So ... I was recently blessed with employment at a drop-in shelter as a front line worker and I absolutely love it. On my last shift (Sunday evening), we were at maximum capacity as one of our neighbouring shelters was closed due to a senseless act of violence. Needless to say, as a result of that act our centre was on high alert. There were many faces I had not seen before, as well as our usuals. The afternoon was very difficult – tempers were short, lack of patience abounded and the tension in the air was unbelievably thick. We had difficulties getting people to exit as we close from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. for a major clean-up. Upon opening the doors at 6 p.m. there were masses of people lined up outside. We were only able to sign in five at a time. I was on front door duty and within 20 minutes to a half-hour of re-opening the doors we were maxed. It broke my heart to tell people that they had to wait to get in – five people in, five people out. Even going out for a cigarette would bounce you back to the end of the line to return inside.
I then moved to the back door being ever vigilant of what was happening on the floor as well as who was leaving and what was happening outside. The atmosphere was still very tense. Out of the corner of my eye I saw a red balloon on the floor it said "$1 Coffee" from some fast food place. Next thing I knew the balloon was up in the air being volleyed to and fro at one table. The balloon made its way back to me and I helped to continue its journey back to the table, next thing I knew the volley encompassed another table and shortly thereafter another table. There were laughter and giggles and smiles everywhere. People who had all of their worldly possessions in a backpack, no place to sleep and no idea where their next meal was coming from put all of their worries aside to keep the red balloon on its flight trajectory. Eventually the balloon met its demise, landed on the floor and popped. A huge group "aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaawe" could be heard throughout the building and then laughter. It was time for us to close and as people departed via the back door, they were in such great spirits, many saying they hadn't had fun like that in a long time.
Who would have thought a simple red balloon could have brought such joy, happiness and hope and a sense of friendship among those with very little. I couldn't help but smile on the outside and on the inside. The red balloon touched so many people’s lives that evening, giving them a few moments of joyous freedom from their worries and perhaps a little hope. It's moments like these that make me feel privileged to work with these people. They are no different than you or I; they have hopes, dreams and aspirations just as we do and all they want is to be treated with respect and dignity. And that is what they get from me. I finished up my shift with that "warm and fuzzy feeling", a smile and a small tear of joy in my eye – knowing that the red balloon had touched everyone in that crowded, tense building if only but for a moment, bringing to them a sense of joy and a touch of hope!
Susan M. DeVore, St. Albert
