I wanted to take this opportunity to introduce three new faces at 242 Canterbury Street to you all. Streetlights is a way of keeping you all up to date on the ministry, and part of that is introducing new volunteers and employees who will be helping to carry out the mission of the Urban Missionaries. We like to give our readers and donors a close in look at the day-to-day operations of this ministry. It is a one-of-a-kind way to demonstrate all the good you do, and let you get to know each of us. Without further ado, let me introduce the people helping us serve “the least, the last, and the left out.”

First, I would like to introduce you to Steve. Steve is helping out three days a week providing administrative and IT support. We are very thankful to add Steve’s in-demand skill set to our organization, and he’s already been a great help in updating the Urban Missionaries. For an organization as small as ours, we are often forced to deal with our problems as they pop-up. For instance, we get ready to start for the day and our register isn’t working, or the internet is down. Having a dedicated professional like Steve on hand to help has already saved our necks a couple of times, and we couldn’t be happier to have him on board.

Next, Wellesley recently joined us as our full-time cashier! He’s only been with us for four weeks now, but the store is pristine! Wellesley is our weekday cashier, and you can find him at the store Monday through Friday. Wellesley is getting to know all the people we serve week after week, and his special talent for customer service is really making the store feel like the professional, welcoming environment that it is. If you come into the store, chances are you’ll meet Wellesley first, and once you do, you’ll know exactly what I mean.

Finally, Toe is our new part-time weekend cashier. It’s a tall order to help out on Saturdays with the flea market going full swing, but Toe is stepping up and doing a great job. Some of you may already know, but Saturday is by far the busiest day at 242 Canterbury Street. Especially if the Flea market is going on! A normal Saturday can be hectic, but the moment Walter rolls out the yard sale tables for the season all bets are off. We are particularly glad to have Toe’s calm, reliable presence on Saturdays. It seems like no matter how many customers there are, he’s always himself and that makes him a great fit for the position.

Along with our donors and sustainers, volunteers and employees are the pillars of our community. Without all of us coming together, the Urban Missionaries is only a mission statement. Together, we can hand out thousands of meals a year, thousands of Christmas presents, and serve our community to the best of our ability. If you believe you would like to join us in person as well as being a Streetlights reader, you can visit urbanmissionaries.com for career opportunities, or simply call 508-831-7455. Maybe the next time I write one of these articles, I’ll have a paragraph for you too!