In her role with Hearth, Nelson coordinates with donors to furnish each of the rooms at the facility with furniture, decorations, and some basic necessities.
Nelson said the goal is to create individual living spaces that can become a home for residents.
When three weeks ago Nelson was showing potential donors from St. Ignatius of Loyola in Chestnut Hill the rooms, one of Hearth's clients joined the group.
"He had just signed his lease and wanted to take a look at the building," she said.
Nelson welcomed him to the tour, but while they were looking at one of the rooms furnished by the Hearth board of directors, the man began crying.
"I asked him if he was OK," she said.
The man described a list of losses in his life that brought him to homelessness. An immigrant, with no job and no family, he had nowhere to go when his health failed him.
The sight of the furnishings and the care extended to him had moved him to tears.
"The last thing he said to me was 'God bless America,'" she said.
Nelson will complete her time with the IVC in June, but said the experience has enriched her life.
"I have enjoyed the Adopt-a-Room program immensely. I will be real sad to leave, to tell you the truth," she said.
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Nelson plans to pursue an administrative position in higher education, as she returns to the working world.
The New England IVC helps the poor while providing a meaningful spiritual experience for volunteers, as part of its core mission.
"The mission is basically to get men and women with gifts, talents, skills and life experience to put those at the service of people who are materially poor or marginalized in society," regional director Dave Hinchen said.
Hinchen said the growth in Catholic values and reflection on their service are an important part of the volunteer experience.
"The needs of the poor bring them back to reflection on their own faith. They do that together in a community kind of way so that there is also a building of faith community going on at the same time," Hinchen said.
IVC collaborates with other organizations in pursuit of opportunities for retired and mature volunteers to serve, so the regional director works on a person-to-person basis to find the right fit for each volunteer.