The theme for this report is “We are not fighting alone”. Traci and I didn’t go to Detroit last Tuesday. We stayed back to allow room for another nonprofit group to go out and help our homeless, vulnerable friends. I have had some amazing help from some unexpected places this past week. Magdalene’s Mission, and the work of the good, are in full-swing.
The Community Christian Church Pantry in Sterling Heights offered us a generous donation of some healthy snacks to put in our lunches. It’s a major boon to our food program. An infinitely kind couple brought it to us.
Yesterday, I met up with a woman out in South Lyon. Her mother had grown up poor in Tennessee. Appalachian Poor is a whole other level below what you think of as poverty. She told me through tears how happy her mother would be to know that her possessions were a gift to someone who was in need, and not just taking up space in a landfill. I was able to console her by letting her know that those blankets would be warming up cold shoulder in just a few days’ time. That the gratitude would be beyond belief. That her moment of compassion would save many lives.
The name of the group going out on the 2nd Tuesdays of the month now is Avalon. I love these people and how much help they offer to our women friends. They will be bringing not only food and clothing, but cell phones, access to medical care after sexual assault, resources that help women help themselves out of a dangerous life. The following personal story about them is pretty severe.
I first heard of Avalon from Andy. I received a phone call at 3 a.m. once, a while ago. It was a homeless friend of ours from the east side. He told me that his girlfriend (an absolute sweetheart of a young lady) was out “working” that evening, when a customer attacked her violently at knife point. He then put her in the trunk of his car and told her that he was taking her to another location to kill her and dispose of her body. She bravely found a way to escape, and after a few hours was able to make it back to her boyfriend. He didn’t know what to do for her because she needed help, badly, but she was afraid of having to deal with the police. Could I please help them?
I texted Andy and he told me about Avalon. That they are true advocates for women and what they truly need, regardless of the circumstances. Those are the people who will be coming out with the medical outreach team the second Tuesday of each month. That will be a catch up week for us, and a beautiful gift for some of our friends.
The second group we were able to work alongside this week is a pretty exciting story. A couple of years ago when I was out in Detroit doing street outreach for Magdalene’s Mission, I met a woman who told me that she was going to open a homeless shelter in Detroit. When she did, I told her to get a hold of me and I would help her out if I could. She seemed like a determined lady, but you never know. About a month ago she called to tell me that she had her place, it’s called Angel House. It’s a shelter for men who are transitioning from the street into a stable, self-sufficient life. We were able to provide her with sheets, towels, kitchenware, canned food, and some hygiene supplies.
And my baby Sissy, Jennifer, saved someone last week! She told me that she saw a girl on the side of the road with a very descriptive sign. After pulling over to talk to her, she discovered that the young woman was homeless because her parents had kicked her out of their home. She had revealed to them she was gay, and so they disowned her.
Jennifer bought her some food from Walmart. It was raining out. The girl was wearing a long sleeve shirt, but took off her hooded jacket so that she would have something dry to wear later. Jennifer literally gave her the coat off her back. She gave her the number to a resource she knew in Lansing, Punks With Lunch. They are an amazing nonprofit that helps the homeless as well.
There are innumerable examples of the worst of humanity. They are easy to come by. I’m here to represent what we are capable of being. We are a strong, resilient, altruistic species. I’m going to keep doing all the good you beautiful people have set me up to do.
Because that’s how we do it in Detroit.
Amen.
