put the nonprofit or whoever who's asking for support in this position of you. Shouldn't do that. Don't ask for anything, but to do great things, you need great resources to do them. Sure, and what I found? Lamanda, because I know exactly where you're at. I know exactly what you're communicating there. By and large, most people want to know what they can do to help and if we can give them some clear understanding about volunteering or material needs or financial needs. This is what we're doing and they trust the organization like Topeka Rescue Mission, which has impeccable financial responsibility, great ratings on things like Charity Navigator audits, those kind of things, where they know that those investments are going to be taken care of wisely and they're not extravagant. They're a pass-through Topeka Rescue Mission to help some of our most vulnerable citizens in need who depend upon those people participating with an organization like Topeka Rescue Mission to help them. What I found this is my consultant coaching part of me here, or old man telling you how it is for the young gal.
Speaker 3:People want to be a part of this. They really do, and there's no apologies that need to be made because you're not getting rich. The people here aren't getting rich doing this. You're working 80, 90 hours a week to make this happen, so that people who feel forgotten no, they're not and that there is a hope.
Speaker 3:And this is an opportunity for people listening to this podcast or going to be reading the newsletter or going out on Facebook or going to hear you and other team members speaking. Here is an opportunity to join to make a huge difference in somebody's life. To where, if you weren't there, doing what is an opportunity for you to do, somebody may not want to go on, somebody may not want to go on, and so I just would say that it is what it is. Topeka Rescue Mission didn't create homelessness. Topeka Rescue Mission didn't create mental illness or addiction or compound trauma or broken legs and broken lives. What Topeka Rescue Mission is doing is being a vehicle for people to join together to be able to heal the broken, and it takes resources to do that. It does Okay. Speech over.
Speaker 4:No, I'm glad that you said that, barry, and I think you know it's just one of those things we always want to rely on the Lord. But that doesn't mean reliance and trust and waiting means do nothing. That's right, but then sometimes we do something and we communicate, um, and then we we worry about that Right and so, um, I don't know, maybe I'll just have it figured out in year 36, like you did before in 37.
Speaker 3:Sometimes it takes stepping back to see really what it is, and I think that's what I've been able to do. Is that, um, I'm so. Probably one of the biggest um impressions on my life about God is how he touched the hearts of people to be involved in the things of God. And you know Topeka Rescue Mission, for all it does, um, with thousands of different ways that it helps people in this community, couldn't plan to do it this way. You couldn't. You couldn't strategize for it to be this way. This has got to be outside of human reasoning and understanding. You can't convince people enough to give to be able to support all the needs that are here, but God touches their hearts. They hear God in their own way and then they respond. But you've got to make a need known before a need can be met.
Speaker 4:Yes, you know, and I think you just never know the difference that someone's yes makes, whether that's through a financial donation, whether that's through a prayer, a card or volunteering.
Speaker 4:And you know we didn't talk about this, but I think I have a story I want to share as you segue into them that just thanks donors, um, regardless if you are donating financially, regardless if you are a one-time donor, a reoccurring donor. This also thanks the volunteers, um that come in, because once we have items to work with, then we have volunteers that can help do the other end. But, barry, last week I was blessed with the um privilege to go into the women's prison and um through an organization called reaching out from within, and there is a group of ladies, both on the um medium side plus the maximum side, and there's a group of ladies, both on the medium side plus the maximum side, and there's a group of women that have been allowed to do a fundraiser for the rescue mission and there's a lot of stipulations and all of that. But it's incredible. So I go in and well, that was, that was.
Speaker 3:Did you learn?
Speaker 4:you can't take your cell phone in? Yeah, and Did you learn? You can't take your cell phone?
Speaker 3:yeah and um. Did you learn the hard?
Speaker 4:way, yeah, there, yeah, I did, and then, and then we left a gate open. Anyways, it's yeah I'm not sure I'll ever be invited back but I loved it and if they let me come back, I think courtney and I would go back every week big if that's exactly.
