Celebrating Henry Jones

 

We recently celebrated Henry Jones’ retirement and his years of service to Christ House. 

Henry devotedly ran the free Shower Program at Christ House from April 1997 to July of this year. For twenty-eight years, he managed the shower schedule, distributed clothing and toiletries, and greeted guests with empathy and kindness. Henry sees the Shower Program as a personal ministry; providing not just an opportunity to shower and put on clean clothing, but also a listening ear and calm presence to those who are struggling with homelessness. He has dedicated years of his life to giving back and helping others. He has touched the lives of so many people through his compassion and care, often during the hardest periods of their lives.

As a former Christ House patient himself, and the first ever member of Kairos House, our long-term residential community, Henry brings with him a deep sense of understanding and compassion towards those who visit us, and he continues to bring joy and direction to Christ House. 

In Henry’s words:

“I came to Christ House June of 1991. I was homeless on the street for a long time, and I got sick and came to Christ House. I remember when they started Kairos Program, everybody had to do volunteer work, so I decided to take on the clothing room.

I remember one morning I was in there, separating clothes and Dr. Goetcheus came down there and sat beside me and she said, ‘How would you like to have a job in the shower program? Because I feel like you’d be a good fit because you could relate to the people who come, since you used to be homeless yourself.’  And it worked.

When people came for the showers, I didn’t tell them what they should do and shouldn’t do, ‘Stop drinking, stop doing drugs’- I didn’t do none of that. I became a friend. We’d stand back there and laugh and joke. I met a lot of friends and was able to help a lot of people, people who came through the shower program and then the Kairos Program. This place here is a special place… I am so grateful to be here.

I remember Dr. Goetcheus used to take me to different places to share my story. I used to share my story with people who didn’t understand homeless. And at the end of my story, I’d always say, ‘Just because you see a homeless person out there doesn’t mean they’ll be out there forever- and I’m living proof.”

 

Thank you, Henry!