Featured Volunteer: Jo Lauer

I joined the group of earnest, big-hearted souls at CSLSR committed to addressing the issue of hunger for our neighbors across the way on the Joe Rodoto Trail. There was such a blatant need, I couldn't turn my back on it. After all, I was a child of the Kennedy era where we were asked what we can do for our country. It was a lively meeting with ideas flying like meteors through the air. Not being a real group-person, I almost left. But this was bigger than my little introverted self. We all wanted to do something but needed leadership. I think we sort of volunteered Kathryn to organize us into what became a streamlined assemblage of food (donated and homemade) in the Social Hall to be carried and distributed across the highway to the trail-dwellers.

Then the trail was closed and the residents were dispersed throughout the county. People still need to eat. We were able to continue cooking, gathering, preparing food for those newly sheltered at Los Guillicos where we were able to interact with the people a little more as we served them. Through my heart kept running, There but for the Grace, go I. It was a powerful experience in Oneness.

Then winter arrived and my old, cataract riddled eyes made driving across town too dangerous in the early darkness. I had another opportunity to sign on in the spring, cooking and prepping at St. Anthony's Dining Hall, and then eventually at the Sebastopol Grange. We always began with a prayer. It was a wonderful (and for me corrective) experience of working side-by-side in a group of spiritually like-minded beings.

Then Covid-19 arrived and again, my old, medically vulnerable self needed to step back and send love from a distance as others stepped forward. I left Christianity behind decades ago, but if there's one thing that stuck with me from childhood, it's "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." I'm grateful to the sweet souls of the Center for carrying on this valuable spirit-work.