What a night! The theme for this week’s report is- Ghosts. It is the Dios de los Muertos today. The Day of the Dead. I was out ready for ghost sightings. I asked nearly everyone we saw tonight if they had had experiences with ghosts while living in Detroit. Almost everyone said that they had.
The first place we went to was on the southwest side. I asked the young lady we were serving about her experiences. She said that her grandmother had died in her house a couple of years ago. Two weeks later, her grandfather joined her on the other side. In the past year or so since then, everyone in the house has claimed to see things. Nothing dramatic, just always seeing things move out of the corner of your eye, but when you look directly at it then it’s gone.
She asked for clothing for a friend of hers who also lived in the house. This friend was larger than her, but desperately needed a warm shirt or any pants. The poor thing had broken both legs and she wasn’t able to come out to the van to see us.
A few moments later, a couple of gentlemen came up to the van. We had seen them talking with the medical team as well, but in a friendly manner. Not so much a client manner. The first gentleman introduced himself as a fellow volunteer from the Catholic Social Services in the area. He told me that he had been a substance abuse councilor for many years, but finally the grief of losing people whom he loved and invested in took its toll too many times. He was still active in other ways. As a matter of fact, he had heard of the ladies who pass out food, hygiene purses and backpacks, clothes, and blankets. Everyone loves us! We’re a big deal when we hit their neighborhoods. (Psst… that’s you donors!)
I love to brag a bit on how everything I have to pass out has been donated. Everything single thing including the van I deliver it in!
His friend was a fascinating character as well. He was also born and raised on the Southwest side. He said that the neighborhood had changed dramatically over the years. He’s both white and black, he said. So, he saw a lot of both sides. He told us that the neighborhood was mostly white when he was growing up. There was a lot of businesses that people owned and that added affluence to the area.
Nowadays, the area is significantly more diverse than before. The businesses that were once owned by families who lived in the neighborhood, are now employed by the people who live in the neighborhood.
“It’s like everyone is poor now, but because it’s happening to all of us, we understand and help each other out.
Ex-councilor wanted to make sure I got food and some clothes for the lady with 2 broken legs as well. I told him someone else made sure before him.
She was walking outside of the store across the street when a man pulled into the parking lot. He had a seizure, and his foot slammed on the gas. He drove right straight into her and broke both of her legs. I remember reading about it in the news. Now the article is a part of my outreach.
His friend said he intended to hang out with me and Traci until the other volunteers came back out. He wasn’t going to leave us alone. What we do for the people in Detroit is so valuable. It means so much. He wasn’t going to let anything happen to us.
“So, you guys are our guardian angels now?” I joked.
“Girls, what you do, EVERYONE knows who you are. Ain’t no one allowed to mess with you. You got guardians all over Detroit.”
That’s why we don’t carry. That’s why I don’t worry. We’re protected from above and below.
Of course, they see ghosts in Detroit. Just in the houses though.
One of the guys we were talking to used to own the house we were standing in front of. When his dad owned it, back in the day, it was a gambling joint! People played cards and dice in there.
What a couple of neat people to meet.
The cops came so we had to leave.
The next stop was to my Brothers. Something special we had this week to pass out was charger blocks. Someone had donated 40 charger blocks! We were also able to pass along toilet paper. By the way, that is a MEGA need. We got them prepped for the week and made sure they each had a warm coat and a blanket to get through the cold nights. The older brother has an eye for quality. You should have seen him talk up the coat we gave him.
We went back to the vacant place in the middle of everything, but it looked like nowhere. This time Traci and I got a little braver. We walked into the hidden encampments and talked to the people inside. I hate coming at someone in a herd of volunteers. It feels awkward and intimidating. Tonight, I powered through it. We walked to the back of a field, behind some trees, under a tarp, to a covered path leading to a tiny tent.
They were so sweet and grateful. The guy came back with us to get a coat, blankets, etc.
It was pitch black, but they guy helped us find a few more camps that were hidden beyond trees and such. He told me that some of the people won’t come out to meet outreach people because they are afraid that they will bring cops with them. Or that cops will follow the outreach team. Staying hidden is of utmost priority.
We cruised up and down Michigan. We parked in front of a burned-out house on a side street that had several homeless people living in what was left of it. I saw a woman across the street on her porch with her cell phone pointed at us. We helped a couple of men out. Then a couple minutes later we had to leave because the woman across the street called 911 on us. We trekked on…
Traci saw a man flag us down on the street. The caravan whipped around to meet him. He was such a polite gentle man. He was on his fourth day off fentanyl. It was making him yawn a lot and his bowels were in a state of chaos. He especially appreciated the water and food. It was just what he needed to power through what his body was going to do to him until all the drug was out of his system.
I gave him all the positive energy I could. I even prayed over him so that he would feel strength. Holy Ghost size strength.
My Widow Who Sits was busy working when we got to area. Her boyfriend seen us though and got supplies for them both. People on the southwest side really are always looking out for one another. That’s a major difference between poverty and affluence. When one is aspiring for affluence, one will always be competing with their neighbor, always jealous. When you’re poor, you are willing to help your neighbor, because you’re compassionate.
“Everyone is poor in this together.”
I want to be able to express to you how intense the gratitude for what we do is. The gratitude cannot be overstated. We save lives. We give people hope. We make people feel their lives are worth saving. We help people survive. We are important to our species.
I don’t take any credit. I’m a chauffeur. There are many people who feel called to do what God has told them is in our species best interest, protect the vulnerable. There are also many people who just like to be good people because it feels right. Yeah. That’s evolution, too. I don’t care what inspires you. But if you want to really help real people, I have a suggestion.
I’m renting a U-Haul for next week!
Have you been meaning to clear out space in the pantry? Have blankets, sheets, or towels that aren’t “kindling joy”?
Are you feeling guilty over how many winter coats you accumulated?
Are you storing winter boots that weren’t the size you needed them to be?
Random food?
Are you stuffing a stockpile of hoodies or jeans that you don’t wear as often as you thought you would?
Drop it off on my porch!
Text me!
Because around here, in America, if you can’t use it-
let’s see if your neighbor can.
That’s what good people do. And also,
Because that’s how we do it in Detroit. Amen.
