It’s about relationship. I’m returning to Faithful Fools for my second year as a Mercy Volunteer because I want to continue to develop relationships with the Tenderloin, its residents, and the Fools. Since our primary ministry as Fools is building relationships, which takes time, I wanted to stay and invest in this community.

My first volunteer year at the Fools taught me about resilience, community, connection, and the gift of being present.

This year I hope to learn more about issues regarding poverty and homelessness in our society and hopefully uncover what my place is in all of this.

I hope I can grow in understanding as I continue learning about accompaniment and loving an individual right where they are. We each have a part to play in making our world a more loving place, and at the end of the day, I’m just trying to figure out how to do that in the best way that I can.

Maggie Brennan: San Francisco, California