“Good morning, do you need a shower today, and how about any laundry…do you have laundry that needs to be cleaned?” asked Marilyn O’Bryan, one of the volunteers who helps care for the basic needs of our homeless here at Water Street. As three homeless women stand around Marilyn with their bags of laundry, two women elect to use the showers. Taking a heavy laundry bag out of one of the lady’s hands, Marilyn says in a motherly tone, “You can’t carry that, you’re pregnant!”
At fourteen weeks pregnant Tanya* concedes to letting Marilyn carry her bag of clothes. Together they walk to the shower and laundry rooms, where Marilyn will begin laundry as the women get to refresh. “When you interact with our homeless community you see what a blessing a shower is,” says Marilyn as she’s opening a new pack of razors and organizing shampoo and conditioner.
There’s something sacred about the simple things—clean clothes, a warm shower, a kind voice. For those who walk through life carrying more than just bags on their shoulders, these small mercies feel monumental. As the washing machines hum and the scent of detergent fills the air, it becomes clear that dignity can be folded neatly into a pile of freshly laundered shirts. Volunteers like Marilyn know this. They don’t just sort clothing—they sort through the weight of the world with compassion.
Marilyn began volunteering at Water Street because she had the time. She and her husband are both retired from successful engineering careers with DuPont and decided to move into a new community at Willow Valley. They discovered Grace Community Church and quickly found Lancaster to be a great place to call home. Today she is a strong voice for the homeless at Water Street.
“When someone struggles with their self-worth and they see someone give of their time and resources they feel valued. The Lord loves them, and they do add value to our world; they can make something of themselves.”
When she first began volunteering Marilyn recognized a need: the wash clothes and towels were old. So, she asked the Pastor at Grace Community Church to ask the congregation to donate towels. They rallied around the cause and collected about 400 new towels and washcloths. Today those new supplies are distributed around Water Street so all guests who come here for shelter have soft fluffy towels and washcloths.
As Marilyn folds a faded pair of jeans with holes in the pockets, she comments about what she has gleaned from her role as a volunteer, “When someone struggles with their self-worth and they see someone give of their time and resources they feel valued. The Lord loves them, and they do add value to our world; they can make something of themselves.”
