The Holidays can be a joyous time for many but can also be stressful and even depressing for some, especially those we serve. We talked to a few of our guests and one of our longtime volunteers to understand what the Holidays mean to them.
“Family and celebrations. Some are happy, some are sad. Some are national, some are religious, some are cultural. I’m a member of the religious community, so celebrating holidays, and it may be connected to a holy day, in which case worship and prayer would be how I would celebrate with the community of sisters I am living with at that particular time. Secondly, would be my birth family, and because I am a Sister and have been in missions in various parts of the US and beyond, I haven’t always been close to them to celebrate. But here in Columbus, I am blessed with my siblings, nieces and nephews.”
“Birth family is important. The third kind of family is what I experience at The Open Shelter. There are times where we are called to be a different kind of family to the people that come to where we are. They come to The Open Shelter because they have no family relationship. For others, it’s fragile. And others, it’s nonexistent. We try to provide in celebrating these holidays, being a surrogate family for them. In doing so, our staff becomes a unique kind of family.” – Sister Pat Pieper
“Holidays mean a lot to me. I have grandchildren to celebrate the holidays with. I have a grandson and a granddaughter. I have 12 children of my own. I have been coming to The Open Shelter for about five or six years now. I have been living outside for two years. It’s not where I want to be. It hasn’t been easy, I want to find a job. I want a home. I am working towards that. We have housing coming. Living outside, everybody steals everything from you. You can’t leave anything sit around. I grew up near where the old Schottenstein’s was on the south side. It was pretty good growing up. I had a great family.”
“The Open Shelter has helped with with a lot of things. Clothing, showers, blankets, they have helped me with food for my dog and myself. I am looking forward to getting a job and having an address. I am a people person, I am a talker.”- Michelle
“Personally, the holidays don’t mean the same anymore. They kind of suck now. Most of my family is gone and when we were growing up, holidays were a big family get-together. I was adopted at birth. Since I am kind of all by myself, it’s not the same. With a lot of places being closed on the holidays and being homeless, there’s nothing to do.”
“I have been coming to The Open Shelter for about 13 years. At first, it was a place to go eat. When I first came to Columbus, I just got out of prison. I have been homeless off and on. I was never homeless until I came to Columbus. I have had my mail sent here and they have kept my personal documents. I get showers here. I got a haircut here today. They have clothes here. They have a lot of nice services here to help the homeless.”- Mark
“The holidays mean families, celebrations, and good times. I am from Birmingham, Alabama. I have been coming to The Open Shelter for awhile. My friend told me about it. I live on Seibert St. on the south side. The Open Shelter has helped me with food, clothing, and sack lunches for my nieces and nephew who live down the street from me. The Open Shelter helps a lot of people. There are a lot of homeless people out here that they help. The ladies in the office really help with Birth Certificates and stuff like that.”- Faith
“The Holidays mean family get togethers. Celebrating the birth of new family members, keeping family traditions going, and being thankful for what you have. Family members should stick together more than what they do.”
“I have been coming to The Open Shelter for about 26 years. Being drunk and smoking crack led me there. I still drink every once in awhile, I don’t drink every day. I have found The Open Shelter to be a welcoming home. I grew up in Detroit. Columbus is like the suburbs of Detroit, it is better. Where I grew up, it wasn’t nice. When I got to Columbus, I needed a place to be.”
“I’ve done my share of crack back in the day. I had a tree fall on me one night and broke three of my ribs living outside. The Open Shelter has helped me get off of drugs. The Open Shelter has been my payee for 26 years. I like it. I started with Kent & Mary Beittel (original directors). If you made it through those two, you were alright.”- Henry
We hope you had a joyous and safe Holiday Season. YOUR support helps every day by providing crucial needs such as food, clothing, and hygiene items and supportive services like payeeships and Birth Certificate & State ID assistance for the homeless and marginally housed men, women, and children we serve. But YOUR support also helps us make the Holidays brighter for our guests. Thanks to YOUR help, we had a wonderful Holiday meal for nearly 250 men, women, and children and hosted 50 families by providing gifts, care packages and a food box for their Holiday celebrations. YOU make this possible.
We need YOUR support to continue helping the most vulnerable in 2025. Donate by clicking HERE.
You can also mail in your donation by check to The Open Shelter, 1037 Parsons Ave. Columbus OH 43206. Thank You.
