She drove by it many times, during trips to the mall, or when she was running errands. When Kim Hemmingsen of Santa Rosa glanced at the Family Support Center, tucked away behind Macy’s in the old general hospital, the mother of three was curious.
“I walked in to look around and I knew. I knew I could help. Now I love the family shelter and am proud to be able to help,” Hemmingsen said.
Last Easter she began preparing foot-high Easter baskets for what she thought would be about 25 children. She ended up creating age- and gender-specific cellophane-wrapped and beribboned Easter baskets including candy, stuffed toys and other treasures for 52 kids. Each bore the name tag of a child living at the shelter.
“I didn’t want to do generic baskets. These kids need to feel special,” she said.
Hemmingsen is one of about 95 volunteers who found a need she could fill for those at the shelter.
“So many wonderful people volunteer for us. They cover the front desk. They do data input. There is the lady who comes in to cut hair. Sonoma State students help us. And Agilent workers have done weekend dinner duty, I think for over 15 years,” said Ricardo Uribe, program director.
The Family Support Center is a multi-service shelter for children and their families run by Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Santa Rosa. It can serve approximately 130 people daily, half of whom are usually children.
Volunteers help with day care while adult clients get help with job hunting, education or financial issues. Families live in small bedroom/bathroom suites that are sponsored financially by community and business groups.
There is a volunteer-run clothing and shoe boutique to provide adequate clothing to the families, who can utilize the program as long as they avoid substance abuse or other disruptive behaviors.
“The longest clients can stay is six months, but they have to be showing progress in all areas, doing things like working and building savings accounts. They also participate in chores, just like they would in a home,” said Betsy Timm of Catholic Charities.
After Hemmingsen’s Easter basket distribution, she moved on to create welcome bags for all new clients that include hygiene items, flip-flops and hair care products. Then came baby bags for all newborn infants, including a simple disposable camera. Soon, Christmas rolled around, and Hemmingsen was back at the Dollar Store and haunting toy store sales for more gifts.
“She has brought in strollers, toys, baby clothes. For people who think they can’t make a difference, they should learn from Kim. She knows that the smallest thing, a little present, makes a huge difference in the life of a homeless child,” Timm said.
The former dental hygienist says she used to think she’d like to save the world, but has scaled back that dream to a more reasonable level. In recent years, she has made several trips to China to bring blankets to children living in orphanages. Her family tries to do at least one over-the-top charitable effort per year.
“We can’t go to China every year, so I need a project at home. I feel so happy, just sitting on the floor at the homeless shelter, talking to kids,” she said.
