Luna and I have been visiting the Salvation Army Homeless Shelter every Wednesday. She was the perfect addition to a church service project I have been a part of for over fifteen years.
The shelter is comprised of families and single women, all in need of shelter and compassion. Our church brings teens to play with the children in the gym, and do activities like playdough and art projects. Families often have to leave their own pets to be a part of the shelter and welcome Luna’s visits. Some of the children and parents have a fear of dogs, but Luna’s gentle approach helps them let go of their fears and enjoy the love a dog can offer. Families often are there many weeks and really look forward to Luna’s visits. The shelter staff also get a morale boost by her visits.
We always make a trip to the hallway each week to visit with the single women who wait for the gym to open up and become their nightly bedroom. They are so grateful for her visit! Recently, one of the women died in her sleep at the shelter, causing great stress for the other women. They actually waited for Luna’s visit, buried their heads in her fluff, and were consoled by her. Luna was especially gentle and loving that evening, and let the women cry and hug her. At Christmas, Luna passed out gloves to the women, and many of them use her trading card as a bookmark.
One week, the staff approached Luna with a gift bag. Inside was a sealed flavored bone, along with a note from one of the single women, stating that now that she had been out of shelter for a couple months, she realized how much Luna’s visits meant to her. She dropped the bag off as a thank you for Luna’s help in getting her through such a tough time. Blessings given, blessings received!