Salvation Army

While Tom was here last week I learned that our area only has a few places for helping the homeless. One is the Salvation Army.

Since my mission is to understand I went there. I found a nice clean building with friendly staff. This center had beds, meals, clothing, worship, and more.

Why doesnt my son get help there? He has warrents out in two states for his arrest. At shelters the folks must disclose id to even get a meal. The police are called in to take away any offenders that have warrents. That is why my son is part of the *invisable homeless* by choice.

I have looked up his warrents on the internet and found them to be related to homelessness...trespassing to find a warm place to pitch the tent, public drunkeness, loitering etc. He can not get a meal or a place to sleep because of these warrents.

Do I think he should fess up, go to jail, take care of business and come out a better person? YES! But remember, I think differently than he does. His drug and alcohol background, in house treatments, jail time, and his mental illness all add up to being scard into hiding.

Before you judge me for not turning him in...I did when he was 15-thus the 3 years in juvy....it didnt help. I did when he was 22, it didnt help. The system is broken, folks....

On to the Positive....Tom has a huge heart and wanted to help the people in the area. We went to the dollar store and walmart and bought socks, small radios, batteries, vienna sausage, and Vit C...put them in zip lock bags and took them to the Salvation Army parking lot as the people were lining up for lunch.

I was scard. Although I love my son in any condition, I didnt know what the other people would be like. Would they smell or be scary? I found them to just be people. Men, women, couples, all very thankful for any thing. I shook their hands, hugged a few, and talked with them about what they needed.

I asked Tom to stay in the area and we would do this every week...as you already know, he left shortly afterwards.

I am going alone next week to deliver the zip lock bags....