Come to the Table

Minnesota has this great little thing called "Give to the Max." It's a day where all across Minnesota non-profits and public schools raise money through the technological assistance of givemn.org. Often times, corporations or individuals will sponsor a match grant for a non-profit. Many non-profits hold galas on this very night to encourage the celebration of giving. Tonight, I attended just such a gala.

Listening House has been one of our favorite non-profits since Jim's med. school days. Dr. Rumsey, introduced Jim to it during an urban medicine rotation. Listening House is often called "The Living Room for the Homeless." Their mission is to give homeless people a sense of belonging in a safe, dignified environment. Guests at Listening House can get food, fresh socks, a razor, and other basics, but they can also sit in a comfy chair, play chess, listen to music, see a dentist, get help with paperwork of any sort, work in a garden, exercise and even receive mail!

Dr. Rumsey's wife, Rosemarie, is the executive director at Listening House. Over the years, she has worked tirelessly to make Listening House a part of the St. Paul community. Every year on Give to the Max Day, she organizes a fundraising event called "Come to the Table." The event is held at the St. Paul Hotel, only blocks away from Listening House. The tables are filled with donors, but they are also filled with Listening House board members & volunteers, St. Paul police officers, church clergy & members, the mayor of St. Paul, and an honored guest. Rosemarie has brought each of these groups together to remind them that the homeless are not separate from our community. They are part of us. The have addictions, disabilities, mental illnesses, and most definitely are victims of poverty. They feel invisible. Nobody knows or says their names, but they have names. And when we respect them enough to know their name, to give them warmth, they can succeed.

I love listening to Rosemarie and the police chief and the mayor speak, but my favorite part of Come to the Table, is the honored guest. Every year one brave Listening House guest gets up in front of all us fancily dressed, mostly white, upper to middle class people and tells their story. Every year I am humbled by his or her strength and inspired by his or her story.