H.O.M.E. Word – A blog from Project H.O.M.E.

Project H.O.M.E.'s Volunteer Stories Project aims to collect the unique experiences and motivations of the people who heed the call to help others and share those stories with our larger community of friends and supporters. All pieces will be written in a Q&A style to ensure the volunteer's experiences are conveyed in their own words.

Steve Lozowski volunteers at St. Columba, a safe haven for chronically homeless men who suffer from severe mental illness. Steve helps provide meals, comfort, and – perhaps most importantly – companionship to the residents.

Project H.O.M.E. (PH): Tell us a little about yourself.

Steve Lozowski (SL): I am a product architect for a healthcare information solutions company.  I am also married with one grown child.  In addition to my wonderful wife, I live with two dogs, one cat, one rabbit, five chickens, and a handful of fish in a pond.

In the past, I have volunteered in different settings, including a homeless shelter close to my home.  I have also tutored children at an after school program, and spent weeks doing home repair in West Virginia and working at a summer camp in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn.

(PH): Why do you volunteer?

(SL): I have known about Project H.O.M.E. for years, as my church supports them through a poor box program.  A few years ago, my wife and I had the pleasure of touring 1515 Fairmount and the Honickman Learning Center and Comcast Technology Labs with Ed Speedling.  So when I had the opportunity two years ago to commit to a weekly volunteer effort, Project H.O.M.E. was my first choice.

I signed up to help with dinner at St. Columba, but initially I didn’t completely know what my volunteering would include.  It did not take long for me to look forward to seeing the guys I had met and meet new ones.  Serving dinner and cleaning up has become the foundation for what I really enjoy, which is just talking with some of the guys.  Even though they are struggling with their own challenges, they express concern for me and my family.  All I really have to offer is listening and sharing our lives, but that seems worth it.

(PH): Why are the issues of homelessness and poverty relevant/important to you?

(SL): Since I was young, I have felt the injustice of some who would never have the chances I do, just because of the luck of where and when they were born.  Later I came to see how mental health issues or addictions can seriously compound a person’s challenges.  I know that I cannot fix things for any one person, but sharing our common humanity increases the dignity of both of us.

Since volunteering with Project H.O.M.E., Sister Mary’s prophetic witness has touched and disturbed me.  I am disturbed when she mentions the structural violence underlying many of the issues of homelessness and poverty.  Not because I don’t agree with it, but because it can be easy to overlook it.  But I am encouraged by the vision of Project H.O.M.E. of a more just and loving society.  (Loving is my term, because that’s how I think about things.)

(PH): Anything else you'd like to add? Any stories or experiences?

(SL): There is one experience I’d like to share.  Last year, two college students from St. Joe’s were also volunteering on the nights I was there.  Toward the end of their school year, one of the residents ended up giving them hugs.  I turned to the other guys on the benches outside and asked “Where’s my hug?”.  As expected, one burly guy shot back with “I don’t hug guys!”.  But another guy jumped up and said that he’d give me a hug.  When we hugged I realized how frail he was.  Talking to him in the following weeks, I found out that he was dying from cancer, and he shared with me some of the dreams he had hoped to accomplish.  Not too long later, he passed away.

At our volunteer celebration, I was telling this as a fun story, expecting to end with my hug.  But as I told it, I realized that I might have been one of the last people to hug this man before he died.  So I felt doubly blessed at having shared a short amount of time with him.

For more information on how to volunteer with Project H.O.M.E., please contact Volunteer & In-Kind Donation Coordinator Carly Ianuzzi at carlyianuzzi@projecthome.org or 215-232-7272, ext. 3015. You can also visit us here for more information, including our volunteer orientation schedule.

(Beginning second from left) Amy and Sharlene Goldfischer, seated with several members of 1515 Fairmount's resident knitting club.

