Cedar Valley Hospitality House

Joni Hansen saw a need and did something about it. She knew that our community's homeless often have no where to go throughout the daytime. They can get a meal at the Catholic Worker House and Salvation Army, but neither place allows for those without a home to be there during the day. Even the public library put a limit of an hour stay recently, as the library was finding people spending their entire days inside their walls, especially in cold weather.

At the end of October, Joni met with a few friends to share her burden and vision. Two weeks later, they had rented a house at 1003 Mulberry St. in Waterloo and began a 6 week effort to paint walls, get new carpet, and make the house look warm and inviting. This Tuesday, December 15, the Cedar Valley Hospitality House will open its doors from 9-4 each day of the week to offer day-time hospitality to those who are homeless in our area. People can get a warm cup of coffee, take a shower, wash their clothes, make local phone calls, go on-line. On Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, a light lunch will be prepared for guests.

George and Judy Marshall and myself went to the open house at 1003 Mulberry today. I met Joni and some others involved in the effort and got a tour of the Hospitality House. Joni mentioned her vision for this to be an inter-faith effort. The team is currently seeking volunteer hosts to staff the hospitality house each day during a morning shift from 9:00-12:30 or an afternoon shift from 12:30-4:00 p.m. There will always be two volunteer hosts each shift. If you're interested in volunteering, please contact Sue Dean at 236-0455 or Rose Quirk at 232-3177.