Speaker 4:They're probably like no, we don't, we don't want them back, but anyways, um, the the time with the women were incredible and there were so many things and there's stuff I want to tell you, barry, outside of here, but I can't because I'll cry. But there was a woman that you spoke to and she thinks it was almost 20 years ago. I remember her.
Speaker 4:And she's still there, but I can't go into that because I'll do this and we got to stay focused and she pulled me. She's barely walking and looks like a terminal illness. So, anyway, spoke with her and all I could think about whether I was looking at her face or some others was, I wonder how many hands of volunteers whether it's moving towels around, whether it was wiping tables in our dining hall, whether it was handing out sandwiches we never, truly will ever understand this side of heaven, the magnitude of any type of value or joy. Came from a homeless shelter. So I go over here. I'm trying not to be a hot mess in front of all them, but I finally just told him about seven minutes into the speech I cry all the time and I love you and I'm so glad to be here. They cried with me about 25 to 30 women go over to the other side. I'm in glad to be here. They cried with me about 25 to 30 women Go over to the other side. I'm in the maximum side now smaller group, and Courtney and I were doing some affirmations with them. So we showed them how to do an acrostic with their name and they had to come up with positive adjectives of every letter in their name. So we're going around the table and this one that had kind of been standoffish, it got around to her time and she looked at me, she called me by name and she said before I do this, can I tell you something about the rescue mission? And I said I would love that and of course we're very limited on, like, I couldn't even bring pins in, I couldn't you know that kind of thing. But I'm trying to remember everything that every one of them said and I was trying to remember their names, which sometimes I'm good at, but then I left there going man, if I could have only written them down so I could pray, but anyways, this woman said I don't know what year it was, but she said my I young son that I carried on my hip.
Speaker 4:We fled from a house that was close to the rescue mission but not very close, and she said we were fleeing domestic violence. And she said I didn't understand it, but she was like I knew there was a Jesus safe sign and so I thought there's probably good people there. So she took off on foot and somehow made it to the DC not the main shelter but the DC and she said only one of them. She said there were a couple of people. She said I can still remember their faces, she said, but only one or two of them were staff. The rest that I encountered that day was volunteers.
Speaker 4:And she said I told them my situation and she said and I forgot to tell you, barry, the reason this jogged her memory is because I wanted them to be able to have the same type of presentation of the rescue mission that I'm able to freely do in churches, businesses and all of that. So it took some time, took some effort, but I was able to print off our PowerPoint. We couldn't do anything electronic we couldn't do. And I said can we please just bring in paper copies so that I can show them the buildings, that some of the buildings have been built after they were incarcerated so they don't know what Curtis looks like or Kansas looks like or Jackson. You know, got that approved and so I start showing them as much as I can, virtually doing a tour of the buildings.
Speaker 4:That is what jogged her memory when she saw the distribution center and connected it all. But she said she walked up, she told them their story and she said they were the kindest people. And she said on the side of that building is a huge door. And she said I will never forget standing there thinking I had nothing but my son and that door open and I saw everything that they had to offer and they offered every bit of it to me and she said some of it I took right then because it was for my son. And she said it was like some outfits and toys. And she said and then others I got.
Speaker 4:When I finally got back into another place, away from the domestic situation, I was fleeing the domestic situation. I was fleeing. And she said, and she was just smiling from ear to ear and it was like there was no hurt associated with that and I know there was, I know. But she said I will never forget their kindness. And she said I will never forget thinking I had all of this available to me and they didn't even know me. And my response to her was whatever people donate to us for people that are in your situation, and she goes that's incredible. And she said I just don't want you guys to forget that it really does matter to us, even if circumstances worsen.
