January 18, 2022
The theme for this week was Quality over Quantity. The weather is the most life threatening thing on top of every other life threatening thing that our homeless friends in Detroit face right now. The teams have been focusing on the shelter challenged people we find on the streets. A lot of strategic planning went into how Maggie the Van got packed tonight.
Our Mags Bags are top notch. This isn’t the time of year to stand around and chat it up whilst we go through the different things people may need. Right now people need warmth. So, in addition to the loaded hygiene packs I put together from your donations, we also add: hat, gloves, socks, toe warmers, handwarmers, baby wipes, tissues, candy and a granola bar. Most have a Mylar blanket as well. THAT is how one packs a survival bag. Every donated blanket is folded into a donated carrying bag, tote, duffel bag, or backpack for traveling common sense. We loaded up 2 totes of coats, a tote of warm men’s clothes, a tote of warm women’s sweaters and sweatshirts. I had a bin of men’s bags, and a bin of women’s. The majority of space was reserved for food and blankets.
This week’s dinner was spaghetti and meatballs with a side of whatever extra snacks I could find and a bunch of Danish pastries that Katie brought. She rocks. She also contributed the pasta and sauce.
It’s a lot of work. Its a little bit every day, more on Monday, and all day Tuesday. We helped about 35 people from the southwest to the east side of Detroit tonight. Each person was given a better chance of living through the night after we saw them. Every second of work was worth it to them.
I saw My Girl Who Sits again for the first time in a long time. She was ecstatic to see us. For several weeks she was unable to move from wherever it is she sleeps so that she could come see us. I wasn’t sure what was wrong and I hate to be nosey. We were sending things back for her with her boyfriend over the past several weeks. It was wonderful to see her walking around again. I gave her a hug, albeit a gentle one. She seemed somewhat sore still. Next week I hope to find out what happened to her and I’ll probably tell you.
We went to only 4 stops tonight. At each one, it started off to see only one person but turned into 5 to 10 people coming around to see what was going on. We filled them up and sent them away grateful for the blessings. They were content to be on their way back to someplace out of the wind. We are seeing more and more senior citizens. That is bothering me.
The tiny ladies come up to us just shivering. They leave relieved. Old men stroll slowly back into the shadowy alley with smiles wiped onto their smudged faces.
I was surprised when we went to our favorite house on the east side. I think some people were calling the teams and asking if we would come. We’ve skipped them the last couple of weeks. My Classy Lady was there. We hadn’t seen her in a while. My buddy who got shot came out. He’s hanging in there. My Preacher Man prayed over me. His mom is still hoping I will bring her some more of those chocolate brownies. Everyone was sweet.
I couldn’t save all the homeless in Detroit. Not even half of them. I didn’t attempt to save one-quarter of the homeless people in Detroit. I did not even aim to reach 50 clients before I went home tonight.
But, for about 35 people, I gave them them a realistic shot at surviving through the night. I am proud of the Mags Bags you helped me offer. I am proud that we have the stuff people really need. I would rather pass out 35 survival kits than 100 “here take this stuff” kits. Quality over quantity. Whatever we got, we make into something nice.
This crazy experiment in non-profits has blown me away. Do you realize that I have been going out to Detroit nearly every week for over a year? Everything I fill the van with is 100% private donations. I have no corporate sponsors, or government grants (not that a fat one would hurt our cause). This is 1000% grassroots effort, all the way down from the grubworms up to the tip of the blade. Community care and support. No middle-man. No The Man. Just Hu-man to human. Women and men helping women and men be stronger versions of themselves. They are my elders. They are my species. They are Americans! We are enough. Every one of you is a part of this incredible business. We do the right thing, the right way, for the right reason. I appreciate the Quantity of your donations as much as I appreciate the Quality of your donations. That leaves us plenty to be back next week to do it all over again.
Because that’s how we do it in Detroit. Amen.
#magdalenesmission #peaceloveandhygiene
