Our beloved Mr. Lonnie is celebrating his last day today at Operation Hope of Fairfield! 
Joining us in 2005, Mr. Lonnie’s dedicated service here has included running the men’s shelter, managing the Community Kitchen and being a calming, reassuring and helpful presence to all who enter our building at 50 Nichols Street 
When Mr. Lonnie first started here, he worked the night shift running the men’s shelter and found it very rewarding to be able to help people with their challenges. It was really important to Mr. Lonnie to always learn someone’s name, to make people feel good that they were known and be treated like human beings. This was something that really helped him in his role, as much of it was about deescalating. Mr. Lonnie feels it is God’s blessing for him to have found his work here at Operation Hope, and he is grateful to feel he’s always been treated with respect by Operation Hope’s employees – but really, Mr. Lonnie, it’s all of us who have had the pleasure of working with you and feeling your respect! In his parting words, Mr. Lonnie says the thing that really stands out above all of his time at Operation Hope is that everyone needs love and kindness, and he’s been a blessed recipient and giver of both 
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Mr. Lonnie, you have been a gift to us, our community and most of all, the people we serve Thank you for your dedicated service, unwavering wisdom, kindness and ever-present smile. We will miss you dearly and wish you all the best in your well-deserved retirement! 
Thank you for your dedicated service, unwavering wisdom, kindness and ever-present smile. We will miss you dearly and wish you all the best in your well-deserved retirement!