Born and raised in New Jersey, Marvin Ortiz came to SA in late 2021 on the advice of friends and loves the city. “It is nice and has friendly people,” Marvin says. His parents came from Puerto Rico. He spent a couple of years in Florida to care for his ailing father who passed away in 2020 at the age of 85. His mother lives in a nursing home in New Jersey.
When another SARM staff member left, Marvin was given the opportunity to be on staff. “I get up at 4 a.m. and first get a cup of coffee.” Marvin smiles and adds “I have to turn on the lights in the dorm to wake up the men. Then Frank takes care of the donuts and coffee.” Marvin then proceeds to take off the bedding on the bunk beds and wash sheets, pillowcases and bed coverings. He carefully folds them and places them on each bed. “The pillowcases are numbered, so I have to make sure they all go to the right bed!” He also washes all the towels and folds them to be ready for when the men take showers later in the day. After cleaning carpets and the bathrooms, he sits in the office ready to answer the phone and has a little time to rest and relax before the men start to come in around 5 p.m.
Marvin says, “It’s not a hard job but just time consuming, especially when I have a lot of loads to wash. But I like the job!”
Welcome to Marvin and thanks to him and all the staff members for the hard work on behalf of the men who stay at the Mission.
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- Ready to answer phone
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- Making beds look nice
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- Washing is a big job