Speaker 3:Yeah, even if they worsen, and that obviously didn't fix her problem at the time, but it gave her some hope. What we've learned is a number, a large. They were sent in. That obviously didn't fix her problem at the time, but it gave her some hope. What we've learned is a number, a large number, of women in the correctional facility are there in a domestic-related situation where they were under, being abused and they didn't have a way out, and so they retaliated and committed the crime, and they're the ones that went to jail.
Speaker 3:Yes ones that went to jail, and so that person may very well be coming out again at some point, knows where she can turn to telling other people and in turn what they're doing inside a correctional facility. And some are lifers in there who are creating opportunities to support women who are not in there. That's pretty powerful. We better get to our guests here. Lamanda, which does segue into volunteers, and so we have John Roberts, who's Deputy Director of Community Services, here, john, good to see you here on the podcast here. And Susie Paisley, who is the coordinator of the volunteer program here at Topeka Rescue Mission. Good to see you, susie. Thank you, I threatened Susie. I was going to try to find some dirt on her here. She's so kind, so nice, and nobody found any dirt on Susie. I mean, got to make this thing interesting. But so John, susie and the volunteer department is underneath community services. What else is under community services that you are deputy director of?
Speaker 5:Yeah, big two are distribution center and food services.
Speaker 3:Okay, well, that's a couple big other things too. So, susie, how many volunteers do you on an?
Speaker 6:average coordinate in a month, week, year, whatever. We usually have about 70 volunteer spots on a regular week that people can be a part of.
Speaker 3:Okay, yeah.
Speaker 6:So how many?
Speaker 3:different volunteers volunteer at Topeka Rescue Mission All together Couldn't find you Dirt Dog. So I'm going to ask her statistics that she may not be prepared for.
Speaker 6:All together we have about 683 people registered to volunteer. I would say an average for a month is usually a couple hundred folks that are volunteering in different spots. A lot of folks are repeat volunteers, meaning that they will come back two or three times during a week to help out in different volunteer opportunities. Some folks volunteer once a month, know volunteer once a month. Some will volunteer once a quarter and a lot of folks like to do the annual opportunities at Christmas, the warming center, things like that.
Speaker 3:Some people like to do that every year and they call in advance to try to get on the slot, which is pretty cool because they're giving up their Christmas day or their days around Christmas to be able to do that. Susie, when you say registered, are there some individuals registered but yet they represent others. In other words, like a youth leader at a church, do you have names for every one of those kids or do they just bring their kids and they're the registered person?
Speaker 6:They just bring their kids usually, yeah. So we have lots of large groups that come, and especially coming up this Christmas season, we have seen even larger groups, groups of 30. We have some groups of 50 that I'm working with right now to develop the plan for them for the day that they're here. So we're seeing some larger groups of folks coming.
Speaker 3:So that 600 and some registered could mean hundreds more that would be a part of that to help us do what we do. John, food services, distribution services and the volunteer program. There's a lot on that. What is your view of, whether it's in distribution services, food services, of the value of working, the staff angle, that paid staff and the volunteers together? How does that intersect?
Speaker 5:Yeah, it goes hand in hand and really we cannot do all the things we need to do without volunteers. They're so integral to all of our ability to just operate in general and then, especially, that's true around the holidays. You know, we try to do a lot of different things just to help our community during the holidays. So we, of course, we try to have special Christmas things, christmas functions, but also get Christmas gifts for all of our guests. We get Christmas gifts for all of our guests In our shelters. We get gifts for our unsheltered neighbors who are in services with us, and what we try to do there is try to get everybody an intentional gift, something that is something that they would like, not just something random.
Speaker 3:They were like hey, here's a bag. You got to get to know them, don't you Find out what they like? That's right.
Speaker 5:And get to know them and have them choose. Hey, these are the kind of things that I enjoy, that I would be interested in, and try to make sure that people have a gift with their name on it and that leads to some really cool opportunities. Just last year I had a gentleman say to me I haven't had a gift that was with my name on it in over 20 years, and so even if it's inside its headphones, it's not something earth shattering that someone might consider that in and of itself is the biggest gift.
