Note: all the names have been changed....
Week 4 at the Salvation Army Soup Line....
This week I took socks and good batteries. I guess the dollar store batteries are often old and only work a short time. Not good if you are depending on them in your only flashlight to get the right trail back to camp. Buying the large pack of good batteries was actually less than all the individual packs. Socks are always needed..they go fast!
I caught up with Country and Tina and gave them the dog food I had been carting around for weeks. They have a pit bull...seems like a nice dog and I am not a fan of the breed. I guess Country has seizures and this is his therapy dog. I don't know if that is a self given title so the dog can go in shelters with them or if the dog has actually been trained. The dog was better taken care of than themselves.
Eric is still in jail. Joe, the old guy, is now inside a small one room apartment and more comfortable...for that I am happy. Don and Jeannette were there this week also, still strong advocates for shelter that is badly needed in this county. Rick, a very polite quiet man is here each Wed and always shakes my hand and thanks me. I enjoy what little conversation I have with him.
This week was a special time for me as I was able to go inside the Salvation Army and eat with the people. It was the end of the month so the dining room was pretty full. There were two families there with small children....that was hard to see. I offered to pay for my meal but was told they can not take money. Here is how it went:
You go in to a receptionist who opens a small window and gives you a blue ticket and a white ticket after taking your social security number and drivers license. The blue ticket is for your first time though the line, the white ticket is for seconds. (Note: This Sally is only open for one meal a day) The dining room (as well as everything I have seen inside the building) is spotlessly clean. There are about twenty large round tables that seat eight people. Funny, but it reminded me of the tables you find on a cruise ship. People start coming in and there are tables off to the side with hot coffee and juice....cups are on each table with a napkin and silverware in each. I didn't have any coffee as it is a premium to those cold from the weather. The juice went fast also. I sat with Don and Jeanette and talked with them in detail about their experiences. Then suddenly a man yells "HATS OFF" and all the men take off ball caps, stocking hats etc and the man leads us in a prayer. (He is one of the guests, not a Sally worker) Afterwords, two lines file...Ladies first is the rule. Don escorts me to the lady line where I wait for my meal. The meal was a hearty meat stew that day with buttered bread and a dessert. It was very tasty. Everyone buses their own table. Many went back with their white ticket for seconds.
It was a great experience and I treasure the time I have with these people. I look forward to my Wed adventures.
Sally sent someone in to ask me my affiliation. It surprised them that I am not part of a church or organization. I assured them that I come with no agenda and no expectations...just to have some fellowship with the people and to deliver new socks each week. I was asked to 'give' the items outside (as I have been) and to keep confidential any information I might get from the folks...thus the name changes. As soon as the Sally rep came up to talk to me, the homeless I knew surrounded me and came to my defense (it was not needed but heartwarming that they have accepted me :)
No word from my son yet...he is now several weeks late in returning to the area. I tried calling him today and his telephone is turned off or out of minutes...:(
Friday, February 26, 2010
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Week Three:
I was able to learn some more names at the soup line this week.
Mark is waiting for a place to open in drug/alcohol treatment. It is a six month program and until an opening comes up he is on the street. He was soaking wet when I saw him Wed...just waiting for the Salvation Army to open for lunch. He said they are open long enough to dry out his coat on a heater vent while he sleeps under a table after a quick lunch. At 4pm they close the room and back on the street he goes. He talked about sleeping in the doorway of a nearby church until 5am each morning when he is awakened to move along by security. He has a sleeping bag, wet clear though, and no tent.
Eric, that I met last week, is now in jail. He was in a tent *camping* and overslept missing his probation check in. I dont know how long he will be in jail.
I have not seen Country and Tiny in two weeks. I am holding on to the dog food I brought for them until I see them again. They live in their van.
I did see Don and Jeanette again this week. They are pretty regular.
Remember Joe, the older man with liver disease? I haven't seen him in two weeks. No one knows where he is.
I passed out socks, a goodie bag with a flashlight, snacks, batteries etc.
