Written by Bekah Cedar
I greeted a group of kids I didn’t recognize and pumped sanitizer into their hands as they walked into a building I have come to love over the years. The flurry of excitement and winter gear was familiar even though it had been years since I attended Community Kids.
I followed the group downstairs and was immediately invited to a game of ping-pong. I asked if there was an extra paddle and a girl I hadn’t introduced myself to yet said, “Of course! I’ll get you one!” She ran over to the little drawer by the sink and my breath caught with memory. How many children have found comfort in the consistency of what this building holds? How many little hands have reached into that drawer and pulled out the joy of connecting with someone who cares about them?
I think home is any place where familiarity and safety can be held simultaneously, and where you can reliably find people who care for you well. I marveled at the joyous group in front of me–another set of children and families who have found a home in this little basement, one game of ping-pong at a time.
What an honor to witness the weekly Community Kids homecoming once again.
Bekah Cedar is a former Community Kid volunteer and current Community Kid cheerleader. She has the privilege of being Quinto and Rita Lotti’s daughter which means she has gotten to meet dozens of Community Kids over the years and seen the remarkable work of the program since Day 1. She’s currently supervising homeless shelters in Ramsey County and preparing for grad school in the fall.