This is our community room. It is the first room you walk into when you enter from the parking lot. A lot happens here! If these walls could talk, they would tell you about…
…the July 2024 day during our summer camp when 75 kids and teens gathered here to listen to a professional symphonic trio perform. You might not think a bunch of Oakland kids would care a lick about classical music, but they were mesmerized!
…all the rainy days when we have used it for games. In 2023, one of our kids (who is the most talented soccer player I have ever seen) kicked a ball so hard it shattered the previous flat screen TV that hung there. He was 7 at the time.
…hundreds of High School students who have been impacted here. Every day when our afterschool program kids go home, our Youth Leadership Program interns hold their wrap-up meeting on these couches. It’s a time for reflection, training, and bonding. At the end of the semester, they each give a presentation here on a life goal that they have.
The walls of our community room would also tell you about their limitations:
-In Spring 2024 our moviemaking club wanted to premiere the short film they made to parents but due to the confines of that space we had to show it in 3 different rooms at the same time so that everyone could see. Through our Build Brighter Futures campaign, that space will be more usable by larger groups.
-I met someone recently who attended Harbor House about 15 years ago. He asked “do they still have holes in the ceiling of the front room?” I said yes, we do. He explained that there used to be a pool table in there and he and his friends would intentionally poke their cue sticks thru the ceiling. Now we have even larger holes (as you can see from the photo) while we are in the middle of this project.
-During our annual Christmas Store, this is where our volunteers gift wrap the new toys that parents have picked out to purchase (for $2 each) and give to their children. In previous years, despite the festive music and Christmas tree in the corner, it has felt a bit dark and gloomy in there. Parents often wind up waiting outside. I look forward to seeing this room transformed with new lighting and ceiling to reflect the joy of the Christmas season on that special day.
As you can see, this room is a central hub for so many of our programs. Please give to the Build Brighter Futures campaign so that we can continue the ministry of Harbor House but in a brighter, better space.
