Responding to the Need

Chris Daish

Superstar Volunteer, The Bowery Mission

Mission Connection: I’ve been volunteering at the Mission for about seven years. I started out as a career center volunteer at New York City Rescue Mission (now part of The Bowery Mission), and now serve as a career mentor for men in The Bowery Mission’s residential programs.

My Role During COVID: During the lockdown, I got pretty involved in serving meals. I tried to get down there twice a week when it was still like an apocalypse with no one on the streets. My task was frequently to help monitor the door. You might imagine it would be hard to enforce social distancing, or to tell hundreds of people to wait their turn. But mostly there was good energy and good manners. You saw some anxiety in people’s eyes, but they understood what we were trying to do.

On Mission Culture: The folks you encounter at the Mission, from the volunteers to the full-time staff and leadership, are such good, kind people. It’s a little bit of a shock to the system, because New York City can be tough. It's a place where some people might step over you to get to the next place or leverage a relationship. Amidst that, it's reassuring to see folks who are so openly nice and caring. I can rest well at night knowing they are doing this work.

What Motivated You: I didn’t really try to overthink it. I’m relatively healthy and it just felt like the right thing to do. My mother instilled in me that volunteering matters most when there is a real need — and there was and still is. On a more selfish note, I always get a lot out of it personally. It's kind-of therapeutic for me!

On Mentoring Men: Listening is foundational. Anytime you talk to another human being, eye to eye, there is a lot to learn in return. I grew up with mental health issues and alcoholism in my own household, so I’m quick to empathize and not judge. I’ve also learned the importance of positive reinforcement and encouragement. Things are going to get back on track. The overarching mindset is just baby steps.

Learning Moments: You spend just a few weeks with clients and you come to love them and their stories. For good or for bad, you also come to realize how much of life is timing. Just a few wrong turns can set you completely off track. It makes you grateful for the ability to be going through a pandemic and still have a job and roof over your head.

On Joining the Mission: Not only does The Bowery Mission Mission provide meals and shelter, these fundamentals of the pyramid of life, it gives without wanting anything back in return. It comes from a good place with no ulterior motives. That’s a good feeling.

Spreading the Word: I would one hundred percent encourage other people to volunteer. That’s a no brainer. When the conversation comes up, I definitely encourage folks to get down there and try it out. It’s a lot of fun. Whatever it takes, I’ll do anything for the Mission.