Twas the night before Christmas...

Twas the night before Christmas and all throughout Trinity Place Shelter, not a homeless LGBTQ youth was stirring nor was a mouse! The youth all slept snug in their cots with full stockings of goodies, presents, gift cards donated by church and community members. A perfectly decorated Christmas Tree lighting up the night, donated by Trinity HS GSA. Stomachs filled with an array of holiday food and individual-sized homemade bread loaves baked by a church member. Donated blankets from a gay Fire Island hotel. Aside each cot was a stash of new warm woolen mittens, hats and scarves handmade by queer knitters in Ithaca and Lutheran women in Wisconsin.  

The shelter MSW intern sleeping overnight as the volunteer shelter monitor. The shelter director at home frenetically trying to finish annual reports with the volunteer coordinator aiding him from London as is a shelter board member from rural PA. The outreach coordinator deep in thank you note writing, the shelter executive director busy adding touches of holiday spirit wherever she goes. The shelter treasurer dutifully typing end of year donor receipts. The shelter webmaster in Chicago skillfully posting photos of our youth's Christmas joy. Shelter social worker  in Baltimore and shelter monitor in San Francisco, pausing from non-stop work for a rare night of rest. Shelter volunteers, donors and friends, angels of ours who have earned their "wings," fulfilled from their boundless generous contributions. All overflowing with love, joy and gratitude for the support and "Christmas promise" of countless...

Yours united in the struggle, triumph, friendship and love. May peace be yours now, and always, 

Kevin

Kevin V. Lotz, LCSW, CASAC, ACSW  

Director, Trinity Place Shelter 

164 West 100th Street

New York, NY 10025 

Email: director@trinityplaceshelter.org  

Please visit our website: www.trinityplaceshelter.org  

Facebook Group: http://www.facebook.com/trinityplaceshelter