Nick’s Mite

Nick knocked on the office door. “What can I do for you, Nick?” I asked. He quizzed me 
for ten minutes on the funding for the Center. At the Center I like to answer questions
simply and directly. Unless privacy issues are involved, I just answer the question.
Hearing my answers, Nick said, “OK, I like that.” He pulled two crumpled dollar bills out
of his pocket and placed them on the desk.  “Use that for whatever you want. You folks
have helped me a lot, and if I have something to spare, I’ll give it to you.” I thanked him
and assured him it would help people here.  He waved and walked away. Almost
everyone at the Center has some kind of income, perhaps from Medicaid or SSI or
SSDI. The amount received is rarely enough to provide for housing and living expenses,
but they do keep some money in their pockets. Yes, the donation was almost too small
to move through the accounting process, but it says a lot that a guest wants to
contribute, communicating trust, pride and ownership. Remember the old story of the
poor widow’s mite, how her donated penny was proportionately worth more than a ten
thousand dollar gift from a very wealthy person. Nick’s mite is the same.

Five Weekly Highlights - March 9, 2012

• “Steve” got a job with help from Linda, veteran services provider
• Jean Jacques brought in beauticians who provided 14 haircuts on Monday
• “Al” got a job offer for permanent employment, using our computers for online applications.
• “Ellie” got her old job back working with a carnival out of state. She is ecstatic.
• “Linda” has decided to seek entrance into a detox facility. We applaud her!

Five Weekly Highlights - February 24, 2012

• “Luke” landed a job, with key help from Linda Lurvey.
•  Three volunteers, through Granite United Way, helped serve lunch.
• “Phil” got a full-time job  - “thanks to the Center’s computers,” he said.
• Women from First Congregational Church donated bags of toiletries – thank you!
• ·“Chan” got a job washing dishes; he’s relieved and delighted.

Five Weekly Highlights - February 17, 2012

• “Kris” just found a place!  She’s practicing better budgeting.
• Lt. Soucy from the MPD came by for a get acquainted visit.  Thanks!
• “Frank” & “Alice” are moving into a new place and are determined to find jobs.
• Two men finished taking an 10-hour online certification course, saying, “I don’t know how we’d do this without the Center.”
• “Ike,” homeless and battling alcohol, has stayed sober, kept a job for four months and is   celebrating getting a car this week

 Five Weekly Highlights

• “Lenny” received wraparound services from our providers and is now in good hands.
• Five St. Anselm students have begun a new season of Life Narrative volunteer work.
•  "Juan” and “Sharlene” found a place to live and received a Good Luck bag.
• Sixteen haircuts were provided by beauticians via Jean Jacques, health educator.
• Photographer Elsa Voelcker from St. Anselm College took twenty portraits for our display.

Five Weekly Highlights - February 3, 2012

• Jean Jacques, RN, came in for a smoking cessation workshop.
• "Phil" praised Peter from Goodwill for resume help: "He’s totally awesome."
• A young woman in the area donated twenty picture frames for our portrait display.
• "Sheldon" moves into a new apartment today – "leaving this place behind…with thanks".
•  Weekly New Horizons loans us a van so we can pick up meals at the Food Bank. Thank you!!

The 80/20 Rule

    Lately I have been citing the “80/20 Rule” fairly often. Let me set up the story. On Fridays
I ask a couple of homeless guests to accompany me to the New Hampshire Food Bank where I pick up 50 pans of food to serve for lunch for the next week. It’s very valuable to me to have their assistance.

    Over the past few months I can count on about 6-8 different guys who will usually volunteer quickly to help me. Others will pitch in now and again, depending on a variety of factors. Most turn away when I ask.Among those 6-8 dependable guys, I frequently hear one of them say, “How come more people don’t volunteer? You give them a free lunch.The least they can do is ride over and help pick it up.”

    Of course the logic is impeccable. But logic does not make the world go `round. What does make the world go round is the Pareto Principle, also called the 80/20 rule. It states that 80% of the work is done by 20% of the people. Or, in its variants:  80% of the results come from 20% of the causes.  

    In all my years in various communities, I have seen the truth of this Principle proven again and again.  And now I see it at the Homeless Center. I saw how true it was with CEOs and physicians when I worked in Connecticut, and I see it as true now with the homeless. 

    What does that tell me? That the Pareto principle applies to human nature, regardless of income or circumstance. Because I have lived for so long with this Principle,  it’s simply part of my view of the world as it is. On Fridays at the Homeless Center, I am always grateful for those who choose to help, and I do not resent those who won’t. I am neither surprised nor disappointed by the reality of human behavior. Acceptance is a big first step toward peace of mind.