Wow. What an intense night of helping the homeless. The temperature hovered around 0 degrees, but with the windchill it was actually colder, much colder. It’s the kind of weather that kills. We loaded up every blanket we could find, and all the handwarmers and emergency blankets, as well.
It was brutal, but we do what we do. Especially when it’s hardest. Here is the night’s breakdown:
Our first stop, we saw the Man Who Always Laughs. He looks like a big tarp in a doorway, but there is an actual person living underneath all of that. We handed him more blankets, and more survival supplies. He laughed as he thanked us. He laughed when I told him my name. I could hear him still giggling as he disappeared beneath his tarp. Aw, buddy.
The next person we found was also living beneath a pile under a tarp on the ground. I lugged his survival pack through the deep snow to the bushes he was laying under. One of the other volunteers was able to speak to him in Romanian. It took several minutes, but finally someone was able to get proof of life from him. We left him enough to survive, then traveled on our way.
The next person we found was awkward. He was another lump on the ground under a blue tarp. There was some random trash on the ground in the snow around him. We offered him warm blankets and food. He sent the volunteers away. He told us he wanted nothing from us. Whatever we left he told us he would throw it away.
Okay.
The next person we found was asleep under a bridge. He was ecstatic about seeing us. He thanked us, and thanked God for the blankets, handwarmers and food. He was a very sweet man. He was excited for coookies. Nick and I decided he looked like Gregory Hines.
The next 2 places were abandoned properties. We must be careful not to get caught trespassing while we try to find more people hiding from the weather. It’s fascinating and freaky at the same time. There are strict lines between obeying Detroit laws and obeying God’s laws. But we strode that line like Jonny Cash last night. No human left behind.
The next people we helped were staying at a seedy hotel for the night. One of the girls normally sleeps on the street, but a friend let her stay in her hotel room that night. They were thrilled with feminine hygiene products and warm coats. They were starving and super grateful for the food we gave them. The poor, dear things. They were such sweet girls doing whatever it took to keep one another alive.
There is a small group of people living behind a bridge and under some trees. They have been there for a little while so they must be doing a good job of staying hidden. They have tents and propane heaters. One of the other teams had propane to help them stay warm enough to live another day. They aren’t drug addicts. They are survivors.
Our last stop of the night was to help 2 elderly men. They were very surprised and very grateful. Many heartfelt praises and thanks to God.
I was bundled up in all my warmest gear, but I noticed something. After being outside for more than just a few minutes, my clothes were cold. Every layer on me froze and I felt like I was wrapped in ice blankets. I could not keep my body heat. I tried everything to generate body heat, and there was nothing I could do about it. It was like breathing in ice cubes.
At least I had the blessing of a nice warm van to stagger back to. The snow was deep. No matter how many times I see it, I can’t believe people are living like this. But as long as they are out there, so are we.
We stayed out on the streets until after 11 pm. The other teams stayed out until 1 am. I got home just after 1 am.
Looking back on the night, I felt as though we made a real life or death difference to many people. Thank you for saving lives with us. All your donations go directly to saving lives.
It’s a wild and crazy thing to wander through snowy fields looking for homeless bodies, and tarps cover people sleeping on the ground in arctic temperatures.
But Nick, Traci and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Because that’s how we do it in Detroit.
Amen.
