The Road Home

October 2013
There is nothing that can compare to giving service.  Add willing, happy family members serving alongside and it's a little bit of heaven.  

When our non-profit organization, My Story Matters asked for volunteers to help with a special project, I didn't realize that 75% of the volunteers would come from the Jackson Family.  Thank you dear family for offering a bit of your time and talents to the children and families of Roadhome.  Below are a few of your comments...thank you for your loving service.  

Also thanks to Melissa (Jackson) for being our family photographer-she seems to have left herself out of the pictures!

My experiences at the Salt Lake homeless shelter are and will be forever in my heart as I grow older and try to serve people of all kinds. My first experience at the shelter was when we spent some time interviewing and photographing the families there.  I loved it.  Then came the day we got to deliver the books.  I could see all the people lined up to get there books that My Story Matters put together for the families.  It was great watching the families lined up eager to get their books.  The books were amazing with so many cute pictures of each family member. After they received their books I loved watching the children and parents open their books.  Their faces  would light up when they read the pages.  I also loved to watch the little kids choosing their very own blankets.  They held them tight and squeezed in joy because maybe some of them didn’t have their own blankets.  I would ask them which color they wanted and they would choose their favorite color.  I also was put in charge of creating and helping all the children there sign a huge banner that said THANK YOU HERITAGE MAKERS.  The children signed and drew pictures all over the sign to say thanks.  I want to thank all the people that invited me to visit the Roadhome.  THANK YOU SO MUCH for giving me these experiences and I hope that I can come back to help and serve more children and their families.

Cierra Warenski.

I  had a very unique experience with the Roadhome shelter.  I realized that  I am very blessed to have the things I have and I am grateful to my parents who provide for me.  Some children were happy even though they obviously don't have much.  I was impressed by that characteristic.  Some children were reserved and were less happy to play and interact with me.  I hope they are all able to find homes soon.

Lauren Chong
  

I liked listening to the stories the dads had to share and working with the little kids. I especially liked watching the kids open their storybooks.  It felt good to be with the nice people of Roadhome.

Jake Chatfield

Spending time at the road home was a great experience. I definitely think I got more out of it than the families. Seeing those kids and families have an opportunity to get family pictures put things into perspective. I was glad to help and learn about the homeless needs in Utah as well as the my story matters program.
Noah Zemke

Volunteering at the Road Home was a wonderful experience. I loved photographing the kids and families and helping them feel important. There was one child who kept coming back to me and asked to have his photo taken again. He wanted to see the photo I'd taken after each shot and the way his face lit up when he saw himself left me with such a great feeling. It was awesome to put some smiles on their faces.

Allyssa Zemke (Professional Photographer for the storybooks)

The Road home was amazing.  I loved it, even though it was sad to see all the homeless people.  I loved seeing their smiles and happiness for a chance to tell "their story".  The children are so cute!  It was such and awesome experience.  If you need me again ask me and I would be more then glad to work there again and again!

Kate Chatfield

Carri's Birth Day

Happy Birthday Carri!

Carri just home from the hospital-boys decided to mask up

Happy Carri and mom

Carri Ann Jackson was born on October 14, 1964 in Ketchikan, Alaska, the fourth Jackson child.  We had been living in Anchorage, Alaska for only 3 months ( having moved there in January, 1964) when the Good Friday earthquake of '64 struck.  When the opportunity to move came along a couple of months later, and with a lot of aftershocks still happening, we were happy to move to Ketchikan in Southeast Alaska.  Ketchikan is a rock in the ocean at the tip of Southeast Alaska, not far from the Canadian border.  It rains a lot in Ketchikan, like all the time.  So Carri entered the world on a very stormy night, and she  came into the world ready for it!  And sister, Kellie, was so happy to have a sister as an ally because she had two brothers.  We lived in a two bedroom apartment on the top floor of a five story apartment building overlooking the water.  Since the bedrooms were already full, Carri's crib was set up in the corner of the living room.   The kids played under and around her all the time and she just slept on.  Maybe that is why she likes quiet so much now.  After about one and a half years we were moved from Ketchikan to Palmer, Alaska.  We had a log house with plenty of property so were able to have pets for the children.  Carri's pet was a lamb named Butch.  And Butch loved Carri and followed her everywhere, even into the house sometimes. He was Carri's best friend, especially when the big kids were at school.  It was very hard for Carri to leave Butch when we moved to the city.  Carri was always a very active child.  She loved sports and dancing and is still fun to be around.

The Hills Are Alive with the sound of....

Homecoming Parade in San Clemente

Lauren was in the Homecoming parade on Del Mar Street with the dance team.  Waving to mom on the side lines.

Lauren Loves to Dance!

