The summer of 2024 was one of the toughest we have ever been through at Matthew’s House. We lost a significant member of the Leadership Team and also had to cope with not having a key team member around for a couple of months because of that person losing their mum, who was also a much loved and integral part of the Matthew’s House project. It has taken us a few months, and still as winter approaches, to stabilise, find our strength and manage the effects of such sudden, unexpected losses. It has been a time where we have seen our volunteers and the whole team pull together in such an awesome way and guests have shared their hearts and support too.
One day, one of the staff members had pulled up outside and was sitting in their car, just trying to find a way to get through this tough season, still feeling the raw emotion day to day of the recent events. They were sitting there in their car, on the High Street in Swansea, outside Matthew’s House, waiting for the food service to finish, not feeling ready to be involved in that side of things yet, trying to reduce the amount of people seen face to face to help manage those emotions. While they were waiting in their car, lost in their troubled thoughts, a guest walked by. They noticed that staff member, stopped and knocked on the window. The guest said, “Hey, how are you? I’ve been thinking of you. I hope you are ok. I’ve been thinking about you and hope to see you tomorrow. We’re ALL thinking of you.”
It was a moment when we realised the power of community. Not just providing it but being it and knowing that it is not just a one-way thing, supporting vulnerable people; they remember this and feel the same empathy and compassion for those who have supported them. It was a moment that helped and continues to help. Things are still tough, but it helps to know that we are doing a good thing and that those we are trying to support, remember us, are thankful for the team, thankful for the project and understand and feel with us the pain of the summer, standing beside us as we try to continue supporting the most vulnerable in our city.