“Volunteers aren’t paid, not because they are worthless, but because they are priceless.” -Anonymous
Our feature, “Volunteer Spotlight!”, is a very small way to say thank you to the thousands of volunteers who give of their time, energy and passion to Xavier Mission each year. Without volunteers, there would be no Mission, and we are eternally grateful for the service they provide!
We will profile different volunteers so that the entire community can get to know those who keep our outreach programs moving forward day after day. If you see them around, please be sure to say “Hi and thank you!” And maybe throw a hug in there for good measure.
Our next volunteer profile is J Langdon, who is the co-Facilitator of the Life-Skills Training & Empowerment Program and a member of the Mission Steering Committee. He also spearheaded our L-STEP Working Group.
Here are some Q&A with J!
Cassandra: How long have you been a volunteer at Xavier?
J: 2.5 years
C: How and why did you get involved?
J: My wife and I had recently joined St. Francis Xavier Parish and I was introduced to the Mission and L-STEP by the woman who runs the New York Chapter of The Ignatian Volunteer Corps, which I had also recently joined. I had just retired from a career in business and was interested in “giving back,” to use an overworked but apt phrase. L-STEP seemed to be a well-thought-through organization with a particularly worthy mission. It’s turned out to be much more. It’s an effective organization that can really help people move forward with their lives
C: Why have you continued volunteering here for so long?
J: A large measure of the reason I’ve stayed involved is selfish—I derive a great deal of personal satisfaction from my involvement in L-STEP. I’ve also learned a lot, about poverty, homelessness and myself. Furthermore, I simply enjoy being around the people involved: the participants, the other volunteers and the SFX staff. They’re a great group, interesting and inspiring. St. Francis Xavier is a sensational parish, and Xavier Mission puts into practice many of the parish’s principles. I also feel a real debt to the people who, over decades, have made this storied parish so special. My involvement is a way to do a small part to continue that tradition.
C: Brownnoser.
C: What is your favorite part about volunteering at Xavier?
J: My favorite aspect of volunteering at SFX is my sense that I’m making a difference in the lives of some wonderful, deserving people. One of the bedrock Ignatian principles is to see God in everyone and everything. That’s easy to do at L-STEP.
C: What is your least favorite part?
J: The frustration of not being able to do nearly as much as needs to be done. There is an enormous imbalance between the need and the resources available, especially financial and volunteer support.
C: What are your hopes for Xavier Mission 5 years from now?
J: That’s easy—doing more for more people.
C: If someone handed you a million dollars today what would you do with it?
J: Sorry, that question is simply too difficult to answer. Like some other things, I’ll deal with it if the situation arises. What a nice problem it would be.
C: Bzzzz, sorry, wrong answer. The correct answer is “Give it to Xavier Mission with a significant portion to go directly to staff salaries.” Thanks for playing.
C: What would be your ideal place to live?
J: New York City.
C: What is your favorite musical group?
J: It’s a dead heat: The Rolling Stones and the mid-60’s Miles Davis Quintet. That probably says as much about my age as my taste in music.
C: That’s true, seeing as how I have no idea who you’re talking about.
August 2011:
Our next volunteer profile is Jim English, who is the Volunteer Coordinator for the Hurtado Men’s Shelter and a member of the Xavier Mission Steering Committee. Here are some Q&A with Jim!
Cassandra: How long have you been a volunteer at Xavier?
Jim: 20 years, 2 months.
C: How and why did you get involved?
J: I came by Xavier to pick up a package for a friend of mine. An NY diocesan priest friend wanted to learn about Jesuit life. Since I worked in the area at the time, he asked me if I would pick up a package at parish office. I saw the notice at the office about the shelter that day. I thought I’d see what it was about.
C: Why have you continued volunteering here for so long?
J: There is a need for experienced volunteers at shelter. I have the time and opportunity to contribute.
C: What is your favorite part about volunteering at Xavier?
J: Meeting and becoming friends with the other volunteers and meeting and becoming friends with our nightly guests.
C: What is your least favorite part?
J: Sometimes sleep is difficult at the shelter.
C: What are your hopes for Xavier Mission 5 years from now?
J: That our programs continue or expand, and that we influence other churches, synagogues, charitable concerns, etc. to follow our example.
C: If someone handed you a million dollars today what would you do with it?
J: I can’t really say. I hope I would donate a good part of it to the Mission.
C: What is your favorite movie?
J: “Casablanca” with Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman!
C: What do you do for a living?
J: I am unemployed at present. The Parish Support Group has been a great blessing.
July 2011:
Our next volunteer profile is Laurie Haines, who is the co-Director of the 1st Sunday leadership team at the Welcome Table (with last month’s Volunteer, George), as well as a member of the Xavier Mission Steering Committee. Here are some Q&A with Laurie!
Cassandra: How long have you been volunteering at Xavier?
Laurie: I have been at Xavier for over 25 years. Too long to remember.
C: How and why did you get involved?
L: A friend of mine asked me to help launch NY Cares. I came to Xavier when NY Cares was just beginning as a Team Leader. I did SO many projects for NY Cares (there were only 8 team leaders then!) but I found that I liked the Welcome Table the most. I started regularly being a Team Leader at Xavier and then eventually got ”promoted” to Coordinator of the Welcome Table. Back then, one of the Xavier’s nuns would interview you before you could take a leadership position — I think it was the hardest interview of my life!
C: Why have you continued volunteering here for so long?
L: That’s easy, the people. The guests, the volunteers and mission leadership group.
C: What is your favorite part about volunteering at Xavier?
