For one month out of every year, a Brooklyn Heights church turns into a temporary homeless shelter, but it's not exactly what you might expect.

At Plymouth Church, a group of 10 men is treated to nightly sit-down dinners before tucking into their beds for the evening. 

"The idea, initially, was to provide meals and a safe place for the homeless people to stay, thinking that it was just a stopgap measure because there was a homeless crisis in the late '80s and thinking that it would go away, and it has not gone away," said Nancy Trott, a dedicated member of Plymouth Church and one of the forces behind this initiative, known as the "Respite Bed Program."

The initiative is in partnership with CAMBA, a nonprofit organization that helps people in need get back on their feet. 

Plymouth is one of several churches across the city participating in this program.

For the last 30 years, Trott has worked behind the scenes to make sure Plymouth's doors open every September for those who need a place to stay.

"I think about the financial ups and downs that I've had, and I think about, I could be here in the same situation," she said. "They're persisting, they're working hard, and if we can make their lives a little comfortable on a night-by-night basis, that's what inspires me."

Trott trains volunteers, coordinates meal deliveries, and makes sure kitchen shelves are stocked. 

One guest says he's grateful for the hospitality.

"I was lucky that I found this place from the beginning," the guest said. "You sit down, they sit with you. You all eat together. It's nice. You meet the people, you get to know their names."

Trott says the guests she has met over the years have taught her lessons in kindness, something she hopes to share with others for years to come.

"Take each person at face value," she said. "Everybody has worth, and everybody has the same worth. No one person is better than another. Don't look down, listen, and open your heart."

For opening her heart and helping these guests turn the corner, Nancy Trott is our New Yorker of the Week.