Speaker 3:Probably Somebody recognized me.
Speaker 6:Yes.
Speaker 3:The gift itself was probably important.
Speaker 5:Yep.
Speaker 3:Because you found out what they might need, but bigger than that, yeah. So he didn't say hey, thanks for this awesome gift. He said thank you for recognizing Right. That's what he said in that Right.
Speaker 5:This has my name on it, thank you. And so you know we do all those things and that takes some organization, some coordination, a lot, a lot. Yes, of course we also have our. We partner with the United Way Christmas Bureau to support families, partner how, and we will adopt families for the Christmas Bureau where we will help get gifts, so get gifts prepared and wrapped and delivered and some food bags with that, make sure that people in our community who are needing some assistance around the holidays will have gifts to open, food to prepare, and we do several hundred individuals through that program as well. And so that's all going on while we still are operating normally here with our shelters and with our normal distribution services and our food services. And so that was, you know, a long-winded way to say on top of what we're, you know, doing January through October here in November and December, we're having all these things on top. And so having volunteers come in you say that with a smile, that's pretty good Rather than oh my gosh.
Speaker 3:So the food baskets didn't stop. The completion of programs, helping people get reestablished, all the sheltering, that goes on. So taking care of folks who are staying in rescue mission, taking care of people that outreach is engaged with out on the streets, the mobile access partnership Correct and then on top of that, partnering with United Way to then take some of these. So that takes a lot of resources, like we were talking about earlier, but also takes a lot of extra help, susie. First of all, how do people, if they want to volunteer, how can they even get engaged?
Speaker 6:Yeah, they'd love to be a part of finding out what those gifts, what those intentional gifts might be that our guests would like to do. If they'd like to be a part of wrapping some gifts or putting together the items for the Christmas Bureau families, they can sign up on trmonlineorg. We have a volunteer section there and it is labeled Get Started and Create an Account and then that will come to me and I will make contact with them and find out what they're interested in being a part of. In fact, today we're having a volunteer tour and orientation. I do those a couple of times a month. This is an afternoon one today, and the next week will be one in the evening, and so that's an opportunity for them to get to see our buildings and to get to hear about the volunteer opportunities that are available.
Speaker 3:In those orientations. What are some of the takeaways from that? People come in. They know about the mission to some degree. What are some of the things that are kind of standout comments that you may hear?
Speaker 6:A lot of times they'll, you know, come in, they'll be, I just want to help, I just want to help. And then usually at the end they're like I had no idea y'all had several buildings, that you were doing so many things. Especially, we care for our guests and they are our top priority, but we also give to the community in many ways and most folks have no idea all the things that are happening here and so they're pretty, they're pleased, they're thrilled that TRM is here helping people, helping people as they the situation. Lamanda mentioned earlier the lady who needed some items. She wasn't here in our shelter but she needed a hand, she needed someone to help, and so they're just amazed by that. She needed someone to help, and so they're just amazed by that. And I have great fun sharing the stories that I've heard from others at our distribution center and at our shelters just some beautiful stories of how people have moved forward in their life, and so they walk out really excited and looking forward to jumping in.
Speaker 3:What are you looking for in a volunteer? Obviously, you mentioned just a few things wrapping, serving meals, helping out at Christmas all throughout. So there's duties, but what's the volunteer heart that you're looking for?
Speaker 6:I have so far not met anyone that does not have a heart for people. So they love people and they want to help them somehow and in some way their heart has been moved, I believe, by God, to come and give their time and whatever skills they have to help, and so they come. It's really so much fun to meet them, to hear how they were drawn to come to TRM, because there are a lot of places to volunteer.