I had an interesting talk with a person who works with Path....he indicated I could go into Salvation Army and visit with the folks as they eat lunch. That is my next weeks goal.
Every week when I drive up and park...I feel kinda sick and scard to get out of the car. Not scard of the people, but scard that I will offend. I have to muster up some courage for that car door to open and for me to grab my laundry basket of stuff and head for the line.
Everyone that was handed socks and bags was so nice....polite and thankful. I am picking up the nick name of "sock lady" which I like. :)
My son is still not in the area...but I did talk with him. He sounded sober and said he had been staying inside with a friend. Wonderful news all around this week!
I was able to learn some more names at the soup line this week.
Mark is waiting for a place to open in drug/alcohol treatment. It is a six month program and until an opening comes up he is on the street. He was soaking wet when I saw him Wed...just waiting for the Salvation Army to open for lunch. He said they are open long enough to dry out his coat on a heater vent while he sleeps under a table after a quick lunch. At 4pm they close the room and back on the street he goes. He talked about sleeping in the doorway of a nearby church until 5am each morning when he is awakened to move along by security. He has a sleeping bag, wet clear though, and no tent.
Eric, that I met last week, is now in jail. He was in a tent *camping* and overslept missing his probation check in. I dont know how long he will be in jail.
I have not seen Country and Tiny in two weeks. I am holding on to the dog food I brought for them until I see them again. They live in their van.
I did see Don and Jeanette again this week. They are pretty regular.
Remember Joe, the older man with liver disease? I haven't seen him in two weeks. No one knows where he is.
I passed out socks, a goodie bag with a flashlight, snacks, batteries etc.
I had an interesting talk with a person who works with Path....he indicated I could go into Salvation Army and visit with the folks as they eat lunch. That is my next weeks goal.
Every week when I drive up and park...I feel kinda sick and scard to get out of the car. Not scard of the people, but scard that I will offend. I have to muster up some courage for that car door to open and for me to grab my laundry basket of stuff and head for the line.
Everyone that was handed socks and bags was so nice....polite and thankful. I am picking up the nick name of "sock lady" which I like. :)
My son is still not in the area...but I did talk with him. He sounded sober and said he had been staying inside with a friend. Wonderful news all around this week!
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Salvation Army closed nighttime shelter....
Yesterday was my day to deliver the zip lock bag of goodies to the soup line at Sally.
It was an overwhelming day to learn that they had to close the nighttime shelter due to a few inappropriate actions of a handful (or less)of people staying there. I was told the inappropriate actions were people peeing and pooping outside the shelter on the sidewalk. (there are plenty of bathrooms inside) In stead of finding those few the services they need (detox, mental health, jail...whatever) they had to close the entire shelter. 100 more people on the street since last wed.
As I drove up I noticed a completely different crowd than the week before. People I had brought dog food for were not there. The lady that needed Shampoo, not there. I will just carry those items around until I find them again. It was right after the first of the month so those who get welfare, ssi, ss, ssd may of had funds. I only saw about 15 poeple in line for lunch.
Or, maybe they could not get to the lunch. When they are not allowed to use the shelter they must find a place to *camp* at night. It is not always close to services. Some will resort to doing something illegial to go to jail for the winter. Some will walk the streets at night to stay warm and sleep during the safer daytime hours. Some will move to a different city using the $1.00 Cap bus.
I met several people and learned their names this week, which was my goal. Every week I hope to add names to faces. I want to be able to greet them by name out of respect and let them know they are remembered. They are men and women...not 'the homeless'.
I met a married couple named Don and Jeannett who have been homeless for seven years. Both appeared late 40's early 50's but then so does my son who is only 36. The street ages people. Don and Jeannett are both small built and skinney. Jeannett was spoting a black eye that I tryed to ignor. Don had a beard (comman for the men as it adds warmth)that was tobacco stained. When I hugged them both, neither were smelly. I add this as I know most *comfotable people* (those with homes) think all homeless people are scary and smelly. Try giving a random hug for yourself!