And she's so good at it!  While on summer break Lauren took a two week dance intensive at BYU.  At the end of the two weeks we were invited to come to her performance.  Wow they worked hard.  Lauren is a beautifully gifted dancer.  Just a few pictures from the intensive and poses at home with palm trees and ocean views.  All around beautiful. 

BYU dancers

Lauren's roommate and dancing buddies

Lauren's BYU counselor

Home Sweet Home at BYU for two weeks.

The Roadhome Project, August 2013

August 2, 2013                                 My Story Matters-Community Project

Jake, Cierra, Lauren, Carri and I (along with 30 other volunteers) took part in a wonderful, carefully planned day at The Roadhome shelter in Salt Lake City today.  It was a day filled with all kinds of feelings and experiences.

As we arrived we drove up to an area that made us a bit uncomfortable.  We searched for the entrance to the building.  While searching we walked through rows and rows of people.  Some were playing in the streets, some asleep on the sidewalks, many were just sitting and watching the world go by.  Our group walked quickly and quietly to the double doors and breathed a sigh of relief as we recognized familiar faces. 

As we entered the doors we saw children, moms, dads and the Roadhome staff waiting for us.  It was very apparent that this building saw a lot of activity with a lot of people benefiting from the programs there.  We were a bit unsure of what would come next.

The people in charge gave us some on-site training and then we began to check families/children in at the front table.  Those of us that hosted families were able to follow them to 7-9 different stations where each of our photographers would take as many pictures the children would allow.  The volunteers, both photographers and interviewers were great people to work with.   

One of the most memorable moments at the Roadhome for me was watching a mother carefully prepare herself and her family for the pictures that would be taken.  This family was dressed in their Sunday best and were excited for what was to come.  The husband held a very small mirror up to the sweet face of his wife while she painstakingly applied her make up.  She then worked on her hair, wanting it to be just right.  This went on for about 20 minutes all the while her husband stood quietly holding the mirror, not wanting to move a single inch.  Once satisfied with her appearance the mother moved on to her children.  The father continued to quietly help where needed.  They were ready!  Just before their host called them to start I watched as another lady walked by, glanced quickly and then stopped and looked for a few seconds, then cried out, "You look BEAUTIFUL!"  And then I saw it...the sweet mother broke out into a HUGE grin.  A smile that was so big and so beautiful and so meaningful to me.  My heart felt a little tug and I realized then that this woman and her family lived in a tight little community of people that needed and wanted the same things in life that we all look for.  To feel noticed, to feel beautiful and to feel loved.

 

Once all of the children were interviewed and photographed we took a little time to unwind and think about what we had just been a part of.  Some of the children returned asking when their storybooks would arrive.  We would patiently tell them in about a month and that we could hardly wait to see them as well.

As we opened the doors of the Roadhome to leave, we walked out with a much different feeling than upon arrival.  We saw many of the same people on the sidewalks and streets but instead of “homeless people” we saw children and families that we now knew, that we now had sweet memories of and wishes for a bright future.

It's now been several days since that Saturday and my heart and my head are still full of thoughts from the Roadhome.  A full day of sharing, caring and taking time to get to know these beautiful families was unforgettable.  I realized that this is what fills my soul, this is what I long to feel in a busy, somewhat uncaring, get the job done kind of life.

Thank you to the MSM Board members and especially Amy Chandler for having the vision to DO GOOD and then having the will and energies to make things happen.  To all our wonderful volunteers…Thanks For Giving!

Delivery of the storybooks was well worth the wait.  Each child received "their story" in a book and a blanket to snuggle up with while reading.  Many families that were new residents of Roadhome came to us and requested another event like this.  The children were showing their friends 

We've scheduled one for October!

  

Lauren Chong 4.0 for 3 Years In A Row!

Lauren was presented with this award for earning a 4.0 GPA, 6th, 7th and 8th grade...all through Jr. High!  Congratulations Lauren!  What a great accomplishment.  Now on to High School!

Ben and Lauren Actively Involved in Youth Fun

Check out this link to see Ben's Young Men's group doing a great tribute to the Young Women of their ward.  It's a lip sync to One Direction's "You Don't Know You're Beautiful".  Filmed with guys in white shirts and ties on the beach under the pier!  Fantastic!  

Ben's YOU DON'T KNOW YOU'RE BEAUTIFUL

Ben along with all of his Priest Quorum buddies invited dates to the Mormal...formal for the Mormon kids in their area.  This is an annual event. 

They all looked fabulous!

Suave and Debonair!

Lauren's young women leaders planned a fun weekend get-a-way to San Diego.  What a stylin' bunch of beautiful young women!

Lauren Our Showstopper

Lauren, (Carri's daughter) performed in the regional Showstoppers dance competition in Los Angeles, California.  Lauren's solo piece took 1st place in her division and her Lyrical group took 6th place overall.  Congratulations Lauren!  

Lauren practices several hours a day, 6 days a week.  It certainly shows.  She's a beautiful dancer.