Housley: Fall closet cleaning and The Listening House

Tag : Men T-shirts
Everyone once in awhile I can use this space to do something good.Today is that day.

I was doing my fall closet cleaning over the weekend, asking myselfthe scripted, "Have I worn this in the past year?" and realizedthat I had piled up quite a stack of slightly worn, used-to-befavorites. "Now what do I do with them?" was my next question.

Here's where the something good comes in, and it involves you.

I need to clean out your closet... now. You've been putting it off,thinking that you'll get to it next week, or the next, but TurkeyDay is right around the corner and before long, you're going to bewrapping presents. This is your week. There are no holidays, thekids are back in school, and it's too cold to go to the lake.Schedule a time in your calendar, two hours, and clean out thatcloset. No excuses. We need you!

It's called "The Listening House Challenge," and you only have ashort time to get this done. (You really have until the end ofOctober, but I'm not giving you that long. I'm a procrastinatortoo, and if I give you the true deadline, end of October, in ourbook, that means mid-December.) You have the next two weeks toaccomplish this challenge, so schedule a time now. You'll feelgreat, cleansed and ready for the holidays, and you're doingsomething to give back to your community.

So, just what exactly is The Listening House Challenge? TheListening House, a homeless shelter in St. Paul, is looking to filltheir shelves for winter and stockpile items for the whole year, sothey won't have to worry about running out of supplies in our balmymid-February. They've asked us over at Keller Williams Realty forhelp, and we gladly accepted. We've emptied our closets, and now weneed yours.

The Listening House's original mission when they first opened theirdoors back in 1983 was, "Don't preach, don't fix, just listen."Since then, they've evolved to a day/evening shelter that provideshospitality, practical assistance and counsel to people who arehomeless, disadvantaged or lonely. Listening is still thecornerstone of their mission.

The doors at The Listening House are open when their partner at theDorothy Day Center's are closed. The Dorothy Day Shelter is onlyopen for meal and bed times. The problem began to develop duringthe Dorothy Day closed hours, which was most of the day and earlyevening, when the homeless would walk the streets of St. Paul,hanging out in the skyway system or attempting to loiter in thecoffee shops. These options are now illegal. The Listening Housegives them a place to go and keeps them off the streets.

The Listening House doesn't serve meals, but offers everything else- toiletries, clean socks (which are a Godsend to the homeless asthey prevent foot disease), clothing, snacks and a place to gowhere someone will know their name. It gives them some sense ofbelonging when their world is upside down. It also providesstability, supplying a mailing address or a voice mail box so theguests can have some contact with the world as we know it. F

or those that are trying to improve their situation, it also helpsto conceal their situation. More than 200 people pass through TheListening House each day.

For more information, go to ListeningHouse.org or give me a call, I'd be glad to tell you more. But, right now, Ineed you to clean your closets. You have two weeks.

Here's the best part - you don't have to bring your items to St.Paul, you can drop them off at our Keller Williams Office on thenorthwest corner of Highways 36 and 5 - 2850 Curve Crest Blvd.,suite #120. If you're really stuck, we'll come and pick your itemsup at your home. Give us a call at 651-439-4000. All donations aretax deductible.
Here's what we're collecting in The Challenge... now go do it! (Ilook forward to getting your bags!)

Clothing

It can be new or gently used, adult sizes only (men and women):jeans, T-shirts, underwear, socks, sweatshirts, rain ponchos,tennis shoes, baseball caps.

Hospitality supplies

Coffee and tea, powdered creamer and sugar, napkins, small paperplates, coffee mugs, new or used towels and washcloths, bathroomtissue, Kleenex.

Health care

Aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, bandages, cotton balls and earswabs, foot powder/spray, Epsom salts, cough drops, Visine/eyedrops, antibacterial ointment/hydrocortisone cream, dental careitems (toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, denture cream/cleaner,Poligrip).

Hygiene products

Combs/brushes, deodorant (travel and family size), lotion (traveland family size), Vaseline, tampons/pads, lip balm,shampoo/conditioner (travel and family size), razors.

Miscellaneous

Popular novels, touchtone phones, digital camera, batteries (AA andAAA), reading glasses, outdoor gear (tents/umbrellas).



Karin Housley is a published author and realtor in the St. CroixValley. To search for homes in the St. Croix Valley or anywhere inthe Twin Cities, visit her website at KarinHousley.com or contact her at Karin@KarinHousley.com or 651-430-0400. Be sure tune into The Karin Housley Show everySaturday morning at 10 on AM 1220 or live via the web at klbbradio.com .