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Volunteers help homeless, community

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Photo by Dan Lassiter

Kathleen and John Schumacher talk with a resident in the morning at House of Mercy in Janesville where they are overnight volunteers.

JANESVILLE — Kathy Schumacher doesn’t want people living in vehicles or under bridges.

That’s why the 62-year-old Janesville woman has been volunteering at House of Mercy homeless center, 320 Lincoln St., since before doors opened in 1997.

“If I wasn’t volunteering along with other numerous volunteers, where would these people be?” she asked.

“It’s wonderful having a place where they can come, bring their children and get necessities to make it through each day,’’ Schumacher said.

House of Mercy “always has a need for volunteers,” said Erin Loveland, volunteer coordinator.

Most of the charity’s 70 volunteers donate time during three- and four-hour shifts during the day. The biggest need is for overnight volunteers—people such as Schumacher and her husband, John, who once a month volunteer from 7 p.m. to 8 a.m., Loveland said.

“When we have a shift we can’t cover or if a volunteer cancels at the last minute, we (staff) end up covering. Then we’re not able to provide services during the week for clients because this takes away hours,’’ Loveland said.

Ninety-minute orientations are scheduled whenever it is convenient for new volunteers. After training, they serve their first shifts with staff members or experienced volunteers. After a couple shifts, new volunteers can offer to work overnight, Loveland said.

Schumacher knows what it’s like for families to lose their homes. When she was a teen, fire destroyed her family home. With the help of classmates, family and the Red Cross, she and her loved ones had clothes and a place to live.

The experience has stayed with her. When she heard a program about the need for a homeless center here, she was inspired to volunteer.

“This is my place. This is what I want to do. It was one of those little things you can do to help someone and your community,’’ Schumacher said.

Volunteering at the center isn’t hard, Schumacher said.

“I love the interaction, but my heart breaks for them. Yet I’m happy they’re not sleeping in a vehicle.

“I feel like I’m helping those children like people helped me,’’ Schumacher said.

She has a soft spot in her heart for the homeless adults.

“There’s so many reasons why people are living at the homeless center,” she said. “As a child, I could have been there with my family. If you walk in their shoes, you understand their stories. It’s easy being part of something that can help them.”