Project H.O.M.E.'s Volunteer Stories Project aims to collect the unique experiences and motivations of the people who heed the call to help others and share those stories with our larger community of friends and supporters. All pieces will be written in a Q&A style to ensure the volunteer's experiences are conveyed in their own words.

First up is the mother/daughter duo of Sharlene and Amy Goldfischer. The Goldfischers facilitate the popular knitting club at 1515 Fairmount Avenue where our residents – many of whom are already painters, sculptors, and illustrators in their own right – hone their knitting skills with an eye toward crafting items for personal use or to sell at local craft shows. 

Project H.O.M.E. (PH): Tell us a little about yourselves.

Sharlene Goldfischer (SG): I am a special education teacher and consultant by training and background and homeschooled my own children for the past twelve years, along with providing support to other homeschooling families.  Most of my teaching career was spent helping children and teens whose behavior and emotional challenges were interfering with their learning.  I bring with me many, many years of working with children and adults to help them fully realize their true potential….doing whatever it takes to get that to happen.

Amy Goldfischer (AG): I am a homeschooled student in the Philadelphia area. I am interested in the arts, including handwork.

(PH): Why do you volunteer?

(SG): My son, Eric, who is now entering his senior year in college, volunteered at Project H.O.M.E. during his high school years and became extremely passionate about working to end homelessness in this country (a passion and focus which has continued through his college years).  My daughter, Amy, became interested from hearing about Eric's work and volunteered in the art program several years ago.  One summer day, there just wasn't enough room in the art program for Amy due to summer interns, so, she was asked to help out with the knitting program.  I came along to join her for her first visit with this group.  Shortly after this visit, we received a call that the person who was currently leading the club was being relocated for her job and asking if Amy and I could take over running the knitting group.  Of course we said "YES" without any hesitation!  That was about two years ago now.  It is so inspiring to me to help others learn a new skill and watch them feel so good about it…and then use it to express their creativity.  This, as well as the deep and caring relationships that are formed from the work together are what motivate me.

(AG): I like connecting with the people at Project H.O.M.E., sharing a common interest and sharing my own skills with new knitters. I also enjoy learning from the experienced handworkers at Project H.O.M.E. They inspire me.

(PH): Why are the issues of homelessness and poverty relevant/important to you?

(SG): All of the issues related to poverty and homelessness are important to me.  I believe that each and every one of us brings special gifts to the world and if an individual is living in poverty and/or is homeless, it is very difficult for those gifts to be realized.  I also feel that it is the responsibility of every citizen to be involved at some level in helping to end poverty and homelessness.  Sister Mary and Joan have done such an amazing job of getting that message out there and of doing something about it. Bravo!

(AG): I believe that even the small things that someone does can make a difference. I want to continue to be involved, even in small ways, with organizations that are working to end homelessness because I think that ending homelessness is a goal that should be reached as soon as possible. These issues are important to me because it disturbs me that homelessness and poverty are still so common in Philadelphia and that most people do not realize that it is within their abilities to change this situation.

(PH): Anything else you'd like to add? Any fun stories or experiences?

(SG): My favorite stories and memories relate to watching new knitters "get it" and get over their fear of failure and of making mistakes, which absolutely everyone makes when learning to knit.  It's been exciting to see the items crafted by the knitting club members be so well received at area craft shows and to experience the generosity of local crafts people who have donated yarn and supplies.  I am also really enjoying watching my forty-two year old portable sewing machine get a workout!

(AG): People in the knitting club inspire me with their dedication, creativity and skills. It can be funny being the only person under age 40 in the group. I loved going to the First Friday event in Narberth with the group and selling our handwork and art.

(PH): Thanks so much for your time – and volunteer service!

For more information on how to volunteer with Project H.O.M.E., please contact Volunteer & In-Kind Donation Coordinator Carly Ianuzzi at carlyianuzzi@projecthome.org or 215-232-7272, ext. 3015. You can also visit us here for more information, including our volunteer orientation schedule.