Every month we are required to do a Service Project where, as a group, we come together to give back to the community for a cause. This month we decided to do a Social Event for the single families that live at Partnership Village; which is transitional housing for, once, homeless individuals or families, that are looking for support to acquire permanent housing and become self-sufficient. 

It was an intimate event, hosted by AmeriCorps member Nardya Morton who is very familiar with the residents at Partnership Village because she serves there. She gracefully guided everyone from one thing to another, maintaining order and keeping the atmosphere light. 

It is isn't very often one has the impeccable opportunity to just chat with our clients; we often spend so much of our time dealing with bureaucracy we neglect to invest in conversation. However, this made up for those times we were too busy filing paperwork or handling never ending phone calls. This was the reason, we as service members, got involved in AmeriCorps. To remind ourselves that though working in a non-profit is stressful and comes with its fair share of disappointments, not everything is as it appears. Each clients' story is different, with unique threads that sculpt it into the success story we often take part in developing. Being the differentiating factor in someone’s life is an unreal experience that is underrated.

It was amazing, having the chance to sit with a group of people just to have fun with them. Words do not express how much stress that relieves; but the smiles can! 

Jimmy and Janiya Fulmore, residence at Partnership Village
and Bingo Champions

When I asked Jimmy Fulmore, a resident at Partnership Village, how many events happen for singles in his community, he replied there were  "2 per year, Christmas and Thanksgiving." He felt as though there could be more events like this one, just for the fun of it; and he did have fun! Him and his daughter Janiya Fulmore were BINGO champions by the end of the evening, winning over 5 rounds, with prizes to show for all of them! 

Though AmeriCorps members left the prizes for the clients while playing BINGO it didn't stop us from calling it out or sneaking our BINGO card over to a kid who didn't know how to play and let them have it. 

When I asked some of the AmeriCorps members, What did they expected from this event? I heard: "Friendship and for people to know that others care about them.” Freddie Mathis stated briefly; or "Gratification in knowing that we had something to do with these clients having a good time today!" Nardya Morton stated. 

More interestingly though, I asked one AmeriCorps member Why did you come to this event? She stated humbly "I love fellowship. I appreciate having the opportunity to share time and space with this team and clients that really needed a break. This community needs people that genuinely care about servitude and it was important that I show up, so the clients can see how many faces support them. That and I love BINGO" said Kennedy Lieberman giggling as I jotted down my notes, making sure not to leave out that last sentence about BINGO! 

At the end of the evening all of the clients won something and had the chance to take home some toiletry items, courtesy of AmeriCorps members. When asked If this event happened again, would you return and tell others? Jimmy Fulmore's reply was "Absolutely, this was really fun! I wouldn't change anything." And the smile on his daughter’s face was certainly a reassuring sign that coming back is something we may need to hold our word to.

Residence of Partnership Village and AmeriCorps members at
the end of the Social

-Posted by Renay