Keeping Christmas all the year

by Ron Fortier

In Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, an unrelenting and unrepentant Ebenezer Scrooge refuses to give the charity workers a donation. He exclaims that the “prisons and workhouses” provide for such people and, when told that people would rather die than face those tortuous indignities, that “If they would rather die, they’d better do it, and decrease the surplus population!” Few are as cold as Scrooge, but how many of us can say that we embody the exact opposite of what he represents? The holidays are an important time for charitable organizations. There is always a year-round need. But that need is compounded during the holidays. There is also a need to have the soul and the spirit nurtured by the customary and traditional family holiday gatherings – the need to belong, the need to have a sense of accomplishment, especially at the end of the year. All these things may seem unavailable and certainly out of reach for the homeless. The poor, the destitute, and the homeless are still among us. There are many organizations of a charitable mind, but one of the most recent is New Bedford-based Works 4 U, Inc. It is their mission to end homelessness through employment. The philosophy is not about providing a handout but rather, a hand up. Trey Whalley, one of the organization’s founders says, “We line up work for anyone who is currently suffering from homelessness or previously was homeless.” Homelessness is a spiraling problem in this modern world. That downward spiral creates a disconnection. Says Whalley, “For most people, having permanent shelter and food requires having a job.” Not having an address compounds the homeless individual’s constantly deteriorating situation. No address means no access to services. Work is key. Having a job is key. There’s a sense of self-worth that comes with having a job, receiving compensation for your labor, and the satisfaction of acquiring what you need. “Let’s face it: having a sense of purpose is fundamental to stability in life,” says Whalley. Works 4 U clients, who are either currently or previously homeless, are provided with training, placement, and support. This support helps them to maintain permanent employment. Clients are recruited to volunteer for work projects allowing the organization to get to know their work ethic and finding the best way to help them develop leadership skills. Works 4 U conducts nearly 40 local work projects a year. These projects help develop community goodwill. It is also a way to observe and recognize the volunteers who want to find full-time employment. On one given Saturday in October, eleven client volunteers were split into two teams, one team cleaned up around The Salvation Army’s neighborhood in New Bedford. The other team helped at the Sharing the Harvest Community Farm located at and operated by the YMCA in Dartmouth.

This wasn’t the first time the Works 4 U clients helped them out. It was harvest time and, “they really enjoy working with the people there as well as the wholesomeness of farm work!” The harvest is earmarked to supply to local food pantries and shelters. And even though several of the volunteers are currently homeless and have experienced homelessness at one time or another, despite their situation and hardships, they maintain a strong desire to serve their community. Works 4 U’s client volunteers take a lot of pride in helping others like them. The organization has helped eleven individuals who are experiencing homelessness get jobs this year. They still need work opportunities for others to fulfill their mission of ending homelessness through employment. Their other projects have included volunteering with the Salvation Army’s continuing Serve-A-Thon (Lift-In-Love), which raises money every year for both The Salvation Army and Mobile Ministries in New Bedford. One of their several volunteer driven projects, painting the benches and lamp posts of Buttonwood Park was with the participation of the Mayor of New Bedford. The season of giving is short but, volunteering, sharing, and working towards eliminating homelessness through honest employment.

Works 4 U continues to find part-time work for their client volunteers such as painting, landscaping, lawn mowing, or moving furniture. If you can help them help others while helping youself, please contact them at (774) 762-7609 or email Trey Whalley at twhalley@w-4u.org. For more information, visit w-4u.org.