Unsung Heroes — Sharifah Tafari, The Caring Place in Kennedy Heights
Gus Ricksecker, Campaign Manager
When I stumbled into the back of Kennedy Heights Presbyterian Church, it was bustling with activity during an otherwise slow day. There, I was greeted by smiling, but very busy faces pushing carts, filing paperwork, and occasionally stopping to catch their breath.
It makes sense, the Caring Place is one of the few community organizations that has been able to maintain full operations amidst the pandemic. Founded in 1982, it is forged from a coalition of 6 churches in 4 neighborhoods and now it serves as a “one-stop-shop” for people experiencing poverty to get the things they need every day. They provide clothing, food, money for laundry, bus passes, and even have a licensed social worker on staff to serve the needs of the community. They are also members of the senior box program through the food bank, which provides extra food for seniors.
At the helm of operations is Sharifah Tafari, a Kennedy Heights resident. She had a rather unconventional introduction to the organization.
“I actually was introduced to The Caring Place when my kids did their community service hours here,” she told me.
It stuck, and he has held the position for 5 years, being able to expand the services they provide in that time. She spends a lot of her time searching for grants, looking for relationships with other local or regional organizations, and finding volunteers. She doesn’t view herself as above any of the volunteers, however.
“I do everything the volunteers do: sweep and mop the floors, take out the garbage, you name it.”
The detail and love of the work were clear, as halfway through our conversation, she paused to answer a phone call. It was a woman looking for assistance on rent payments, to which Sharifah provided the names of many local organizations and gave instructions on how and when to call. She spoke with empathy and optimism, letting the woman know that she shouldn’t give up hope.
This is the reality for many people and aid organizations right now. The burden COVID-19 has put on both has reached a tipping point. Now, more than ever, people like Sharifah and the staff of The Caring Place are saving lives.
For information on how to help the Caring Place, you can contact them at (513) 841–1499.
