I have been able to salvage 2 desktop computers from Dwight Hall’s discard pile. They are not super new or fast computers, but they are better than the ones we have in the Liberty office right now, so SCORE!
Yesterday, I met with Ellen to discuss training materials for NCD volunteers. We agreed that it would probably be best to do a short (3 hour) general orientation, and then do more specific trainings at weekly/bi-weekly volunteer meetings from experts in their respective service fields. The outreach volunteers would probably get even more specialized trainings on the different areas of public benefits. We are going to be working on training materials all next week.
This morning, I also got a chance to go out with Ron Dunhill and Nikisha Wright on an Outreach & Engagement run. We stopped by the train station, went down Grand Ave., The Village on Fairmont Ave, the Amity Shopping Center, and the New Haven Green to talk to homeless folks and to hand out socks. Ron and Niki kept remarking on how empty every place we went was–apparently, the huge lightening and thunder storm last night scattered people from their regular haunts. One of the most striking things we saw was a woman named Gina, whom I knew from NSP and from the soup kitchen, sleeping on top of the stage on the New Haven Green. Apparently, her partner Ed is in jail right now, so she is all alone, and sought shelter under the canopy of the stage to stay out of the wet.
I’m working on getting people to write up letters of support for NCD to possibly include with some of our grant applications right now.
I’ll hopefully be meeting with Jennifer Heath at the United Way next week.
Have a great weekend! Sister Hazel is playing at Free Concerts on the Green this weekend!