Don was an articulate man who talked of being a Christian, his work with the Homeless Colilition, and the need for landlords to rent to the homeless. There is a prejuduce that is allowed by law not to rent to anyone with a felony...and most of these people have a past. Many have co issues of drug/alcohol, felonies, and mental illness. He has funding though an agency to put first, last, and deposit on a rental and no one will rent to him.
I didnt see Joe this week. He is the man with stage 4 liver disease. Please keep him in your prayers. He knows he is dying. I have not had a chance to witness to him, having only talked to him once. I wanted to build a relationship with him so he would trust me first. Please pray that someone witness to him before his death. he may already be a Christian, I dont know. This is my biggest worry this week.
I met Dennis, he is working on building a daytime center that coordinates services for all the agencies in town. I talked with him about a model serivce in Olympia Washington called The Club House...google it for more information. They helped my son get his SSD started and provided him with all the transportation to appoitments. They did what he would not allow me to do. I am thankful! The Club House has a small kitchen with food and drop in people can make snacks, they have a computer with internet to email home, they give out bus passes, clothes, and even have sofa's there where you can rest and watch a video. It is run by people who volunteer mostly with issues of their own. A remarkable place.
I met Beth, who works for Sally, (volunteer or paid I do not know)at the front desk. She told me the need is greater at the middle to end of the month. She suggested several things that I had not thought of. Any product that can not be purchased with food stamps like diapers, tp, grooming supplies etc etc.
My added goal for this week is to find out what agencies do what in the area. I want to go to the Colilition for the Homeless meetings...I sure hope they are open meetings....
It was an overwhelming day to learn that they had to close the nighttime shelter due to a few inappropriate actions of a handful (or less)of people staying there. I was told the inappropriate actions were people peeing and pooping outside the shelter on the sidewalk. (there are plenty of bathrooms inside) In stead of finding those few the services they need (detox, mental health, jail...whatever) they had to close the entire shelter. 100 more people on the street since last wed.
As I drove up I noticed a completely different crowd than the week before. People I had brought dog food for were not there. The lady that needed Shampoo, not there. I will just carry those items around until I find them again. It was right after the first of the month so those who get welfare, ssi, ss, ssd may of had funds. I only saw about 15 poeple in line for lunch.
Or, maybe they could not get to the lunch. When they are not allowed to use the shelter they must find a place to *camp* at night. It is not always close to services. Some will resort to doing something illegial to go to jail for the winter. Some will walk the streets at night to stay warm and sleep during the safer daytime hours. Some will move to a different city using the $1.00 Cap bus.
I met several people and learned their names this week, which was my goal. Every week I hope to add names to faces. I want to be able to greet them by name out of respect and let them know they are remembered. They are men and women...not 'the homeless'.
I met a married couple named Don and Jeannett who have been homeless for seven years. Both appeared late 40's early 50's but then so does my son who is only 36. The street ages people. Don and Jeannett are both small built and skinney. Jeannett was spoting a black eye that I tryed to ignor. Don had a beard (comman for the men as it adds warmth)that was tobacco stained. When I hugged them both, neither were smelly. I add this as I know most *comfotable people* (those with homes) think all homeless people are scary and smelly. Try giving a random hug for yourself!
Don was an articulate man who talked of being a Christian, his work with the Homeless Colilition, and the need for landlords to rent to the homeless. There is a prejuduce that is allowed by law not to rent to anyone with a felony...and most of these people have a past. Many have co issues of drug/alcohol, felonies, and mental illness. He has funding though an agency to put first, last, and deposit on a rental and no one will rent to him.
I didnt see Joe this week. He is the man with stage 4 liver disease. Please keep him in your prayers. He knows he is dying. I have not had a chance to witness to him, having only talked to him once. I wanted to build a relationship with him so he would trust me first. Please pray that someone witness to him before his death. he may already be a Christian, I dont know. This is my biggest worry this week.