Speaker 6:In the Topeka area. There's a lot of different ways that you can volunteer, but they will come with just a heart to help our homeless or those that are struggling. And you know, some are like I just love to serve food. You know, I did this and this, this and I just love to serve food. Great, I want to be close. I want to be close to them and really help them. Okay, how about our mobile access partnership? How you know, or would you like to be close to our guests? Yeah, okay, how about serving that meal? Or do you have some type of special skill? We have a lady coming in. She came last month. She's coming again. She just wanted to. She was retired school teacher and she's like I love to make cards and I haven't done that in a long time. I just like to come and make cards. So she came and did it with our guests in the Hope Center and they loved it. They were like bring her back, bring her back.
Speaker 3:That was so much fun. So sometimes it sounds like the volunteer can come in and help you know about something that you weren't thinking about doing, to be able to do a new thing.
Speaker 6:That's pretty awesome, so it's really fun to just hear. A lot of what I do is listen listen to what people are saying, what they believe that they're hearing from God to do, and how does that fit and sometimes it's something that already has been given to me from a director is I wish we could have someone like to do special things with our guests. And here was this lady that wanted to make cards and it sounds simple. Sometimes people think it has to be something great, big and phenomenal, but that was just such a blessing to them. They got to make birthday cards last month and this month they're going to make Christmas cards and so you know it's just enjoying people.
Speaker 3:Amanda, I think there's something that Susie said that a lot of people feel drawn here. It's pretty important. Not everybody has to feel drawn to this. They can just come check it out, but there's something that happens. You know that one.
Speaker 4:I do.
Speaker 3:Drawn here.
Speaker 4:Yeah, and then we come kicking and screaming no, I'm joking. I'm joking, yeah, and you know, it's just incredible at where the draw there's no lines or boundaries that the draw can't drag you through. And so you know, to mention again you know Susie's talked about teachers, people, the most delicate weavings of all of the needs of TRM, and so we see people from all walks of life, all ages, experiences and such. But you know, another example was I was talking to the ladies in prison last week and this there were a couple of them that could be looking at getting out, and there was a woman that was real standoffish a little bit of me but still, you could tell, wanted to engage. So she gave me like kind of a street name to call her from and all of this stuff and so but I thought, man, I'm gonna love on you for this next 60 minutes and I just want to break through, right, but make a long story short.
Speaker 4:She was kind of listening to the whole presentation and didn't really say a whole lot. And then she raised her hand and she said I have a question for you and I said Go ahead, we don't have to wait till the end. And she said I'm hearing you talk a lot about loving people. I'm hearing you talk a lot about caring for everyone. I'm hearing you talk and she was repeating a lot of what I had said and so I'm nodding. And she said would you allow? So she said I need to know if this is accurate, what you believe and what you're saying. And I said okay, she said so. My question to you is would you allow a felon to work there or to volunteer, or does the love just go with those you're serving? And I looked at her and I said well, we have to do everything safely. I said but I I had some in my top leadership. And she looked at me and she goes you would surround yourself by them. And I said why would I not? And every this is the big group, so there's like 25 to 30 women and everybody is just looking at me and her right and it's just kind of going back and forth.
Speaker 4:And she said well, because we're not accepted. And I said by society. We don't operate by society at TRM, we operate according to Jesus Christ. And so I said the commandment that we have is to love God and love people. And that wasn't told to us. To say, love people that look like us, love people who vote like us.
Speaker 4:And they all laughed at that one. I said it doesn't say love people who agree with you. And I said and if we really take a look at Jesus's ministry, he was what we would consider with felons or the poor or this, and he was crying out for people to know you were never too far gone from him. And so I said so that's a long winded answer to say yes, depending on safety and all of the things that we have in place, but yes, felons are welcome at the Topeka Rescue Mission and more so. You are welcomed into the kingdom of God. And that was an incredible moment for me to be put on the line of do you really walk the walk and talk the talk. And I need to do that, even when it's not popular to society. And that's what makes TRM different. I think that's what the draw is there for everyone, and that also is what can be controversial about what we do.
