Supporter Corner
by Jason Strecker
With the cold winter months already upon us, I think of the importance of Arundel House of Hope’s Winter Relief rotating shelter. As a former volunteer and staff member of Arundel House of Hope (AHOH) I was involved in the Winter Relief intake process two seasons. I helped with daily shelter check in and I visited our local church shelter partners. I got to see firsthand the impact AHOH’s Winter Relief and partnering churches had on guests.
As a follower of AHOH’s history, I’m always searching for pictures or news articles from the past. Recently I found a 2015 ABC 2 news video taken at the old Day Center, as AHOH staff prepared for a Winter Relief week. While this video is short at just less than three minutes, we see a big impact. For 34 seasons now, AHOH’s Winter Relief has had an incredible impact on guests in need of shelter for the night. Winter Relief has also had an impact on church shelter volunteers, AHOH volunteers, staff and supporters. For me, I will never forget Winter Relief and this particular ABC news video.
In this ABC video, we also see a segment featuring a very special woman to myself and other AHOH staff members. Nannie Waller was a long time guest of the AHOH Day Center and participated in Winter Relief during seasons she did not have an apartment. In this video, Nannie spoke of the importance of Winter Relief in helping her stay safe and build up funding for her own place. Sadly, Nannie passed away in November 2023 but I will continue to keep her memory strong with appreciation for the positivity she brought to AHOH staff members and guests.
Nannie’s daughter Kirchera is grateful for the help her mother received and wants me to share her sentiments of thanks to AHOH staff and Winter Relief volunteers: “Arundel House of Hope Day Center and Winter Relief had an impact on my mother Nannie Waller because it gave her stability when she had no other options. AHOH made sure they provided a warm, safe and home setting to all clients, especially my mother.”
Kirchera says, “My mother created a bond with people at the center who had her best interest at heart.” And that is how I remember Nannie and look at my time as a volunteer, then staff member and now as a supporter of AHOH. The staff, volunteers, church volunteers, Day Center and Winter Relief guests create a bond that lasts forever.
Sincerely,
Jason
Arundel House of Hope Volunteer/Staff 2008-2010
