A few years ago, a man came to André House and spoke with a worker named, Br. Richard Armstrong. The man’s brother had passed away and he wanted someone to talk to. Armstrong learned that André House was the only other family this man knew. The day center had not only provided for him but was full of friendly faces to be greeted by.
Moments like these are met with hospitality at the day center. Though the CDC guidelines and precautions have halted face-to-face contact, the goal to serve the community remains.
Armstrong has been working at André House for 35 years where he holds the position of treasurer and steward. Due to COVID-19 guidelines, their staff was limited to 10 people. This was the combined efforts of the administration and volunteers who have been working harder to provide for those in need.
The first few months of the pandemic saw them serving anywhere from 1500 to 1600 meals a night, a significant increase from the 500 they were used to.
They faced the issue of a reduced donation capacity. Solutions such as faceless dropoff delivery in containers as well as Amazon donations were able to keep them supplied.
Additionally, there was a point at which, for two months, André House would buy $2,000 worth of food a week from local restaurants to help mitigate the decrease in donations. They wanted to aid any establishments that were struggling to stay open.
“We no longer could serve inside our building because of social distancing,” Armstrong said. He explained that they left styrofoam containers full of food for people to pick up. “We’re still doing that. You don’t get a chance to communicate or talk to the guests,” he added.
In Phoenix, the André House provides aid to those who no longer have homes, especially as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic. The day center gives away food, clothing, and access to showers and restrooms but laundry services are suspended for the time being.
Housing is another problem for these individuals. There was a proposal for a 100-bed low-barrier shelter next to André House, but it was rejected by the city council at a Feb. 3 meeting. Their decision was to instead provide 275 beds for the Central Arizona Shelter Services in Phoenix.
Melia Smith, the Director of Stewardship and Development at André House, was disappointed with the city’s decision.
“So many lives were left hanging in the balance by this. They chose to do something that was easy and convenient for them,” Smith said.
Despite this, Armstrong remains confident in the operations of André House, focusing efforts on staying open. With the continued serving of dinner six nights a week, he wants to make sure that people have a place to go to.
Armstrong also alleviated the potential concern some may have about volunteering during a pandemic. He said that while those who did volunteer work were taking a chance, there was something gained from it. He saw the volunteer staff personally benefit from doing the work. This was a common sentiment shared by both him and Smith.
“I’ve yet to see a volunteer not see it as useful. Don’t feel sorry, feel helpful,” said Armstrong.
Both Armstrong and Smith said that hospitality is a priority for André House. Despite the reduced interaction with those who come in, the staff is still committed to upholding that principle.
Contact the reporter at jcsande6@asu.edu
