March 1, 2022
The theme for this week is Helpers. I was introduced to a Brownie troupe of adorable little helpers. These little girls and their parents helped make nearly 60 peanut butter and banana sandwiches. Then they packed them into lunch bags with cookies, chips, and a juice pouch. It was astounding how much they could put forth in a short period of time. They felt so good after they were done that, they couldn’t wait to help us again.
My Food Angel, Ann, brought over her highly anticipated box of homemade cookies. I had a quick cash donation that helped pay for gas to Detroit, all over Detroit, and back. All the donor helpers who make sure I can keep delivering hygiene and survival supplies to our most vulnerable neighbor make this possible.
Remember when Mr. Rogers said that his mother told him that during a crisis, look for the helpers?
The Street Outreach Team helped several people tonight that probably would have taken a turn for the worse had they not been there. The Doctor came out tonight to help. The nursing students who come out to help are super eager to help people with all kinds of crisis. From gun shot wounds to prenatal care, these ladies are ready to help the most vulnerable people they can find. They are the helpers when it’s a life-or-death crisis for the uninsured, uncollectable, and unwanted.
Detroit Rehabilitation Project is a Harm Reduction Program. That means that they pass out clean syringes, clean crack pipes, Narcan, and other various items that make sure people can reduce the amount of infectious and life-threatening diseases that affect people with an addiction illness. They also advocate for people to help get them into treatment for their disease. A lot of the people who work there are success stories that prove these programs can and do work. Their goal is to end the war on the victims of drug addiction. DRP are the helpers in the opioid crisis.
“The Lord helps those who help themselves” is not anywhere in the bible. But the Lord help those who asks, is written many times. (John 14:13-14, Matthew 7:7-8, Psalm 121:2, 1 Peter 5:7, John 14:14, John 16:23-24, to name a few)
I pass out my card to a lot of people and I tell them to text me if they ever need anything. Well, last week, Lil’ Boo texted me. She wrote that her birthday was Saturday, and she really needed clothes. Andy said I could help her. Could I please bring her clothes and maybe shoes?
I don’t know if you know this about me, but I am obnoxious when it comes to celebrating birthdays. I found the biggest and best bag. I filled it with the best stuff I could find in her size. I added all kinds of neat specials that come randomly through the donations. I bought her a birthday card to “My Sister”. One day of the year, we should stop, take inventory, and celebrate our life. One day of the year, it’s nice to hear that anyone was glad you were ever born. Me, I helped my Lil’ Boo enjoy her birthday.
The very first lady I spoke to tonight was turning 50 today. She was super kind and friendly. She was just the kindest lady. She was going to be a grandmother soon. She was going into rehab again. She wanted to be the best version of herself for her grandchild. She asked us to pray for her. Andy set her up with a case manager to make sure she had guidance to stay on track and support her success.
The first spot we went to ended up being busy. Traci and I would call out to people who walked by and asked them if they needed something to eat. Usually, they said yes. After that we talk to them and find out what else is going on.
An elderly gentleman walked past us with a cane. Traci offered him a meal.
“Nope. I don’t need it.” He replied curtly.
“Do you need any medical care? We have a medical team that can help you”
“I don’t need anything.” He declared and then limped off into the shadowy urban decay.
We went to our favorite house on the east side. Something Traci and I heard a few times from different people was that they loved us so much, they didn’t know what they would do without us. We were a part of their life now. When we don’t come by, they worry about us.
That sounds, at first glance, like a dependency. But that’s not it. Not at all. I know because we’ve been watching people grow. Tiny One is brighter, stronger, and more assured all the time. My Classy Lady is cleaning herself up. She’s working hard at getting healthy. We’re going to pack her up a comfy maternity bag for next week. She said that its people like us who believe in her that make her feel like she can do it. My Reverend prayed for us again. A beautiful prayer to make the angels blush. His mom still talks about the chocolate brownies I made for her. I’ll have to try to remember to make her some more. We show up and we care. We help. My little buds are blooming!
They help each other. Someone grabbed a medic and told them that they had someone who needed immediate medical attention. They were right. Just as we were getting ready to leave, another person came up to the medic van to ask for help for their friend. When helpers show up, we call them our heroes.
Our very last stop was to see our Lil’ Boo. We ran up and hugged one another. I gave her the packed duffel bag, and a super warm, fuzzy blanket that Ann made. We fed several more people who live in abandoned houses in that neighborhood. By then it was after 11, so we gave the last few meals to the Street Outreach Team to pass out as they continued for the night.
A the very first stop we went to, a man came up to Andy, Katie, Traci, and I and asked who we were, what we were about, and what exactly are we doing there. He lived in the neighborhood. He told us that if we were one of the non-profits that he wanted to know if he could help. He really loved seeing all the good that was being done by these small groups. Traci gave him my card. Andy gave him Narcan, and Katie showed him out to use it. Now it’s a nasal spray. It’s not like that creepy scene with Roseanna Arquette from Pulp Fiction anymore.
We help. You help. They help. The helpers are the heroes.
We can be heroes.
Just for one day.
Because that’s how we do it in Detroit. Amen.
#magdalenesmission #peaceloveandhygiene
Always a great thing to be able to read something positive and uplifting for a change, well done as usual dear!