Last December, I had the opportunity to prepare and serve dinner to the 90 homeless citizens of Tent City IV at St. John Vianney Parish in Kirkland with a group of Inglemoor High’s Key Club members. Preparing the meal for such a large group was a challenge, but serving the meal and socializing with the homeless was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.

In the middle of preparing and eating, small groups were given a tour of the settlement by a Tent City citizen. The guide described how the Tent City runs democratically; they elect a governing board and all citizens share daily chores. Citizens must prove themselves worthy of living there and are required to be sober, non-violent, non-prejudiced and respectful of their neighbors. I was shocked; many of my peers struggle to live by these values, yet the Tent City citizens are able to live harmoniously under these rules.

When socializing with the homeless, I initially felt uneasy and guilty wearing my warm fleece while most citizens wore tattered winter jackets in 35-degree weather. I did not know how to converse with them. I soon found they were eager to talk with me, were polite, smart and not embarrassed to explain how they became homeless. Many of them have jobs, but are unable to afford King County’s expensive housing prices or were forced onto the streets for reasons they had no control over.

I soon discovered there was no reason for me to feel any discomfort when talking with them. They are just like me or anyone else; they want to have a sense of community, someone to talk to and just be loved. The citizens are so thankful for what little they have. They have a tent, a shower and a safe place to come home to each day. In comparison I felt ungrateful and selfish, I never think twice about how warm my house is at night, or what a luxury it is to be able to bathe on a regular basis. Though I have been constantly told my whole life how fortunate I am, it can be easy to forget. Serving the homeless was a wake-up call that made me realize how much I really do take for granted on a daily basis.

The church was near my home, and I was shocked to learn how close homelessness is to my front door. The tour guide told us that in King County alone there are 6,000 people without a place to sleep at night. I was upset that my peers and I are so uneducated about homelessness. I feel that my school emphasizes heavily on fighting disease and genocide in foreign countries. This by all means is important, however does not mean we can turn a blind eye to the problems that are — literally — at our doorstep.

Our club is going to cook for the same Tent City Jan. 26, and I eagerly await this opportunity to again provide real community service.

Elsa Watland is an Inglemoor High senior.