Ursula Sherman, BOSS

Temple Sinai in Oakland helps to support BOSS/Ursula Sherman Village, a transitional housing project in Berkeley. Once a month 3 to 4 Sinai-ites gather to put on a birthday party for the people at the village. We bring cake, ice-cream and gifts of baskets filled with toiletries. For one hour we play bingo (with prizes) and have crafty things to do for the kids. I volunteered to help out tonight, but not without some trepidation. The last time I helped out there were about 12 kids ranging in age from 3 to 14. A 14 year old in transitional housing isn't exactly thrilled to color or play word-games. The 3 year olds simply want attention. It made me realize why small school classes are better than large ones - everyone wants and needs attentions. John was with me and we were stretched like bubble gum pulled out arms length.

I also feel challenged being around people down on their luck. It reminds me that most of us just aren't that far away from being in that type of situation. Give the Bay Area a good 7.0 shake and we'll see a lot more people needing toiletry kits. It's tough to see, and realize that there is very little that a single person can do other then help brighten someone's evening with some bingo, cake and ice cream.

So tonight I tried to do just that. I assisted as the BINGO winners, adults and kids, as they rifled through the gift box looking for trinkets that might hold some value: perfume, a plastic flashlight, a nail care kit. It took so little to spread a little cheer and pushed me to consider my values and fears.

Even though I'm only about 12 miles from this place, I'm a million miles from understanding what causes someone to end up there or what it's like to live there. I pulled out of their parking lot in my fancy sports car, somewhat embarrassed for flaunting what my "have" to their "have not" and considered where I had been and where I was going. And as I drove up the tree-lined street to my lovely little home I thought about how much I value the order in my life compared to the chaos that exists in theirs.