Maureen Cadogan, director of the Scioto County Homeless Shelter, sat on the arm of a chair next to a brightly decorated Christmas tree in the front room of the shelter Wednesday afternoon as children in the back of the house awaited the big day.

“We’re just gearing up for the holidays, and trying to make it as home-like, comfortable, and as ‘holidayish’ as we possibly can,” Cadogan said. “This is the first year that Santa Claus himself will be here on Christmas morning.”

Cadogan said staying at the homeless shelter for children on Christmas poses its own set of problems.

“It concerns the little kids. ‘He doesn’t know where I am. I’m not at home. He won’t be able to find me,’” Cadogan said. “So Santa has found his way. He’s coming Christmas morning, and he’s bringing all kinds of goodies.”

Cadogan said a local family volunteered to bring Santa and gifts to the children.

“They are not going to do Christmas for each other, but they wanted to make a difference,” Cadogan said. “So the wife said the husband is going to don the costume and they are coming down … It’s just for a child to know, ‘you’re not forgotten on Christmas morning.’”

Cadogan said fruits, nuts, and candy have been in a steady supply over the last few weeks, and Center Street Church in Lucasville is bringing an entire meal, complete with desserts, for the residents.

“All the people have to do is to put it on a plate, sit down and eat it, and go back and eat some more,” Cadogan said.

The atmosphere in the homeless shelter is home-like and warm, and this time of year it is accented by the tree, decorated by the children.

“Our goal is to provide comfort, dignity, and self-esteem,” Cadogan said. “We just want people to know that we respect them … that homelessness can happen to anybody. We want them to know they are in the right place at the right time and that they have value … they matter to God and to us.”

Cadogan said the shelter provides many needed services to the homeless of the area.

“Homelessness is not an end,” Cadogan said. “This is just a test and they’ll get through this. We will help you to regain your self-sufficiency and independence. In addition to that, we are able to help people with at least $500 toward their rent or deposit when they move out. We help them to attain occupancy, and then to maintain it after they have secured housing.”

Chuck Smith of Southern Ohio Correctional Facility was at the house Wednesday to present donations to both Cadogan for the homeless shelter, and Julie Kitchen of the Southern Ohio Domestic Violence Shelter.

“We did a fundraiser two weeks prior to the Ohio State-Michigan football game,” Smith said. “We did a variety of activities. We had a food sale, we allowed our staff to wear jeans for those two weeks. We had an autographed Bengals picture that we auctioned off. We put up the parking spaces of the warden and other executive staff for auction. All together we were able to raise a little over $1,000.”

Smith said the efforts are part of a community-involvement effort started by SOCF Warden Phillip Kerns.

“It’s a phenomenal blessing,” Cadogan said, in response to accepting the check on behalf of the homeless shelter. “God is so faithful. He just lays it on somebody’s heart. And whatever needs we have, he just raises somebody up. God is phenomenal.”

Kitchen was also pleased to accept the check on behalf of the domestic violence shelter.

“We’re wanting a new shelter. So this will probably go toward that,” Kitchen said. “We’ve got the land. We just have to get money and get a building.”

The lights on the tree are shining, boxes of oranges are stacked in the kitchen, and in the background children laugh and play — just like home.

Frank Lewis may be reached at (740) 353-3101, ext. 232