Every week there are challenges and celebrations. Most of the immediate challenges each week are providing food, blankets, and clothing for homeless individuals. The above picture is one who showed up needing a coat. I noticed that he had a golf club (a 5 iron). I assume he used that for protection on the street.
Another challenge occurred last Sunday night, I recognized a lady who was attending our evening services at North Hills Community Church. Although she has been consistently homeless in the past, I was pleased to find out that she was staying with her son. One of our volunteers had taken the time to bring her to church with the promise to go with her later to the emergency room. It seems that she had received some injuries on the street and needed some medications. Bonnie and I decided to go with them to the hospital. During the inevitable wait, her son kept calling us to see when she would be returning to his house. I thought to myself “what a thoughtful son”. Although, I must admit, I also thought there may be some other reason but I didn’t know what it could be. The doctor checked her x-rays and diagnosed her injuries that justified the medication. We got the prescription filled and another volunteer took her home. Later we found out the rest of the story. The lady’s son took her medications and kicked her out of house. Net result, she is back on the street. The challenge now is to assist her with some type of shelter.
But with every challenge, there is a celebration. One homeless man has been coming downtown even though most people would not expect him to be homeless. He is clean cut and well spoken. One of our volunteers has a landscaping business and decided to hire him for a week. He didn’t need an employee but he wanted to see if he would work if given the opportunity. He told me last Tuesday night that he was amazed how well he performed during the week. He said that most would have thought that he was the owner of the business. He worked hard, was punctual and quickly became proficient with all of the equipment. In other words, he was a model employee. Now the plan is to help him get some decent clothes and some place to live so he can get a regular job. If that is accomplished, this would be something to celebrate.
~Marc
Another challenge occurred last Sunday night, I recognized a lady who was attending our evening services at North Hills Community Church. Although she has been consistently homeless in the past, I was pleased to find out that she was staying with her son. One of our volunteers had taken the time to bring her to church with the promise to go with her later to the emergency room. It seems that she had received some injuries on the street and needed some medications. Bonnie and I decided to go with them to the hospital. During the inevitable wait, her son kept calling us to see when she would be returning to his house. I thought to myself “what a thoughtful son”. Although, I must admit, I also thought there may be some other reason but I didn’t know what it could be. The doctor checked her x-rays and diagnosed her injuries that justified the medication. We got the prescription filled and another volunteer took her home. Later we found out the rest of the story. The lady’s son took her medications and kicked her out of house. Net result, she is back on the street. The challenge now is to assist her with some type of shelter.
But with every challenge, there is a celebration. One homeless man has been coming downtown even though most people would not expect him to be homeless. He is clean cut and well spoken. One of our volunteers has a landscaping business and decided to hire him for a week. He didn’t need an employee but he wanted to see if he would work if given the opportunity. He told me last Tuesday night that he was amazed how well he performed during the week. He said that most would have thought that he was the owner of the business. He worked hard, was punctual and quickly became proficient with all of the equipment. In other words, he was a model employee. Now the plan is to help him get some decent clothes and some place to live so he can get a regular job. If that is accomplished, this would be something to celebrate.
~Marc
