2015 March PASO Magazine

How is it possible that the events surrounding a situation
be so wrong and so right at the same time?
It’s in Paso’s genes…
By Chuck Desmond
No one has missed the atrocious
and horrific events during the past
year of how human beings can
possibly treat one another. They
have become almost commonplace
to the point of turning us callous
because they are so hideous. Blessedly,
for the most part, our community
is spared from these first-hand
situations that are rocking the planet.
Then, we have Wounded Warrior
(and certainly other organizations)
as a first-rate example of the ‘Best
Of America.’
But, this isn’t a story of atrocities
happening thousands of miles
away; it is about reality right here
in El Paso de Robles. It’s called
Being Homeless. By no possible
stretch of any imagination, do I
have any “in your face” experience
with being homeless. I can’t possibly
understand or begin to relate
to the plight of a homeless person
or family from the security blanket
inside my protected bubble.
But, I see them. I’m not talking
about panhandlers who freely acknowledge
that any money they get
goes straight to booze or drugs. No,
this is about people, human beings
with the same flesh and blood as
us who might have lived on the
same block. Perhaps the loss of a
job, a Ponzi Scheme, divorce, suicide,
death of a spouse or child, a
return from deployment, or some
tragic event, tipped the scales so
fast that before they knew it, they
became a statistic. Life as it once
was, is irrevocably changed overnight.
A year ago, there were 800
statistically homeless in Paso; half
were children. That’s the WRONG.
The RIGHT is that there is a growing
community of our unheralded
neighbors who are devoted to make
things better.
Without question, the congregation
of the Second Baptist Church
Creators for PASO CARES, hoping to help the plight of the homeless
include, from left, People’s Kitchen founder, Liz Koll; secretary and creator
of Sandwiches on Sunday, Cherie Michaelson; Chair person and founder
of PASO CARES, Ernie Miller; and secretary, attorney, CPA Jack Phillips.
Second Baptist Church has housed Peoples Kitchen for over 11 years.
on Riverside, has for thirty years,
been the local forefront of help for
the homeless. New pastor, Rev. Gary
Jordan, remains committed. Food,
clothing, hot showers, a comforting
shoulder have been the mainstay.
A living Saint, Liz Koll, began her
journey of help Feb. 2, 2004 when she
formed Peoples’ Kitchen. Five nights a
week for 11 years (yes, 11!) she, and
now what has grown to 25 organizations,
rotate weeks to prepare and
serve pot-luck style meals in the converted
dining room of the house next
to Second Baptist. Every night, serving
a maximum of twelve at a time, a
hot meal is available. It’s always full.
Three years ago, Cherie Michaelson
formed Sandwiches on Sundays
to provide a Sunday lunch-meal in
Pioneer Park across from Second
Baptist. Estimates suggest 5,000
of our neighbors in Paso often do
not know where their next meal will
come from!
During the same 30-year timeframe,
a surveyor from Morro Bay
named Ernie Miller, was doing
work for SLO along the San Luis
Creek. Seeing the plight of homeless
families and individuals, he
soon became very involved with
helping “The Creek People.” In
1991, that led to the formation of
the Maxine Lewis Shelter. Each
step of awareness broadened his
eyes’ scope. Ernie became a Board
Member of Habitat For Humanity
and then was involved with ECHO
shelter in Atascadero.
Ernie and his wife, Sharon,
moved to Paso in December, 2010.
They saw the same need yet again.
In spring of 2011, he decided he had
to do something and in June of that
year, PASO CARES was formed.
With a Board of seven, the mission
statement to be an advocate for
the needy is secure. The program is
now on the launching pad with a
specific near-term #1 goal. That goal
is to have a ‘Warming Station’ in
place by the time the 2015-16 Winter
arrives. Make no mistake, this is
a huge undertaking! Because food
for the homeless and the 46/101
bridge are, in all reality, based
around the Riverside Ave. corridor,
a property that can house shelter to
hold about eight per night during
the three tough-weather
months is not going to be
easy to find. Perhaps even
more difficult is changing
the mindset that doesn’t
dismiss these people as
useless and a drain. The
good news is that awareness
is making inroads.
Mayor Martin, PRPD
Chief Burton, and others
who can figure this out,
are coming together around PASO
CARES.
Can you help? Can I help? Can
we make more than a dent in the
solution? Of course we can. It’s
what Roblans do for one another;
we always have and it’s what makes
us great. We dig deep, we think, we
inspire and encourage, we volunteer,
we hold hands in unity. I don’t
have the silver bullet here in this
article but PASO CARES needs
RV’s, 5th wheels, motor-homes,
a piece of land, City support,
funding – and our minds, thoughts
and ideas.
Look them up online at www.
pasocares.org. to get started. The
next meeting is March 12, 9 a.m. in
the Covenant Presbyterian Church
at 1450 Golden Hills Rd.
Homelessness is not always a
choice; it could happen to any of us!
14 Paso Robles Magazine, March 2015