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Tim S

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2 reviews

Review for Operation Nightwatch Portland, Portland, OR, USA

Rating: 5 stars  

I was blessed to volunteer in the past at NightWatch. This is a program that does a fantastic job of treating people with respect, dignity and friendship. When I began at NightWatch, it was the emphasis to get to know the names of the guests. It is extremely important to treat these people well and to give them a place to socialize and to be treated with respect. However, to actually get to know a person's name is a great opening to get to truly know the person and to see them as a brother or sister. The people at NightWatch do a great job with that aspect of this program.

I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...

During my time as a volunteer I was blessed many times to meet many fine people and engage them in conversation and perhaps a game of scrabble or rummy. It was truly a gift to me to be honored to listen to the guests stories and be able to call them friends.

If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...

Somehow maintain a steady income to NightWatch so that they wouldn't need to worry about how they can stay open.

Role:  Volunteer & Volunteered from 9/09 - 6/10 as part of the pastoral minstry aspect in my formation to become a deacon in our church. I volunteered on Thursday nights .
 
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Review for Operation Nightwatch Portland, Portland, OR, USA

Rating: 5 stars  

Operation Nightwatch is truly a hospitality ministry. I had the honor and blessing of volunteering from September 2009 to June 2010 on Thursday nights. Yes, Nightwatch provided some food and clothing to those people that asked but what was really important is that for the evening these people were our guests. That is an important word because that is exactly how these people were treated. An essential part of this ministry is that we learned the names of the guests so that they weren't a statistic or someone that we feel that we helped. By knowing their names they became our brothers and sisters. I witnessed numerous examples of how we should all treat our fellow men and women in the interactions between the guests. I remember an instance when one of the young men was leaving for the night and I called out his name and told him good night. He turned to me and said "you remembered my name!" It really struck home that what this ministry provides is a chance for these people to be treated with respect and friendship - something many of us take for granted but for these people who are essentially invisible to the "normal(?)" world. They become a person with a name and a story all their own. They become a family to each other and to those of us that have the honor to volunteer at Nightwatch. It was a fantastic experience for me and opened my eyes to those that deserve to be treated with respect, dignity and friendship - something we all want and hope for.

I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...

I was mistakenly thinking when I volunteered at Nightwatch that I was going to help make a difference for the people I met there. I hope and pray that I did do that but what I received from the guests and staff at Nightwatch was a gift of friendship and acceptance. I truly believe that I received much more than I could ever give. It was quite humbling.

If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...

Provide a constant supply of funds and volunteers for this important and well run ministry! It's hard, especially this last year when Nightwatch itself became homeless for a period of time.

Role:  Volunteer & I served coffee, lemonade and sandwiches and help distribute clothing, but more importantly, I was able to engage with the guests on a personal level in conversation and perhaps a game of cards or Scrabble. I also helped clean up at the end of theevening.
 
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