We did it, folks! Tonight was full of great news. We made it to Detroit and we made a difference for other humans’ survival. We met a whole new crop of people for most of the evening. I noticed especially a lot of seniors who were out with their children. The medical volunteers were busy tonight. Traci was happily passing out clothes and food to people. We had a couple of medical volunteers nearby to field for any health concerns.
I made 50 peanut butter and banana sandwiches to pass out. We have a local church who has offered us bread and peanut butter every other week now. That will add a significant stability to our food program.
Our first stop was to check on a very young woman who looked like she might have been in a precarious situation. It turns out she was okay, but her grandmother was in need of serious medical attention. Many more homeless and starving people crept out from behind the burned out houses. Most of them were middle-aged to seniors. There were a lot of requests for shoes tonight. We were out of them by our second stop.
The second stop we parked at was to find a woman who needed medical attention. She found us, and her daughters were there to help her along as well. The first thing I heard her yell was, “Don’t try and take me to the hospital! I’m not going to any dang hospital!”
A volunteer asked her if she needed medical attention.
“I’m pretty certain I need erythromycin or an antibiotic.” was her reply.
While she was being helped by the medical volunteers, we helped the other random homeless people who were walking by. One was a lady pushing a big shopping cart without much in it. We offered her something to eat. She was famished. I heard her mention that it was a shame to be a homeless veteran. She was a veteran twice over, she then named two branches of the military. I heard a volunteer say that he can get her into housing in two weeks if she’s a vet! That’s one more off the street!
We made a few more random stops to some bridges, and vacant lots where people were hiding out, trying not to get caught trying to live. We passed out a lot of sandwiches and granola bars to a lot of hungry people. I was able to pack a dose of Narcan into every hygiene bag, because you never know who you might run into.
Our last stop of the night was more like a grand finale. Remember my Angel Girl? She was the one who got her bachelor’s degree but she’s still homeless with a bunch of crazy drug addicts. I gave her my card, but my phone number was printed wrong. I had not seen again until tonight. My heart sang with joy. She was the first person I got out of the van to talk to all night. We hugged and hugged. She’s trying to survive. She moves around a lot and doesn’t like to stay in the dens with other people. She’s still trying to get out. I’ve got her number now. I can get her to that next rung on the ladder. We’ve been texting since I got home. What great news!
And I saw another dear lady tonight who is a sweetheart. She is so beautiful. She’s going to rehab. She’s done with that life and she’s ready to change. I told her that Traci and I would still be there to hold her hand through rehab, and we would be there for her when she gets an apartment, too. A lot of people had stories of friends who were getting clean and off the street. That’s at least three more on top of that!
I still have friends whose child isn’t there quite yet. I won’t give up hope. Every person has the potential. It’s up to them to make the choice their addiction won’t allow them to, but I will work my hardest to give them every opportunity to make it. On the subject of work…
I quit a job last week that paid me decent money. But no matter what work or task I accomplished for them, nothing got better. It was just more complaining. My job for Magdalene’s Mission pays me no money. It doesn’t matter to me how many hours I spend cutting bananas and making sandwiches, or breaking down wipes into plastic bags, or diving around creepy neighborhoods for free. Every person I gave a hygiene bag, lunch, or a t-shirt to was genuinely thankful and grateful for your heartfelt donation. Although I may not generate any income for myself, Magdalene’s Mission generates an infinite amount of joy that compounds week after week, month after month, and year after year.
Because that’s how we do it in Detroit.
Amen.
You and your “Clan”continue to inspire and lead those of us who strive to “pay it forward” within our daily lives and villages/neighborhoods doing what little we can too spread the Word of Truth, Compassion, and Tough Love and Guidance when needed. The outreach of Energy to the Conscience of all who Know the Truth is Stronger and Growing thanks to you and yours… salud kiddo, and well fucking done..because “That’s how “it’s” done in D-Town”