Laurie Dameron is a singer songwriter with a regular gig every Tuesday afternoon at The Carriage House Community Table, a Boulder non-profit dedicated to feeding the homeless and helping them to regain their footing in the shifting sands of modern life.

"I have an especially soft spot in my heart for the homeless," Dameron says, "especially for those who are mentally ill. It's tough and sad to see. Every Tuesday is different,"she says. There might be 10 or 15 listeners, or maybe just three or four. She plays them something hyper, or something soft; it depends on the energy.

"Anybody can end up homeless," she says. "I'm angry at drugs and alcohol. Probably 30 to 50 percent of homelessness is due to drugs and alcohol. Others are homeless because of foreclosures. There's even a certain percent who like to live outside," she says. "I'll let them play my guitar. I talk to them. I feel like I have to. Music is the universal language."

Dameron volunteers in addition to her Tuesdays at BCH: a gig at a nursing home, another on the speakers' bureau at Chinook House, a musical Friday night for a church group.

"I try to encourage others to volunteer," she says. ""Just think what we could accomplish if everyone volunteered even one hour a week!"

Folks at the Boulder Carriage House would likely say, "Just think!"

For information about volunteering with The Carriage House Community Table or other agencies, call the Volunteer Connection at 303-444-4904.