I met Dennis, he is working on building a daytime center that coordinates services for all the agencies in town. I talked with him about a model serivce in Olympia Washington called The Club House...google it for more information. They helped my son get his SSD started and provided him with all the transportation to appoitments. They did what he would not allow me to do. I am thankful! The Club House has a small kitchen with food and drop in people can make snacks, they have a computer with internet to email home, they give out bus passes, clothes, and even have sofa's there where you can rest and watch a video. It is run by people who volunteer mostly with issues of their own. A remarkable place.
I met Beth, who works for Sally, (volunteer or paid I do not know)at the front desk. She told me the need is greater at the middle to end of the month. She suggested several things that I had not thought of. Any product that can not be purchased with food stamps like diapers, tp, grooming supplies etc etc.
My added goal for this week is to find out what agencies do what in the area. I want to go to the Colilition for the Homeless meetings...I sure hope they are open meetings....
Monday, February 1, 2010
The money came in (my ebay listing :) for this weeks zip lock bags!
I had so much fun shopping for this weeks stuff. I am sure I am looking at the zip lock bag goodies as the middle class senior woman that I am, vs what the real need is....but I am winging it this week as my son, Tom, is *out of town*.
I got
*the vienna sausages that were such a hit last week
*the socks that were also a big hit
*individually packages of snake crackers that were requested (3 each)
*matches (in boxes)
*and some peperments for a sweet tooth
I will see how this baggie goes over on Wed. I want to give them grooming supplies but do not want to offend them. They can also get those from Churches and Organizations like Sally. I actually found them all well groomed and dressed well last week...not the *smelly bum * that we all think of and see in the movies.
Like my son told me, what good is a tooth brush if you have no teeth....what can you do with a bar of soap if you have no shower...
This week, I hope to learn more names so I can address the folks by name each week. I dont want to push the privacy they need but want to respect that they are not numbers but people with families.
I learned on name last week, it was volunteered. Joe is an older man, I would guess close to 60. He is stage 4 liver disease, and dieing. He stood back from the crowd when I was passing out socks and bags so I went over to him and gave him some. He told me he said *I'm just wasting your oxygen, waiting to die". I offered him a hug and he teared up. We got to talking a little and I expect to see him this week also. If not, I will ask about him. You can tell he is a little out of it by his conversation, I am sure his is very sick. We talked about how hard it is for him to stay warm because of poor circulation. I gave him a second pair of socks and asked him to warm them both at the same time. He had gloves, a nice coat, and a hat.
I had so much fun shopping for this weeks stuff. I am sure I am looking at the zip lock bag goodies as the middle class senior woman that I am, vs what the real need is....but I am winging it this week as my son, Tom, is *out of town*.
I got
*the vienna sausages that were such a hit last week
*the socks that were also a big hit
*individually packages of snake crackers that were requested (3 each)
*matches (in boxes)
*and some peperments for a sweet tooth
I will see how this baggie goes over on Wed. I want to give them grooming supplies but do not want to offend them. They can also get those from Churches and Organizations like Sally. I actually found them all well groomed and dressed well last week...not the *smelly bum * that we all think of and see in the movies.
Like my son told me, what good is a tooth brush if you have no teeth....what can you do with a bar of soap if you have no shower...
This week, I hope to learn more names so I can address the folks by name each week. I dont want to push the privacy they need but want to respect that they are not numbers but people with families.
I learned on name last week, it was volunteered. Joe is an older man, I would guess close to 60. He is stage 4 liver disease, and dieing. He stood back from the crowd when I was passing out socks and bags so I went over to him and gave him some. He told me he said *I'm just wasting your oxygen, waiting to die". I offered him a hug and he teared up. We got to talking a little and I expect to see him this week also. If not, I will ask about him. You can tell he is a little out of it by his conversation, I am sure his is very sick. We talked about how hard it is for him to stay warm because of poor circulation. I gave him a second pair of socks and asked him to warm them both at the same time. He had gloves, a nice coat, and a hat.
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