L: I feel like we run a very big restaurant and I get to me the manager every first Sunday. I am proud of how the Welcome Table has developed from being a sandwich place to where it is today. The things I love the most are when the guests are happy with our food service and the volunteers enjoyed their day. That is a good, good day.
C: What is your least favorite part?
L: My least favorite part of the day is when the day is over and I have that long walk to Old Town Tavern.
C: What are your hopes for Xavier Mission five years from now?
L: I wish I could say that the Mission wasn’t needed but I’m afraid that’s just not realistic. I hope that in 5 years we have the resources to continue to provide healthy meals in a safe, respectful environment. The financial part of it is a huge concern for me. We have come so far in our food service delivery, I just hope we can continue and improve in the next five years. Our work is so important.
C: If someone handed you a million dollars today what would you do with it?
L: If someone handed me a million dollars I would most likely buy a new pin for Marty’s hat (regular volunteers will understand that…) and then hundreds of pairs of socks, underpants, sneakers and coats for the All Saints Room. I would find a farmer to drop off fresh vegetables every Sunday so we could cook them in our brand new ovens. The free range chickens would arrive at the same time as the vegetables but Everett will be there to whip it all into a spectacular meal. Besides being one heck of a dreamer, as usual, I think I have already overspent…
C: Do you have any pets?
L: We have two cats—Sixpack, our 21 year old cat and our new addition, Baby from the Bronx (she really is from the Bronx).
C: What would be your ideal place to live?
L: My favorite place to live is right where I am on the Upper Westside. It’s too small and expensive but magically just perfect!
June 2011:
Our June 2011 volunteer profile is George Deshensky, who is a co-Director of the 1st Sunday leadership team at the Welcome Table. Here are some Q&A with George!
Cassandra: How long have you been volunteering at Xavier?
George: I hate to say it but it’s been about 27 years! Since the year after the Welcome Table started.
C: How and why did you get involved?
G: By mistake actually. I called some friends who did some volunteer work looking for an opportunity. They referred me to Xavier, Gil Gentile picked up the phone and that was it. I was able to lift a heavy pot from one place to another so they kept me around. That’s how I started—pot lifter.
C: Why have you continued volunteering here for so long?
G: The priests were really hands on down here. They set a great example. I thought, hey, if they are going to get down and dirty than I can too. And they asked for a commitment—asked us to come regularly so we could make sure things kept running smoothly. How can you say no to that? I also had the energy and the inclination to volunteer and the people that I worked with were really great. That made it easy, to have people who were great and kept things organized and running.
C: What is your favorite part about volunteering at Xavier?
G: The guests. I’ve gotten to know a lot of them after all these years. They all have their own story. Some are really wonderful and grateful, others aren’t—but it doesn’t matter. That doesn’t turn me off. Also, our team is wonderful. I love working with them. We even hang out after the meal is over, go to Old Town and relax.
C: What is your least favorite part?
G: It’s a long day! My feet hurt at the end. But after a nice, hot shower, I’m good to go.
C: What are your hopes for Xavier Mission five years from now?
G: I hope it’s still in existence! And that there is still support for it—food and funding and everything else.
C: If someone handed you a million dollars today what would you do with it?
G: Well aside from some things for myself I think I’d keep an open tab at Old Town for all the volunteers to partake in a drink after they are done!
C: What is your guilty pleasure?
G: I plead the fifth.
C: What is your favorite food?
G: Very basic, all-American comfort food—pot roast and mashed potatoes, that kind of thing.
May 2011:
Our first volunteer profile is Jane Sherman, who began the Clothing Room ministry and has participated in multiple volunteer opportunities at Xavier. She now volunteers each week at the Welcome Table, collecting tickets and directing the line of guests as they come into the hall. Jane will be moving to Florida at the end of May—we wish her much health and happiness in her new home! Here are some Q&A with Jane Sherman!
Cassandra: How long have you been volunteering at Xavier?
Jane: Probably about 25 years
C: How and why did you get involved?
J: I have a feeling that I owe something for what I have. I’ve been very fortunate in my life. I’ve had problems, everyone does, but basically I’ve been pretty damn lucky. Good friends, good clients, I’ve made good money and lived well, had a great husband so all in all I’ve been lucky and I wanted to give something back. It’s more than that too because I get a good feeling about myself when I do it. I miss it when I’m away.
C: Why have you continued volunteering here for so long?
J: Just because of the good feeling I’ve gotten. Xavier is so close to my apartment so that makes it easier. And at one time I spent a lot of time at the church so I’m very connected to Xavier.
C: What is your favorite part about volunteering at Xavier?
J: I like the association with the homeless. I’ve had great associations with many of them; we kid around and I can share my raunchy sense of humor with them. I meet a lot of them on the street, in the park, they ask about my dog and I’ve really developed friendships with these people. I’m going to miss them.
C: What are your hopes for Xavier Mission 5 years from now?
J: I hope that Xavier continues. I’m concerned about all the people we’re serving; the attendance is increasing and the food is drying up. I’m really concerned. I hope you’ll be able to continue doing this. Everyone has a right to eat.
C: If someone handed you a million dollars today what would you do with it?
J: I’d buy a car; I’m moving to Florida and I’m going to need one! Aside from that, I’d give most of it away. I’m pretty lucky and I have everything I want.
C: What is your guilty pleasure?
J: Chocolate!
C: What is your favorite movie?
J: I don’t think I have a particular favorite movie. I read more than I watch movies. I love mysteries, I have tons of them!
