Jesus made a point to reach out to those in need - after all, He was homeless…

Don Kuck has been coordinating the Homeless Shelter Week at St. Luke-Ann Arbor for eight years.

Carly Parker | Contributor

The Shelter Association of Washtenaw County started the Rotating Shelter Program out of the need for more beds during the winter. Twenty-three churches across Washtenaw County participate by hosting a handful of homeless men for one week, December through March.

Don Kuck has been organizing the rotating shelter at St. Luke-Ann Arbor for several years and plays an integral role in its success. Kuck recruits volunteers, collects toiletries to give the men and spends hours making sure everyone is comfortable.

“You never know how a single act of kindness can impact someone’s life,” said Kuck. “We don’t know what everybody’s needs are, but we do what we can.”

During the week, volunteers pick up the guests in the evening, serve them a meal, play cards, watch videos and listen to their stories. Kuck has even found a professional hair stylist, Lisa Maas, to cut their hair while at St. Luke.

“When Don asked me to volunteer a few years ago, I was really out of my comfort zone,” said Maas. “I thought that all homeless people stood on the corner with cardboard - boy was I wrong!”

Despite her skeptical beginning, Maas is now on her third year cutting hair during homeless shelter week, giving 24 haircuts in an evening. She has never felt more blessed to know her new “clients.”

“When I left the first night, I remember crying on the way home in the car. I was so humbled. Every single one of the men was so respectable. It was like I gave them a $100 or something - not just a haircut!” said Maas. “Any of them could be one of us. They had jobs and families just like us. They just happened to fall on hard times.”

The Rotating Shelter Program, in collaboration with local churches, is now able to give 50 additional men a place to sleep during cold Michigan winters. Ellen Schulmeister, CEO of the Shelter Association, believes that the rotating shelter truly is a life-saving mission.

“We are so fortunate to be working with churches so we can expand our capacity - this year we were able to open a second rotating shelter that has doubled the amount of spaces. This mission saves lives by getting people out of the cold. It’s great partnership.”

Although Homeless Shelter Week is finished at St. Luke for 2010, Don Kuck will be gearing up to volunteer again next year. “These guys have a genuine humility. They are not arrogant or rude; they are humble and kind and appreciative, which makes it easy to serve.”

If you are interested in volunteering or hosting the rotating shelter at your church, contact Deena McIntosh at the Shelter Association of Washtenaw County at 662.2829 x 226 or email her at McIntoshd@ewashtenaw.org.

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Carly Parker is the Communications Coordinator for St. Luke Lutheran Church in Ann Arbor. St. Luke is a multi-site community which includes St. Luke-Ann Arbor, Living Water and University Lutheran Chapel.