On occasion, I hear from people that Hospitality House doesn't talk enough about the wonderful services we provide in addition to providing food and shelter. So I decided to ask The Union to do an article about this, as it is important. Then I decided to write about what matters most to me; the work we do with our guests that is life changing, and about the people we serve.

Hospitality House has created an unprecedented network of services and volunteers to help our most vulnerable community residents. I have never seen a community more giving or dedicated to helping the homeless. It brings us together in these tough times. We are giving in ways that can only be measured by how it feels to feed a hungry person, to shelter someone from the cold or to give a friendly smile to let another know they are not alone. It is the most amazing lift to the spirit; knowing we have made a difference.

Considering the high numbers of people we serve each day, I'm proud of the work we do. How we don't ever give up on anyone and believe each person deserves the best love and care we can give them, even when they sometimes don't believe they deserve it themselves. It's a process of giving back a sense of self-worth to many who have lost this. We do this by letting each guest know we value them and they do matter in this world.

I believe people end up with us for reasons we can't begin to understand as we each handle what life throws us differently. Some of us have an amazing support system to get us through tough times; other's have funds to pay for needed treatments, but sadly, there are some, who for whatever reason, break down and don't know how to put it back together.

That struggle is evident in how some of our guests carry themselves, or you can see it in their eyes, even though many try to hide the pain. So often we get a new guest who has suffered recent trauma; often the loss of a job, a home or a relationship. They come in to the shelter wounded and scared, not knowing how they ended up in a homeless shelter.

It doesn't take long for them to feel support and caring from staff and volunteers, but they also get this from other guests, who have intimate knowledge of what it feels like to be in a shelter, and they are generous and helpful to each other.

I can't pretend to understand why some of us thrive and others become our guests. We hear stories of how many of our guests spent their youth building the community we know and love today. They poured concrete, built buildings, drove trucks, planted trees and then one day their bodies broke down and they couldn't work anymore. It is heart wrenching to hear these stories, to see the pride they feel for their contributions to building a city, only to be left without a place to call home.

If I am remiss in sharing our story, it's not because I'm not excited to share what we do, it's because I'm working hard to make sure these folks have Hospitality House to let them know they are not forgotten. I am hard at work making sure there are services available that will help them put their lives back together.

I have the best job one could hope for as I get to know our guests and hear their stories. I get to work with volunteers and staff that are the most dedicated, amazing people I have ever met. I feel as if I'm a part of something that is hard to explain in words, but can be felt the moment you walk in the door. What a gift to us all.

Cindy Maple is the Hospitality House director.