This week a group of 9th graders from North Hills Community Church came down to volunteer. They did all the normal things that first time volunteers do like take pictures, work in the kitchen, serve food, and give out shampoo and conditioner. Well… most don’t give away shampoo and conditioner but everyone appreciated the gift. I wondered if any of the homeless would go in the bathroom and try some out. Tonight with their assistance, we served 70 meals.
What would be a minor for us can be a major for a homeless person. Case in point is a locked door, especially if behind that locked door is a sleeping bag owned by a homeless person. Many times the homeless will hide their valuables when they come in to eat so their stuff doesn’t get stolen. Tonight, this individual decided to use the room where the ice machine is located. Unfortunately, one of the volunteers decided to shut that door during the service not realizing that it would lock. The end result was a very upset homeless person. So what do you do? Naturally, I asked another homeless if he could “jimmy the lock” and within few seconds we were in the room. You do what you gotta do.
It is always great to see someone decide to leave the street. Tonight we helped Eric by purchasing a bus ticket to Ohio to live with relatives. Many homeless don’t have any family that is willing to help them for various reasons so the only assistance can be some type of program that may help temporarily but is never permanent. The real ticket to getting off the street permanently will depend on family who cares enough to give them another chance. Eric had an Uncle and an Aunt who loved him enough to give him that chance.
~Marc
What would be a minor for us can be a major for a homeless person. Case in point is a locked door, especially if behind that locked door is a sleeping bag owned by a homeless person. Many times the homeless will hide their valuables when they come in to eat so their stuff doesn’t get stolen. Tonight, this individual decided to use the room where the ice machine is located. Unfortunately, one of the volunteers decided to shut that door during the service not realizing that it would lock. The end result was a very upset homeless person. So what do you do? Naturally, I asked another homeless if he could “jimmy the lock” and within few seconds we were in the room. You do what you gotta do.
It is always great to see someone decide to leave the street. Tonight we helped Eric by purchasing a bus ticket to Ohio to live with relatives. Many homeless don’t have any family that is willing to help them for various reasons so the only assistance can be some type of program that may help temporarily but is never permanent. The real ticket to getting off the street permanently will depend on family who cares enough to give them another chance. Eric had an Uncle and an Aunt who loved him enough to give him that chance.
~Marc
