When wrongs will be made right.

Have you ever experienced that horrible mad-sad feeling where there’s a situation that just isn’t fair, but you are quite literally too small to do anything about it? That’s where I was yesterday, where I am today, and where I probably will be tomorrow.

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Kelli Ott Comment
Hard hugs.

Michelle met my face with water-filled eyes, but not from the rain. She took a half step toward me and grabbed me in a bear hug, holding on for dear life. And right there, with rain soaking our clothes, even though I was late to get the bus to location, Michelle and I hugged. A hug that meant I’m here for you. A hug that meant you matter. A hug that meant I will help you in your pain and I love you. A hug that lasts as long as you need it to.

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Shower Shuttle TeamComment
"I can't tell the difference ..."

But we knew there was more that could be done with the space. Our community and church family are mostly poverty-stricken and some are homeless. Surviving day to day is the reality of life, and attending a movie or going out is not even something they dare to dream. Eating a meal and having a place to sleep is the main priority for most. So when Dean proposed once monthly …

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Shower Shuttle TeamComment
Evidence of love.

It was a Wednesday morning and I was running a bit late with the Shower Shuttle, taking her to the Vine House where we provide showers to the west side of Modesto. The traffic was heavy and two lanes merge into one on the south end of Yosemite Boulevard, and I was focused on traffic. Coming up fast on my right side, honking and waving was a woman in a white van. But she wasn’t honking and waving because she was being rude…she was pointing at the Shuttle and giving me thumbs up, smiling and nodding and telling me in sign language “good job!”

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Shower Shuttle TeamComment
Our New Laundry Shuttle has … “Long Legs!”

As we shared with a friend of the ministry, we mentioned that clean laundry has ‘long legs. “Long legs? You’ll have to explain that term to me,” he said. I didn’t realize until then, how much my vocabulary has changed and some of my words aren’t always understood by those who are fortunate enough to not live on the streets or know someone who does …

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Kelli Ott Comment
Bella and Tess.

She seemed relieved and we messaged back and forth for a bit; she asked a lot of questions, trying to get a mental image of how things were for her sister.  I reassured her that while being homeless wasn’t an easy option, her sister seemed to be doing okay.

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Kelli OttComment
Our Vision Is 2020!

With the year in full view, we’re excited about the opportunities we have to Restore Hope and Dignity To Those In Need through our Shower and Laundry Shuttles … learn more about our plans for 2020 and how you can get involved.

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Dean DoddComment
Dennis.

And then he said with a hitch in his voice, “I’m homeless. I don’t want to be homeless too much longer.” I truly believe that if Dean had kept the camera on him much longer, he may have actually broken down in tears right there. And I wanted to sob.

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Kelli Ott Comment
From desperation to joy. Virginia's story.

This very broken woman who only 15 months ago was desperate and alone and without even shoes for her feet has taken the hand up and is doing all she can to reunite with family, make a better life for herself, break the bondage of addiction, and my heart swelled a little with joy for her.

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Kelli OttComment
Thinking about Janelle ...

I’m sure that most of you have become immune to words like “developing relationships” and “establishing community” purely from the overuse of these catch-phrases. But what happens when they’re true?

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Kelli Ott