Behavioral health workers, volunteers provide respite during storm
Incoming weather and extended power outages turned the Tuolumne County Behavioral Health Department’s Enrichment Center in downtown Sonora into a warming shelter from 7 p.m. Tuesday through 7 p.m. Wednesday, providing the housed and unhoused a toasty place to sleep, eat a hot meal, shower and escape the cold weather.
The mood was festive, and the temperature warm and toasty, Wednesday morning as half a dozen people enjoyed a hot breakfast, snoozed on a cot, watched a movie or sat conversing happily while enjoying snacks provided by the agency.
For 71-year-old Robert Alvarez, taking a hot shower on Wednesday morning at the Enrichment Center was the highlight of his day. Homeless for 26 years, 13 of those in Tuolumne County, Alvarez was thrilled after “defunking” himself.
“A nice hot shower always makes you feel better,” he said. “I feel like a different person.”
After cleaning up he sat down at a table in the center-turned-warming-shelter and dined on breakfast from Jack In The Box, delivered and donated by the American Red Cross.
The Red Cross delivered sandwiches at lunchtime and later dinner from Pinocchio’s on Mono Way. Ramen noodles, coffee, bottled water, soda and other snacks were made available for everyone throughout the day.
“I had a nice breakfast of sausage, eggs, bacon and a biscuit,” Alvarez said. “It was so nice of the American Red Cross to do this. The cots are great. You’ve got to get your rest.”
Originally from Sonora, Mexico, Alvarez came to the Mother Lode with his family in 1953. His family came to Tuolumne County for work replenishing the mines in the area and were traveling mariachi musicians. A lover of music, he plays the guitar,
piano and ukulele.
Upbeat and positive, despite his homelessness, Alvarez is learning two new songs to add to his guitar repertoire — “Auld Lang Syne” and “Beer Girl Polka.” He strummed the guitar nimbly and sang along to bits of both tunes, his voice strong and melodic, as he did so.
A combination of medical bills and surgeries landed Alvarez on the street, he said. Despite the fact that he doesn’t have a home, he said he’s not unhappy — quite the opposite.
“Robert is a regular here,” MHSA Agency Program Manager Jennifer Guhl said. “He’s wonderful. We have a lot of good people.”
For Guhl, who has worked for the organization for the past four years, getting to know the clients she serves makes the job special and meaningful.
Running a warming center was a first for Guhl, as she helped transform the Enrichment Center into a shelter by socially distancing eight cots, each complete with a shrink-wrapped blanket, adhering to COVID-19 safety protocols.
The makeshift shelter housed three people Tuesday night, according to Guhl, who said that clothing, shoes, gloves, hand warmers and socks were available for anyone who needed them. Though five short of the limit, Guhl was happy with what the center was able to accomplish.
“Those three people were warm, dry and safe,” she said. “That’s what’s important. Helping people in our community ”
Rebecca Espino, the county Health and Human Services Agency director, was on hand Tuesday night to set up cots and get the center ready for the transformation. Being of service means leading by example, she said.
“It’s important for leaders of all levels to be involved in providing direct services for our community,” Espino said. “That means being here to help. I am grateful to all of our overnight volunteers, and the Sheriff’s department for providing two community service officers.”
Espino said staff members encouraged people they came in contact with, who were out roaming around in the rain, to come to the center to get dry, have something to eat and to take the chill off.
Once homeless and in need himself, Robert Graham, 45, is a behavioral health client who gives thanks to agency employee Linda Nelson, who helped him apply for Social Security benefits and Betsey Coe, who assisted him with housing.
“I was homeless for a long time,” he said. “I lived with different family members and I slept on people’s couches. I was born at Tuolumne General Hospital. I was raised here.”
Graham, who was at the Enrichment Center on Wednesday to attend group therapy to help him cope with depression and other mental health issues, but instead walked into the makeshift shelter and found his friend Alvarez.
“Robert and I have been friends for 5 years. We are both interested in music,” Graham said.
Both men were happy to run into each other and have a warm place to sit and visit while the rain came down and temperatures were in the 30s and 40s.
“Behavioral health is the best thing ever,” Graham said. “They really do a lot for people. I wouldn’t have a bed, or a room, or a place to live, if it wasn’t for them.”