Church Hostels - Write A Thanks!

[The Weasel]

Peaks and others in another hostel thread have made a really good point about the costs of running a hostel to a church, and why it's important to put in a REAL donation. I've stayed at a number of church hostels, as well as other places with some religious relationship, including places like the Blueberry Patch, where the owners don't even raise the issue (other than a few tracts on a table in the kitchen, almost unnoticeable).

These hostels, as Peaks says, as a part of a church's mission to the world, part of the Gospel's reminder about "I needed shelter, and you took me in." They're always non-denominational in terms of who is welcome, and there is never - in my experience - any "push" to worship or otherwise take part in the church's worship, although all are usually welcome.

It's not as well known that these hostels are NOT universally supported within a particular church, and many (probably most) of these churches are VERY small, so a hostel is often a VERY major issue in a lot of them. That's why when a hostel gets trashed by hikers, it often leads to the hostel being closed or very, very limited. But even when they aren't trashed, and when donations are given freely, they are still a difficult issue for some churches.

One thing that we can do along the trail is to drop a note to say thank you to the sponsoring church. Just buy a postcard at the post office at your next mail drop and mail it to "Hostel Committee" at the church. If you don't have the address, that's not a problem. Put the hostel name and/or the church name, and the town. It will get there.

Cards/letters like that are POWERFUL support to the Hostel Committee to show that we are good people who appreciate their service. Even if the hostel wasn't perfect, it deserves our thanks, since it is usually better than nothing at all.

[Jumpstart]

Just an FYI because these church addresses aren't listed in Wingfoot:

IN PA:
Presbeterian Church of the Mountain
Church office
PO BOX 336
Delaware Water Gap, PA
18327
(Pastor Karen nichols)

and
IN NJ:
St. Thomas Episcopal Church
307 State Rd. 94
Vernon, NJ 07462

[warraghiyagey]

Spam??

[Lone Wolf]

no ****

[warraghiyagey]

Sherlock Holmes at your service

[Dogwood]

Thank U Weasel for this post!!! Let's ALL be good examples of the hiking community. THANK U for admonishing all hikers to appreciate, be unselfish, considerate, and understanding of what others sacrifice/donate/charge(often at ridiculously low prices) in order to make hiking the AT more enjoyable. Top shelf action!

[Rockhound]

why limit it to church hostels? what about that guy that shuttled you to and from town and asked for nothing in return. or those section hikers that invited you to dinner that night? or to those people providing trail magic at the trail heads? or even the hotels/hostels that charge a fee? or fellow hikers that may have given you assistance or encouragement along the way? or the outfitter that had that gear you needed replaced? or to all the people that make gatherings like trail days possible?
also why limit it to just words? give something back. donate, volunteer.

[Dogwood]

why limit it to church hostels? what about that guy that shuttled you to and from town and asked for nothing in return. or those section hikers that invited you to dinner that night? or to those people providing trail magic at the trail heads? or even the hotels/hostels that charge a fee? or fellow hikers that may have given you assistance or encouragement along the way? or the outfitter that had that gear you needed replaced? or to all the people that make gatherings like trail days possible?
also why limit it to just words? give something back. donate, volunteer.

ABSOLUTELY RIGHT! Well said, but no one said U should limit it to church hostels either. Got to start somewhere! Pt. is to start acknowledging with appreciation and giving back!!!

The part that I feel saddened by and concerned with, Rockhound, is that U R the only one that has posted after me??? Not trying to put a guilt trip on anyone, but, shouldn't there be a whole host of additional hikers explaining their gratitude and unselfishess actions towards the SO MANY who have made their hiking trip(s) more enjoyable???

[Lone Wolf]

Not trying to put a guilt trip on anyone, but, shouldn't there be a whole host of additional hikers explaining their gratitude and unselfishess actions towards the SO MANY who have made their hiking trip(s) more enjoyable???

there are a whole host of people that show their appreciation and gratitude towards service providers. they just don't feel a need to get on here and brag and look for pats on the back

[Dogwood]

LW, why do U so often choose to take the low road? Don't misjudge my intent! It's not about bragging or looking for pats on the back. It's about showing gratitude and appreciation! Sure, their are many who show this, but their are many more who could be and don't. This thread was started by someone who reminds us ALL to be unselfish, more appreciative, and give back! We can begin/continue living this by doing something as simple as sending a note of thanks. Let's not lose sight of what the IPer reminds us.

Can't we be a bit more positve and uplifting rather than making cantankerous, irasacible posts aimed at contention and strife???

[Lone Wolf]

much ado about nothing. this thread is 6+ years old. lots of hostels have opened and closed in 6 years. move on

[jersey joe]

Nothing wrong with thanking someone who did something nice for you. You can also pay it forward.