Speaker 3:We need to do a controversial podcast one of these days about that very thing that you're talking about, because it does separate out a ministry like TRM from a lot of things in regards to who gets help, who helps those that gets help and the value of that.
Speaker 3:But you mentioned safety, and so I think we really want to talk about that sometime. Just going to put those cards on the table, because I understand it, and you certainly do you take a risk with people, and some people don't want you to take a risk with other people. So don't let those people in here, don't let those people get service, and I'll tell you what, if we didn't help those people, things would be a lot worse for all people. And to be able to help those people so that's a really strong point. And so volunteers yeah, we're going to make sure that they're safe and do background checks and those kinds of things. Right, susie and John? And so, before we close today, talk about what some of the needs are that we know of. Maybe just a few of the special activities that people might be interested in checking out more.
Speaker 5:Yeah, absolutely Lots of needs definitely would encourage people just to kind of stay looking on the website, on our social media pages We'll be sure, especially around these holidays, just to make sure that those lists are current and accurate and kind of reflect the things that we're needing things that are ongoing Christmas needs lists are going to be on that website, absolutely, and when we get enough of something, does that come off the list.
Speaker 3:Correct?
Speaker 5:Yep.
Speaker 3:So if you, see large size men's blue jeans that'll never come off the list because we never get enough of those, because us big boys, we wear ours out until they're not worth wearing again.
Speaker 4:That's the truth and underwear. We're always needing new underwear.
Speaker 5:But really just some simple, you know things that that are always needed are are socks and gloves and hats and blankets and towels.
Speaker 5:You know those kind of things that just are needed to stay warm and that you know, we can kind of give out with gifts to people in all kinds of different situations, so those things would be things off the top of my head. But definitely, you know, stay looking at those lists on the website or on the social media pages. And you know, I would just say there are a lot of opportunities to get involved, kind of, as we've gone over, there are a lot of tasks that need to be done, there's a lot of work, and so if anybody you know would feel led to come and help with that, that is so helpful. Um, but more than it just being a task, um, there are really neat opportunities just to come and be involved with people, as we've been talking about, and to get to know people.
Speaker 5:Sometimes, um, it's the, it's the little things, and I think that might be relatable for our listeners is that, you know, I'm sure everybody can relate to being in the Christmas season and running from here to there and concerts and recitals and church services and shopping and rapping, and you're just, you know, running around every which direction and sometimes it feels that the holidays are the most stressful time of year. But then there might be a time on Christmas Day or around the dinner table where you just sit back and you're looking and people laughing, people smiling, and all of that becomes worth it. And so, yeah, just encouraged to come and get involved and get involved in the midst of the hustle and bustle of all the activities. Just strike up a conversation with another volunteer, with a guest, with someone receiving a gift, and just get to talk with them and laugh and smile and it makes all of the hustle and bustle worth it.
Speaker 3:Very well said. Well, more coming in regards to as we gear up towards Christmas. More information will be coming out about that. Again. This is November 13th, so got a few days here, not a whole lot more. I'm going to give you all a test before we close today. Susie, I'm going to start with you, and then John, and then LaManda so lucky you, lamanda. One word. You talk about the hustle and the bustle. You talk about all the stuff that TRM does, and this too. One word why it's worth it, susie.
Speaker 6:It's just a huge blessing.
Speaker 3:Blessing John. One word why is it? Worth it. Community Community.
Speaker 4:LaManda. Why is it worth it?
Speaker 3:Community, community Lamanda. Why is it worth it? Transformation, okay, all right, thank you for listening to Our Community, our Mission. One word sometimes wraps it up. What was your one word when I asked Susie and John and Lamanda that we know it's really about God's love and Jesus the reason for the season. But if you're looking for that one opportunity that maybe you're hungering for, that's missing in your life, you might find it in getting involved in a ministry like the Topeka Rescue Ministry. If you'd like more information about TRM, you can go to trmonlineorg, trmonlineorg and know that God's word is matter, you matter. Thanks for listening.