Sara Sandstrom, Nederland. Author and speaker Leo Buscaglia wrote, “It’s not enough to have lived. We should be determined to live for something. May I suggest that it be creating joy for others, sharing what we have for the betterment of personkind, bringing hope to the lost and love to the lonely.”

You can find many people in the world who live the way Buscaglia suggests. You can find people like this living among us. You might be one of them. 

Nederland Community Presbyterian Church (NCPC) has been bringing hope and love to the homeless community through their Socks & Sandwiches outreach program, and they are also involved with the group Nederland Interagency Council for Homeless Encampments (NICHE). 

For six years Socks & Sandwiches has provided food, information and a place to rest for homeless individuals and families in an environment free from judgement. Once a week during the summer volunteers make a meal and make connections and help educate people about the mountain environment. 

NCPC Pastor Hansen Wendlendt says, “The meal is to build community and talk to people about transforming their lives.” In the six years that Socks & Sandwiches has existed Wendlendt says that it has gone from a meal of charity to a banquet of community. 

In the last few years a banquet is what you would have found being served. As with so many things the Covid pandemic has brought changes to even an organization as this. Boulder County protocols were followed with health questions being asked and temperatures being taken. Brown bag lunches were handed out with fruit, sandwiches and a few other goodies. Socks, garbage bags and hygiene products are also always available. 

Most years this lunch would serve over 20 people a week. This summer there were three to ten in attendance each week. 

A number of people from the community volunteer to make this happen every week. This year there were three volunteers who were committed to making this a reality for people in need, Margie Yansura, Susan Gerhart and Henry Schliff. 

I asked Henry Schliff why he has volunteered with Socks & Sandwiches for the last two years. He said, “I personally got involved with Sock & Sandwiches as the direct result of my conversion to Catholicism. Two things immediately became clear to me, first, one cannot live an authentic Christian life without serving others and two, I had lived a life almost exclusively oriented towards serving myself. Sock & Sandwiches was one of the first local opportunities that came onto my radar, so I jumped.”

Schliff admits that he had a very biased opinion against “campers” and “transients” when he moved to Nederland. This work has helped him see people in a different light. Schliff believes that instead of avoiding those who make us uncomfortable we should broaden our definition of neighbor to encompass every person we encounter. 

He added, “We do not flourish when we restrict our minds and hearts. There have been quite a few people who have come into this community and caused trouble and even violence but when we allow these moments of suffering to close us down to those most in need we do ourselves a great disservice. We can either see “campers” as a burden and a threat or we can begin to see them as our neighbors in need. The latter view will make us a more generous and therefore a stronger community.”

Just think for a moment how that attitude has the potential to change the world. 

NICHE is another organization that helps those in need. Claudia Schauffler, affectionately known as the Church Lady, and Brigitte Johnson are part of NICHE and they meet with folks and connect them with existing resources. These resources can mean anything from legal help to healthcare to assistance in getting a job. 

Oftentimes people coming to the Nederland area to camp do not have the knowledge or skills to be in the woods. The NICHE organization stresses five W’s; Wildfire Prevention, Wildlife Interaction, Waste Management, Clean Water and Weather Preparation. Johnson and Schauffler work to educate people about these principles all with the focus to connect with people and keep us all safe.

This particular summer the number of homeless campers was very low in the area. The number of recreational campers was very high. Johnson and Schauffler spent time educating these recreational campers on the five W’s as well. 

This hard work is paying off. Lives are being transformed. There are some people who did not have a job and now they are employed. There are people who did not have permanent housing and now have a place to call home. There are people who are now sober and staying off drugs because of the hope and love they have been shown by people in our community. Socks & Sandwiches, NICHE and other outreach organizations take the time to see all people. To see their value despite the struggles. They take the time to educate and make a connection. That one meal, that one smile, that one conversation can change a person’s path forever. 

(Originally published in the October 1, 2020, edition of The Mountain-Ear.)