Tonight’s theme was ‘What Happens When One Takes a U-Haul into Detroit for Outreach’ It was a lot. It was a Lot of Work. It was a lot of stuff. It was a lot of boring driving to one person at a time. Then it was a lot of people. Then a lot of chaos. Then a lot of ‘one more person’s’- for the next 30-40 minutes. Let me tell you about it and some of the people I met tonight.
I rented a 15-foot U-Haul and filled it with clothes, blankets, coats, shoes, food, water, and hygiene, etc. I was going to rent the 26-footer because I knew that was how much room I could utilize. My husband and brother talked me into a 15-footer. They are in a perpetual state of concern because they know me too well. I filled it up immediately. There was a bounty of donations just from this week to contribute. If you are one of those donors, Thank You from the bottom of my punk-rock heart.
We had plenty for everyone for about 2 ½ hours. First, we ran out of food (66 meals). Then blankets, then the pickings got slim.
The people kept coming though. In particular, I remember a couple that another volunteer introduced me to. They were living in a pick-up truck, with their three sons. He told me they were going to be a family that really could use everything we had. She asked me for any help finding a shelter that I knew of.
“We both work honest jobs, I promise! I’m just trying to get us an address so the boys can be in school.”
I told her I was in her position before, and I made it through. As a matter of fact, 7 years and 3 months ago, my family was homeless. It was getting towards the end of August, and I was worried about the kids not being enrolled in school on-time. What I didn’t mention was that God is good to me and a friend of mine from church let me rent one of her houses. She charged us a reasonable rate. Ever since we have been working to upgrade the house as much as possible (a little DYI at a time) to show her our appreciation. Without Miss Cindy, I don’t know where we would have ended up. We bounced around from family member to family member, but it wasn’t like we could set up a long-term base anywhere. Eventually, those couches get worn out. Three kids, I get it.
Sean and I were both working the entire time.
Anyhow, we had a crowd of people behind the U-Haul gate. We would let them in 2 at a time to pick out clothes, shoes, and coats. It went on and on and on…
I couldn’t believe how fast we went through food. Coats, coats, coats.
“Blankets, do you have blankets? Oh wow! Can I have a pillow?”
And then the Street Outreach Team wanted to go see a patient, but… we have a safety protocol where we can’t’ leave any vehicle alone. We always move as a team- Safety in numbers.
They just kept coming though- hungry, cold, scared.
Traci and I just kept loving them. If they needed anything medical- there is the medical team. Is it swollen, broken, or oozing? Go see the medical team.
Can you believe we emptied out a U-Haul in 4 hours? I don’t know if I can handle it again. I’ll consider that a win. I learned that me, Traci and a 15-foot trailer is too much for our wee bodies to do again anytime soon, But-
It was incredible the number of people we were able to help. We saw all people who were shelter challenged. We, as a team of humans, really went out there and passed out as much survival care as we could before the temps reach below freezing temperatures.
I’m exhausted. It’s 1:15 a.m. and I am struggling to type anymore.
We did it, and we did it with gusto.
Because that’s how we do it in Detroit. Amen.
Post-Script: I’ll add more pics in the morning.
