The Beacon is located on E Washington Ave and provides daycare services for men, women, children, and families that are homeless. Services include a warm, safe building 
to spend the day, two meals daily, showers, healthcare referral information, a computer room, laundry services, books, TV and magazines, and job referral information. The Beacon does not offer sleeping quarters and “guests” need to depart the facility by 5 pm each day. The building is owned by Dane County and the center is operated by Catholic Charities. Each day, about 150 homeless guests use the facility. My wife and I have volunteered there throughout 2019 and for the first 2 months of 2020, prior to COVID. Typically, I would supervise and clean the showers, or do laundry service, or supervise the computer room.
to spend the day, two meals daily, showers, healthcare referral information, a computer room, laundry services, books, TV and magazines, and job referral information. The Beacon does not offer sleeping quarters and “guests” need to depart the facility by 5 pm each day. The building is owned by Dane County and the center is operated by Catholic Charities. Each day, about 150 homeless guests use the facility. My wife and I have volunteered there throughout 2019 and for the first 2 months of 2020, prior to COVID. Typically, I would supervise and clean the showers, or do laundry service, or supervise the computer room. Sally, my wife, would be there 2 or 3 days weekly and devote her time to the family room and the children. It is quite eye-opening when you hear a 5 or 6-year-old say “mommy, where will we sleep tonight”. Heartbreaking, really, but it let us know that our time there was well spent. Because of COVID, we now purchase needed clothing items like socks or underwear and deliver them to The Beacon. Hopefully, post virus, we will be back there helping the homeless in our city.